1 Peter 3:13-4:6

New American Standard Bible

^13 (A)And who is ^[a]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(B)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(C)you ^[b]are blessed. ^(D)And do not fear their ^[c]intimidation, and do not be in dread, ¹⁵ but ^[d]sanctify ^(E)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(F)to make a ^[e]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(G)hope that is in you, but ^(H)with gentleness and ^(I)respect; ^16 [f]and keep a ^(J)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(K)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(L)it is better, ^(M)if ^[g]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(N)Christ also ^[h]suffered for sins ^(O)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(P)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(Q)in the flesh, but made alive ^(R)in the ^[i]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[j]which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient when the ^(S)patience of God ^(T)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(U)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(V)eight ^(W)persons, were brought safely through the water. ^21 (X)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(Y)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ^[k]for a ^(Z)good conscience—through ^(AA)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 (AB)who is at the right hand of God, ^(AC)having gone into heaven, ^(AD)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^(AE)Christ has ^[l]suffered in the flesh, ^(AF)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because ^(AG)the one who has ^[m]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ^2 (AH)so as to live ^(AI)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the ^(AJ)will of God. ³ For ^(AK)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[n](AL)having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of ^(AM)[o]debauchery, and they ^(AN)slander you; ⁵ but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge ^(AO)the living and the dead. ⁶ For ^(AP)the gospel has for this purpose been ^[p]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.