1 Peter
Chapter 3
Bible TextNotes and Thoughts
1 ¶ Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the Word, they also may be won without the Word by the conduct of their wives
2 while they behold your chaste manner of living coupled with fear.
3 When adorning yourselves, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on apparel;
4 but let it be the hidden man of the heart which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price.
5 For in this manner in olden times the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands,
6 even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord. Ye are her daughters as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any bewilderment.
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with your wives with understanding, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
8 ¶ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one for another. Love each other as brethren, be sympathetic, be courteous,
9 not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, knowing that ye are called thereto, that ye might inherit a blessing.
10 For, "He that would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
11 Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."
13 And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye. "And be not afraid of their terror; neither be troubled."
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
16 ¶ Have a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they who falsely accuse may be ashamed by your good manner of life in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evildoing.
18 ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit,
19 by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison,
20 who one time were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, (that is, eight souls) were saved by water.
21 ¶ The like figure to this, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
  Peter now looks at the relationships of marriage. Peter tries to show the way of a happy marriage. This chapters thoughts continue from previous chapter by starting with "Likewise."
The fact that both man and woman are Christians in a marriage does not mean there will be a perfect marriage, it has to be worked at. There is an even greater problem if only one person of the marriage is a Christian.
Submission 1 Peter 3:1-6.
In verses 1 and 5 Peter introduces the ‘submission’ of Christian wives to their husbands.
The word translated "subjection" means to ‘place in rank,’ God has placed everything at various orders of authority, He placed the husband as head of the home Eph 5:21ff but is also subject to Christ. This does not mean ‘dictatorship’ but a loving relationship.
v1 Wives submit because of God’s Word. This does not mean the wife is of lower status, in v7 husband and wives are ‘equal’ heirs and Gal 3:28 says they are ‘one in Christ’. 2 Cor 6:14-18 shows the problems for not being married to a Christian.
Christ was willing to be made a "little lower than the angels" for us. Heb 2:7.
The wife being submissive also may help the unsaved husband come to know Christ as their Saviour. This means that the wife just lives a life that pleases Christ, she does not keep ‘preaching’ at the husband, it often turns him away instead, it‘s the love, understanding, patience and kindness which has more effect and then Salvation comes through the ‘Word of God.’
v3-6 The word "adorning" is the word Kosmos in the Greek, this gives us our word ‘cosmos’ or ‘ordered universe.’ Peter warned the Christian woman not to put all their faith in external (outside) ‘decoration’ but in their internal ‘true heart’ of Christ. Peter did not forbid the use of jewelry or the wearing of ‘fashion’ clothes, our appearance can still honour God by the wearing of jewelery etc. Peter used Sarah in Gen 18 as an example, though the use of ‘lord’ for Abraham her husband might not work today.
v7 Peter now turns to the husband. To "dwell with them," is more than living at the same address, marriage involves a team working together Eph 5:31; 1 Cor 7:1-5; It is the husband who should supply the home requirements, 1 Tim 5:8 but women are not forbidden to work as well but the home should come first. Titus 2:4-5.
Husband should have "understanding," a husband needs to know the feelings, fears, hopes and moods of his wife. Honour the wife, treats the wife with respect, "the weaker vessel," is referring to the physical abilities of the wife, usually the man being the stronger.
There is a spiritual side to the relationship, "that your prayers be not hindered. " The Word of God and prayer should have a place in each marriage.
Ready for the future 1 Peter 3:8-17.
v8 "Finally" ‘to sum up’ be of the same mind, united. This does not mean the same, the parts of human body is made of many parts but they work together in ‘unity’ as one, each depending upon the other. Love for each other proves that the body of Christ is operating in unity, but all actions must still seek to honour Christ.
We must have compassion, pity and sympathetic (feelings for) as well as love,a Christian should be in tune with the needs and feelings of others Rom 12:15,16; God teaches us 1 Thess 4:9.
v9 Love your enemies, return good for evil. Rom 12:18. Christ is the example 1 Peter 2:21-23. Peter told the readers that they will "inherit a blessing" in heaven if we do this. Matt 5:10-12
v10 "Love life," enjoy the life God has given you. "Control our tongues," many problems are due to wrong words. James 3:1ff.
v11-17 God knows all that is happening so live a life pleasing to God, even if the problems seem to be winning let God be in control.
v13-15 we may be facing many problems as Christians, but put Christ first, make Him your Lord, He is more than anything the world can throw at you, we may be hurt but our hope is in Christ and nothing can harm us. Rom 8:17-18; Rom 8:28-39. What ever happens be ready to show that Christ is your Lord, "be ready with an answer" of what your faith is.
v16-17 Let your life reflect the love of Christ when you are wrongly accused. Be of "good conscience" to know that our actions are right, it is better for you that you suffer for the sake of God and His Will.
The ministry of Christ 1 Peter 3:18-22.
These verses have caused many discussions causing some difficulty for some.
v18 Christ is the example, the "Just one" dieing for the sinners, the unjust to bring us to God, we now have an access to the throne of God because of what Jesus has done. Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19-22; Rom 5:1,2.
v19-20 The phase "but quickened by the Spirit," ‘being made alive by the Spirit’ has created a problem. In the Greek manuscripts there are no capital letters, so we have no right to put "Spirit" rather than "spirit," Greek experts say that the end of verse 19 should read "Being put to death with reference to the flesh, but made alive with reference to the spirit," referring to ‘flesh’ and ‘spirit’ not ‘Christ’s flesh’ and the ‘Holy Spirit’.
Jesus had a physical body, He was not God living in the body of a man, He was a true God-Man. When He died He gave up His spirit to the Father God. Luke 23:46. This spirit must have died when He became sin for us and God forsakes Him. So on the cross His body died and so did His spirit as it became sin for us. At some point His spirit was made alive again, not resurrection as this needs a body.
v19,20 So what does "He went and preached unto the spirits in prison" mean? The word "spirits" in the New Testament is used for angels and demons, not humans. So at sometime during this event Jesus delivered a message to spirit beings who were disobedient before the flood. Peter does not explain what this is about. All we know is that before the flood the world was very evil.
v21 Death means the spirit has left the body, James 2:26 so resurrection means that the spirit returns to the body. Luke 8:54-56. The Father raised Jesus Rom 6:4.
As Noah was saved from the world of sin by the water of the flood, God’s judgement, so baptism by water represents death from sin and the saving grace of God. Baptism does not save you it is your heart conscience) and the death and resurrection of Jesus. Rom 4:24,25; 1 Cor 15:1-4; Gal 2:20.
v22 Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father on heaven, a place of exaltation. Phil 2:5-11. Believers are sitting with Him. Eph 2:4-7.
All authority and power now belongs to Jesus, He has complete victory over all angels and powers Col 2:9-15.

Easy English Translation




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