8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.
10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—
20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.
GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
8 To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.
9 Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you.
10 As the scripture says, “If you want to enjoy life and wish to see good times, you must keep from speaking evil and stop telling lies.
11 You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart.
12 For the Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers; but he opposes those who do evil.”
13 Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.
15 But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you,
16 but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually,
19 and in his spiritual existence he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.
20 These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat—eight in all—were saved by the water,
21 which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone to heaven and is at the right side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.
GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
8 To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.
9 Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you.
10 As the scripture says, “If you want to enjoy life and wish to see good times, you must keep from speaking evil and stop telling lies.
11 You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart.
12 For the Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers; but he opposes those who do evil.”
13 Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.
15 But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you,
16 but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually,
19 and in his spiritual existence he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.
20 These were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God when he waited patiently during the days that Noah was building his boat. The few people in the boat—eight in all—were saved by the water,
21 which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone to heaven and is at the right side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.
No comments:
Post a Comment