¹³Now cwho is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴dBut even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. eHave no fear of them, fnor be troubled, ¹⁵but gin your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, halways 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 irespect, ¹⁶jhaving a good conscience, so that, kwhen you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷For lit is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸For Christ also msuffered2 nonce for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, othat he might bring us to God, being put to death pin the flesh but made alive qin the spirit, ¹⁹in which3 he went and qproclaimed4 to the spirits in prison, ²⁰because5 they formerly did not obey, rwhen God's patience waited in the days of Noah, swhile the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, teight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹Baptism, which corresponds to this, unow saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but vas an appeal to God for a good conscience, wthrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who has gone into heaven and xis at the right hand of God, ywith angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

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Stewards of God's Grace

¹Since therefore zChrist suffered in the flesh,1 aarm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for bwhoever has suffered in the flesh chas ceased from sin, ²dso as to live for ethe rest of the time in the flesh fno longer for human passions but gfor the will of God. ³For the time that is past hsuffices ifor doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of jdebauchery, and kthey malign you; ⁵but they will give account to him who is ready lto judge the living and the dead. ⁶For this is why mthe gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

⁷nThe end of all things is at hand; therefore obe self-controlled and sober-minded pfor the sake of your prayers. ⁸Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since qlove covers a multitude of sins. ⁹rShow hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰sAs each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, tas good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹whoever speaks, as one who speaks uoracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves vby the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything wGod may be glorified through Jesus Christ. xTo him belong glory and ydominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at zthe fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice ainsofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad bwhen his glory is revealed. ¹⁴cIf you are insulted dfor the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory2 and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵But elet none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or fas a meddler. ¹⁶Yet eif anyone suffers as a gChristian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God din that name. ¹⁷For it is time for judgment hto begin at the household of God; and iif it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who jdo not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸And

k“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”3

¹⁹Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will lentrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

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