In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands,

So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,

He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.

Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,

but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,

The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son.

And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand

after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.

Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.

This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.

Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,

Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.

Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.