Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church

3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and1 authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. 3:2 They must not slander2 anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. 3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. 3:4 3 But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 3:5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured out on us in full measure4 through Jesus Christ our Savior. 3:7 And so,5 since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”6