The emphasis in the main section of Peter’s letter (2:11—4:11) is on the theme of doing good to the surrounding unbelievers (1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 3:11, 1 Peter 3:13, 1 Peter 3:17). Doing good may result in suffering (1 Peter 2:19–20; 1 Peter 3:17); in fact, even Christ suffered for doing good (1 Peter 3:18). No one, not even a Christian, looks forward to suffering, and so is tempted to renounce good deeds to spare his own skin. In an effort to encourage his readers in the face of suffering, Peter in the present section holds up Christ’s mindset as one the Christian needs to follow.
1 Ainsi donc, Christ ayant souffert dans la chair, vous aussi armez-vous de la même pensée. Car celui qui a souffert dans la chair en a fini avec le péché,