1 Peter 3:15-4:5

English Standard Version

¹⁵ but ^(A)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(B)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 ^(C)respect, ^16 (D)having a good conscience, so that, ^(E)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(F)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

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

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore ^(U)Christ suffered in the flesh,^{[e] (V)}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^(W)whoever has suffered in the flesh ^(X)has ceased from sin, ^2 (Y)so as to live for ^(Z)the rest of the time in the flesh ^(AA)no longer for human passions but ^(AB)for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past ^(AC)suffices ^(AD)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 ^(AE)debauchery, and ^(AF)they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready ^(AG)to judge the living and the dead.