3. You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols.
4. And now the heathen are surprised when you do not join them in the same wild and reckless living, and so they insult you.
5. But they will have to give an account of themselves to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6. That is why the Good News was preached also to the dead, to those who had been judged in their physical existence as everyone is judged; it was preached to them so that in their spiritual existence they may live as God lives.
7. The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray.
8. Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.
9. Open your homes to each other without complaining.
10. Each one, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.
11. Whoever preaches must preach God's messages; whoever serves must serve with the strength that God gives, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
12. My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you.
13. Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed.
14. Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ's followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you.