1 Peter 3:13-4:11

New American Standard Bible 1995

^13 (A)Who is ^[a]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(B)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(C)you ^[b]are blessed. ^(D)And do not fear their ^[c]intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^[d]sanctify ^(E)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(F)to make a ^[e]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(G)hope that is in you, yet ^(H)with gentleness and ^[f](I)reverence; ^16 [g]and keep a ^(J)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(K)you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(L)it is better, ^(M)if ^[h]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(N)Christ also died for sins ^(O)once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(P)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(Q)in the flesh, but made alive ^(R)in the ^[i]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[j]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient, when the ^(S)patience of God ^(T)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(U)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(V)eight ^(W)persons, were brought safely through the ^[k]water. ^21 (X)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(Y)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ^[l]for a ^(Z)good conscience—through ^(AA)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 (AB)who is at the right hand of God, ^(AC)having gone into heaven, ^(AD)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^(AE)Christ has ^[m]suffered in the flesh, ^(AF)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because ^(AG)he who has ^[n]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ^2 (AH)so as to live ^(AI)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the ^(AJ)will of God. ³ For ^(AK)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[o](AL)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and ^[p]abominable idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of ^(AM)dissipation, and they ^(AN)malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge ^(AO)the living and the dead. ⁶ For ^(AP)the gospel has for this purpose been ^[q]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

^7 (AQ)The end of all things ^[r]is near; therefore, ^(AR)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[s]prayer. ⁸ Above all, ^(AS)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(AT)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (AU)Be hospitable to one another without ^(AV)complaint. ^10 (AW)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(AX)stewards of the manifold grace of God. ^11 (AY)Whoever speaks, is to do so ^[t]as one who is speaking the ^(AZ)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving ^[u](BA)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(BB)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(BC)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.