The Letters · New Testament

1 Peter 3

Answering hope with gentleness

General context

The household instructions call wives to submit to their own husbands and husbands to honour their wives as fellow heirs of the grace of life. The appeal then widens to compassion, blessing in response to insult and the pursuit of peace. Readers facing slander or suffering are asked to explain their hope with gentleness and reverence while keeping a good conscience. Christ's suffering for sins is followed in the text by a passage about spirits in prison, Noah and baptism. Baptism is described as saving through Christ's resurrection, with a good conscience toward God rather than the washing of dirt. The chapter ends with Christ at God's right hand and the heavenly powers subject to him.

Cited passages: 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 3:4, 1 Peter 3:6, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 Peter 3:11, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 3:15, 1 Peter 3:16, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 3:19, 1 Peter 3:20, 1 Peter 3:21, 1 Peter 3:22

1 Peter 3 (KJV)

¹Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

²While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

³Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

⁴But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

⁵For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

⁶Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

⁷Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

⁸Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

⁹Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

¹⁰For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

¹¹Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

¹²For 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.

¹³And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

¹⁴But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

¹⁵But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

¹⁶Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

¹⁷For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

¹⁸For 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:

¹⁹By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

²⁰Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

²¹The like figure whereunto 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:

²²Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

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Historical context

The letter names Peter and addresses scattered readers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. Chapter 3 considers households in which a husband may not obey the word, and draws on Sarah and Abraham as an example. Husbands are told to give honour and recognize shared inheritance in the grace of life. The wider community is pictured facing hostile speech and possible suffering for doing good. The closing reference to Noah and eight people in the ark brings an earlier biblical account into the discussion of salvation and baptism.

Cited passages: 1 Peter 1:1, 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 3:5, 1 Peter 3:6, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 3:16, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 3:20, 1 Peter 3:21

Literary context

The address moves from wives and husbands to the whole community. Commands to guard speech, turn from evil and seek peace closely follow the wording of Psalm 34. Contrasts between wrongdoing and doing good, insult and blessing, and the just and unjust prepare for the account of Christ's suffering. Noah's deliverance through water is brought into comparison with baptism, which is distinguished from removing bodily dirt and linked with a good conscience and Christ's resurrection. The final movement is from suffering to Christ's authority over angels and powers.

Cited passages: 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 Peter 3:10, 1 Peter 3:11, 1 Peter 3:12, Psalms 34:12, Psalms 34:13, Psalms 34:14, Psalms 34:15, Psalms 34:16, 1 Peter 3:16, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 3:20, 1 Peter 3:21, 1 Peter 3:22

Key moments

Honour a fellow heir (1 Peter 3:7). Husbands are instructed to honour their wives as fellow heirs of the grace of life.
Answer insult with blessing (1 Peter 3:9). The community is called to return blessing rather than evil or insult.
Give a reason for hope (1 Peter 3:15). The readers are urged to be ready to explain their hope with meekness and reverence.
Christ above the powers (1 Peter 3:22). Christ is described at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities and powers subject to him.