3 8 To sum up: be one in thought and feeling, all of you; be full of brotherly affection, kindly and humble-minded. 3 9 Do not repay wrong with wrong, or abuse with abuse; on the contrary, retaliate with blessing, for a blessing is the inheritance to which you yourselves have been called. 3 10 [ Ps.43.12-16. ] 'Whoever loves life and would see good days must restrain his tongue from evil and his lips from deceit; 3 11 must turn from wrong and do good, seek peace and pursue it. 3 12 For the Lord's eyes are turned towards the righteous, his ears are open to their prayers; but the Lord's face is set against wrong-doers.'
3 13 WHO IS GOlNG to do you wrong if you are devoted to what is good? 3 14 [ Is.8.12-13. ] And yet if you should suffer for your virtues, you may count yourselves happy. Have no fear of them: Or: Do not fear what they fear. do not be perturbed, 3 15 but hold the Lord Christ in reverence in your hearts. Or: hold Christ in reverence in your hearts, as Lord. Be always ready with your defence whenever you are called to account for the hope that is in you, but make that defence with modesty and respect. 3 16 Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are abused, those who malign your Christian conduct may be put to shame. 3 17 It is better to suffer for well-doing, if such should be the will of God, than for doing wrong. 3 18 For Christ also died Some witnesses read: suffered. for our sins Some witnesses read: for sins. Others read: for sins on our behalf. once and for all. He, the just, suffered for the unjust, to bring us to God.
In the body he was put to death; in the spirit he was brought to life. 3 19 And in the spirit he went and made his proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. 3 20 They had refused obedience long ago, while God waited patiently in the days of Noah and the building of the ark, and in the ark a few persons, eight in all, were brought to safety through the water. 3 21 This water prefigured the water of baptism through which you are now brought to safety. Baptism is not the washing away of bodily pollution, but the appeal made to God by a good conscience; and it brings salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 3 22 who entered heaven after receiving the submission of angelic authorities and powers, and is now at the right hand of God.