Suffering for Doing Good

⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded,^(A) be sympathetic, love one another,^(B) be compassionate and humble.^{(C) 9} Do not repay evil with evil^(D) or insult with insult.^(E) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,^(F) because to this^(G) you were called^(H) so that you may inherit a blessing.^{(I) 10} For,

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?^{(K) 14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.^(L) “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened.”^{[c](M) 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^(N) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^(O) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience,^(P) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^{(Q) 17} For it is better, if it is God’s will,^(R) to suffer for doing good^(S) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(T) for sins,^(U) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(V) He was put to death in the body^(W) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(X) 19} After being made alive,^[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(Y)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(Z) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(AA) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(AB) were saved^(AC) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(AD) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(AE) toward God.^[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(AF) 22} who has gone into heaven^(AG) and is at God’s right hand^(AH)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(AI)

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,^(AJ) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.^{(AK) 2} As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(AL) but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past^(AM) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.^{(AN) 4} They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.^{(AO) 5} But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(AP) 6} For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,^(AQ) 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.