⁵ he saved us,^(A) not because of righteous things we had done,^(B) but because of his mercy.^(C) He saved us through the washing^(D) of rebirth and renewal^(E) by the Holy Spirit,

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(A) for sins,^(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(C) He was put to death in the body^(D) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(E) 19} After being made alive,^[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(F)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(G) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(H) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(I) were saved^(J) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(K) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(L) toward God.^[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(M) 22} who has gone into heaven^(N) and is at God’s right hand^(O)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(P)

¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?^(A)

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness^(A) of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head^(B) over every power and authority.^{(C) 11} In him you were also circumcised^(D) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh^[a](E) was put off when you were circumcised by^[b] Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism,^(F) in which you were also raised with him^(G) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^(H)