1 Peterchapter 3

A.Wives, Husbands, and the Hidden Adorning of the Heartvv. 1-7

1 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives 2 when they see your pure and reverent demeanor. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4 but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5 For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

B.Ready Always to Give an Answer for Your Hopevv. 8-17

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.” 15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

C.Alive in the Spirit: The Spirits in Prisonvv. 18-22

18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 19 in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. 21 And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

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Wives are counselled to an adornment that is not the plaiting of hair or jewels of gold but 'the hidden man of the heart… the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit' (3:4); husbands, to give honor as joint-heirs of the grace of life, 'to the end that your prayers be not hindered.' Then the apologetic charge: 'be ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear' (3:15). Christ suffered for sins once, 'put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison', disobedient in the days of Noah, and read here in the house's Genesis 6 frame as the bound angelic offenders of 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · Peter — 1 Peter overview

A. 1–7 Wives, Husbands, and the Hidden Adorning of the Heart
B. 8–17 Ready Always to Give an Answer for Your Hope
C. 18–22 Alive in the Spirit: The Spirits in Prison

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

1 Peter 24 verses
- 1 Peter 2:1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
- 1 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- 1 Peter 2:15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
- 1 Peter 2:19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
- Read 1 Peter 2 →
Romans 124 verses
- Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
- Romans 12:17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Read Romans 12 →
Colossians 33 verses
- Colossians 3:12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Colossians 3:18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
- Colossians 3:19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
- Read Colossians 3 →
Ephesians 53 verses
- Ephesians 5:22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
- Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
- Ephesians 5:33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
- Read Ephesians 5 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Psalms 343 verses
- Psalms 34:12Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days?
- Psalms 34:14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- Psalms 34:15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
- Read Psalms 34 →
Hebrews 93 verses
- Hebrews 9:24For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
- Hebrews 9:26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
- Hebrews 9:28so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
- Read Hebrews 9 →
Matthew 52 verses
- Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
- Matthew 5:10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Read Matthew 5 →
Hebrews 122 verses
- Hebrews 12:2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- Read Hebrews 12 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.