1 Peter 3:18-4:11
Contemporary English Version
18 Christ died once for our sins.
An innocent person died
for those who are guilty.
Christ did this
to bring you to God,
when his body
was put to death
and his spirit
was made alive.
19 Christ then preached to the spirits that were being kept in prison. 20 (A)(B) They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood.
21 Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you. But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death. 22 Christ is now in heaven, where he sits at the right side[a] of God. All angels, authorities, and powers are under his control.
Being Faithful to God
4 Christ suffered here on earth. Now you must be ready to suffer as he did, because suffering shows that you have stopped sinning. 2 It means you have turned from your own desires and want to obey God for the rest of your life. 3 You have already lived long enough like people who don't know God. You were immoral and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and carrying on. In fact, you even worshiped disgusting idols. 4 Now your former friends wonder why you have stopped running around with them, and they curse you for it. 5 But they will have to answer to God, who judges the living and the dead. 6 The good news has even been preached to the dead,[b] so that after they have been judged for what they have done in this life, their spirits will live with God.
7 Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray.
8 (C) Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.
9 Welcome people into your home and don't grumble about it.
10 Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. 11 If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
1 Peter 3:18-4:11
Christian Standard Bible
18 For Christ also suffered(A) for sins once for all,(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.(C) He was put to death in the flesh[a](D) but made alive by the Spirit,[b] 19 in which[c] he also went and made proclamation to the spirits(E) in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah(F) while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people[d](G)—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body,(H) but the pledge[e] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(I) 22 who has gone into heaven(J) and is at the right hand of God(K) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.(L)
Following Christ
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered[f] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding[g]—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished(M) with sin[h]— 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.(N) 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,(O) drunkenness, orgies,(P) carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander[i] you. 5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.(Q) 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,[j](R) so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards,(S) they might live(T) in the spirit according to God’s standards.
End-Time Ethics
7 The end of all things is near;(U) therefore, be alert and sober-minded(V) for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant love(W) for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.[k](X) 9 Be hospitable(Y) to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others,(Z) as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides,(AA) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Footnotes
- 3:18 Or by the flesh, or in the fleshly realm
- 3:18 Or in the spirit, or in the Spirit, or in the spiritual realm
- 3:19 Or by whom, or in whom, or at that time
- 3:20 Or souls
- 3:21 Or the appeal
- 4:1 Other mss read suffered for us
- 4:1 Or perspective, or attitude
- 4:1 Or the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin
- 4:4 Or blaspheme
- 4:6 Or those who are dead
- 4:8 Pr 10:12
Philippians 2:8-11
Contemporary English Version
8 Christ was humble.
He obeyed God and even died
on a cross.
9 Then God gave Christ
the highest place
and honored his name
above all others.
10 (A) So at the name of Jesus
everyone will bow down,
those in heaven, on earth,
and under the earth.
11 And to the glory
of God the Father
everyone will openly agree,
“Jesus Christ is Lord!”
Philippians 2:8-11
Christian Standard Bible
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.(A)
9 For this reason God highly exalted him(B)
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow(C)—
in heaven(D) and on earth
and under the earth(E)—
11 and every tongue(F) will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory(G) of God the Father.
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