18 For Christ also suffered once(A) for sins,(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(C) He was put to death in the body(D) but made alive in the Spirit.(E) 19 After being made alive,[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(F) 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(G) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(H) In it only a few people, eight in all,(I) were saved(J) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(K) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(L) toward God.[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(M) 22 who has gone into heaven(N) and is at God’s right hand(O)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(P)

Living for God

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,(Q) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.(R) As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,(S) but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past(T) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(U) They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(V) But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(W) For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(X) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  2. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience

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