1 Peter 3:13-22

Evangelical Heritage Version

Suffering for Doing Good

¹³ Who will harm you if you are eager to do^[a] what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should happen to suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not be afraid of what they fear,^[b] and do not be troubled. ¹⁵ But regard the Lord, the Christ,^[c] as holy in your hearts.^[d] Always be prepared to give an answer^[e] to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you. ¹⁶ But speak with gentleness and respect, while maintaining a clear conscience, so that those who attack your good way of life in Christ may be put to shame because they slandered you as evildoers.^[f]

The Suffering and Exaltation of Christ

¹⁷ Indeed, it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, ¹⁸ because Christ also suffered once for sins in our place,^[g] the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you^[h] to God. He was put to death in flesh^[i] but was made alive in spirit,^{[j] 19} in which he also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison. ²⁰ These spirits disobeyed long ago, when God’s patience was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In this ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. ²¹ And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee^[k] of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ²² He went to heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.