Peter encourages believers to be unified, compassionate, and humble, repaying evil with blessing and seeking peace. He reassures them that suffering for righteousness brings blessing, urging them to honor Christ as Lord in their hearts and to always be prepared to give a defense of their faith gently and respectfully. He reminds them that it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Drawing on Christ's example, whose body was crucified but whose spirit is alive eternally, Peter emphasizes that their faith will ultimately lead to victory over adversity.