1 Peter
Chapter 3
Overview
Peter is writing to Christian communities learning how faith should shape ordinary life under social pressure. Faith has to live somewhere, and here it starts at home. He addresses wives and husbands within the unequal customs of their world, then widens the circle to everyone: seek peace, answer hostility with good, and speak about hope with gentleness. The chapter does not pretend that decent behavior prevents suffering. Instead, it finds quiet strength in doing right when harm still comes. Peter closes by connecting this pattern to Jesus’ suffering, Noah’s rescue through water, baptism, resurrection, and Jesus’ rule in heaven.
1In the same way, wives, place yourselves under the authority of your own husbands. Then, even if some husbands refuse to obey the message, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live.
2They will have observed your pure and reverent way of life.
3Do not base your beauty on outward decoration—elaborate hairstyles, gold jewelry, or impressive clothes.
4Instead, let your beauty come from the hidden person within your heart: the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. This is extremely precious in God’s sight.
5This is how women devoted to God, who placed their hope in him, used to make themselves beautiful. They placed themselves under the authority of their own husbands.
6Sarah, for example, obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You have become her daughters if you do good and refuse to be frightened by any threat.
7In the same way, husbands, live thoughtfully with your wives, recognizing that they are the physically weaker partners. Show them honor because they share equally with you in God’s gracious gift of life. Do this so that nothing hinders your prayers.
8Finally, all of you, live in harmony. Care about one another’s suffering, love one another as family, be compassionate, and be humble.
9Do not repay harm with harm or insult with insult. Instead, ask God to bless those who mistreat you. You were called to do this so that you may inherit a blessing.
10Anyone who wants to enjoy life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from speaking deceit.
11Such a person must turn away from evil and do good. They must seek peace and pursue it.
12God’s eyes are on those who do what is right, and his ears listen to their pleas. But God sets his face against those who do evil.
13Who will harm you if you become eager to do good?
14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, you should count yourselves fortunate. Do not fear their threats or be shaken.
15Instead, honor the Messiah, God’s chosen king—traditionally called Christ—as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have.
16But answer with gentleness and respect, and keep a clear conscience. Then, when people speak against you, those who mistreat you because of the good life you live as followers of the Messiah will be put to shame.
17It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.
18The Messiah also suffered once to deal with human wrongdoing. He had done right, yet he suffered for people who had done wrong, so that he could bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit.
19In the spirit, he also went and proclaimed a message to the spirits held in prison.
20These spirits had disobeyed long ago, while God waited patiently in Noah’s time as the ark was being built. A few people—eight in all—entered the ark and were brought safely through the water.
21Baptism—the water rite that corresponds to this—now saves you. This does not mean washing dirt from the body. It is an appeal to God for a clear conscience, and it saves you through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah from death.
22Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right side, the place of highest honor. Angels, spiritual authorities, and powers have all been placed under his rule.