Submission to Authority

^13 (A)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him ^(B)to punish those who do evil and ^(C)to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, ^(D)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ^16 (E)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^(F)living as servants^[c] of God. ^17 (G)Honor everyone. ^(H)Love the brotherhood. ^(I)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

^18 (J)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(K)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(L)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For ^(M)to this you have been called, ^(N)because Christ also suffered for you, ^(O)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ^22 (P)He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ^23 (Q)When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, ^(R)but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ^24 (S)He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we ^(T)might die to sin and ^(U)live to righteousness. ^(V)By his wounds you have been healed.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸ Finally, all of you, ^(A)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(B)brotherly love, ^(C)a tender heart, and ^(D)a humble mind. ^9 (E)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(F)bless, for ^(G)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

¹³ Now ^(I)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (J)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(K)Have no fear of them, ^(L)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(M)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(N)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(O)respect, ^16 (P)having a good conscience, so that, ^(Q)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(R)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also ^(S)suffered^{[a] (T)}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^(U)that he might bring us to God, being put to death ^(V)in the flesh but made alive ^(W)in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which^[b] he went and ^(X)proclaimed^[c] to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because^[d] they formerly did not obey, ^(Y)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, ^(Z)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^(AA)eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^(AB)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^(AC)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^(AD)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and ^(AE)is at the right hand of God, ^(AF)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore ^(AG)Christ suffered in the flesh,^{[e] (AH)}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^(AI)whoever has suffered in the flesh ^(AJ)has ceased from sin, ^2 (AK)so as to live for ^(AL)the rest of the time in the flesh ^(AM)no longer for human passions but ^(AN)for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past ^(AO)suffices ^(AP)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of ^(AQ)debauchery, and ^(AR)they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready ^(AS)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is why ^(AT)the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.