The First Epistle General of Peter

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)

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

when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,

but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,

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.

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.

Turning from Evil

Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

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.

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

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.”(a)

Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

Suffering for Righteousness

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”(b)

But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.(c) 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,

keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered (d) 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,

in whom

(e)

He also went and preached to the spirits in prison

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.

And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of

(f)

a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Footnotes

(a)3:12 Psalms 34:12–16 (see also LXX)

(b)3:14 Or “Do not fear their threats; do not be shaken.” Isaiah 8:12

(c)3:15 BYZ and TR But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. This sentence may also be included with the quotation from the previous verse; see Isaiah 8:13.

(d)3:18 NE and WH died

(e)3:19 Or in the spirit, 19 in which

(f)3:21 Or appeal for

(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)

In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word,

seeing your pure behavior in fear.

Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,

but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.

So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.

You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Turning from Evil

Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”(a)

Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good?

Suffering for Righteousness

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”(b)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,

having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Footnotes

(a)3:12 ℘ Psalms 34:12-16

(b)3:14 ℘ Isaiah 8:12