For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, , so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ and to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They will feed along the pathways, and their pastures will be on all the barren heights.
You were patient with them for many years, and your Spirit warned them through your prophets, but they would not listen. Therefore, you handed them over to the surrounding peoples.
Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh , but made alive by the Spirit,
who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few #– #that is, eight people , #– #were saved through water.