3.1-22

As Peter opens chapter three with a 6:1 ratio of marital directives regarding spousal conduct toward each other (vv1-7), it is easy to consider this passage as chauvinistic. Modern worldly teaching would suggest this. We are quick to forget that the world desires to unbalance the order God perfectly created in all things. We lose sight of the fact that all things were created with a purpose, with our prosperity and welfare built into them (Jeremiah 29:11). The same is true here. Peter is not saying that the wife is to submit to her husband (v1) in her morals, intellect, or spirituality. This is a submission in function for the welfare of the household, the church, and the unbelieving community that can see the order of a household that reveres God and right relationships. The same is true in verse 7, as the wife is to be treated with honor "as a fellow heir of the grace of life," in an understanding way - "as with a weaker vessel." Obviously, such reverence paid to the spouse would not be coupled with a disrespectful use of "weaker." Because identically to submission, she is not weaker in morals or intellect, or spirit - but merely in physical strength. This is part of God's design that assigns the husband's role as her physical protector and provider. Otherwise, Peter would have found himself at odds with Paul, who clearly identified men and women as equal in Galatians 3:27-28. Note, too, that despite the protections of a greater caution given to women (six verses to one vv1-7) in a Christian marriage regarding their conduct toward their husbands, in both v1 & v7, Peter refers the wife and the husbands, "in the same way" back to 2:13,18 for being "subject to EACH OTHER. Hence "live with YOUR wives (v7)" (sunoikountos, dwelling together), harmoniously like-minded (v8), or literally "same-thinking."

CHAPTER 3

Wives and Husbands

1 In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
2 as they observe your pure conduct with fear.
3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands,
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, NOT FEARING ANY INTIMIDATION.
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 Now to sum up, all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For,
“THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

Suffering for Righteousness

13 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR FEAR, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear,
16 having a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that He might bring you to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,
20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.