Get Ready
When you think about people in authority, who do you visualize – parents, teachers, police or other first responders, military officers, government or political leaders, experts in a given field? What marks a person as having authority – uniform or badge, a weapon, a special office or vehicle?
The Word
3Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct,
2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;
4 rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.
5 It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands. 6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.
7 Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.
Suffering for Doing Right
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For
“Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
11 let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, 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 made subject to him. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. Who does Peter address first? What direction does he give them? Does this apply in all marriages? What is the result of following Peter’s advice?
2. What does he talk about next? Why do you suppose he brings in this subject? What is the advice? Why is this important? Who does he mention as an example of a woman who “hoped in God”?
3. Who does Peter talk to next? What direction does he give this group? Why should these folks follow his advice?
4. How does Peter describe a person who follows Christ? How does such a person relate to other folks? What does a Christian receive for such behaviors? How does Peter support his advice (see Notes)?
5. How should Christians relate to non-believers? What should characterize their “defense” or testimony. What does he say about suffering? Where have you read this before?
6. Who does Peter point to as the model for this behavior? What was the result for this person? Who else does he refer to (see Notes)? What current practice does this refer to? How does this make a difference for a believer?
Get Personal
How are you doing with your “defense . . . of the hope that is in you”? How does God help you to be ready and gentile and reverent in your response to insult or criticism?
Notes . . .
3:1. In the same way – refers back to Peter’s discussion of authority in chapter 2.
Wives . . . accept the authority of your husbands – this is a specific application of the principle in the previous chapter. Even though Jesus treated women and men equally, the culture of the time saw women as no different than slaves. Here Peter is describing the spiritual relationship within a marriage, which is obvious when he say a non-believing husband “may be won over without a word by their wive’s conduct.” Paul expresses a similar view in his letters, calling for mutual submission of the husband and wife to each other.
3.3. Braiding your hair . . . adornment – again, the culture valued such things as marking a “good” woman, but Peter says that “a gentle and quiet spirit is precious in God’s sight,” [1:4].
3:6. Sarah – Peter uses Abraham’s wife as the example to follow.
3:7. Husbands, in the same way – in the culture men ruled every relationship, but Peter says they have the same responsibility for the family’s spiritual well-being as their wife.
3.8. Finally, all of you – Peter is now addressing all believers – including you and me.
Unity of spirit, sympathy love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind are characteristics of people who follow Christ.
3:9. Evil for evil or abuse for abuse – the world operates on a transactional basis where the usual response is similar to the initial action, but that only increases the amount of “evil” in the situation. Jesus told the disciples to “turn the other cheek” and Peter says “repay with a blessing” – increase the amount of grace in the situation.
NOTE: Father Richard Rohr teaches “the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.”3:10. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16.
3:13. Eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer – an attacker is less likely to keep attacking when the “victim” does not retaliate – the attacker can feel like he or she “won.” But the believer is “blessed” spiritually and should not be afraid.
3:15. Always be ready – a Christian should be prepared and confident to explain his or her faith (make your defense . . . for the hope that is in you), but not in an angry or argumentative way. Peter goes on to repeat the advice in chapter 2 and, again, uses Christ as the example.
3:19. Proclamation to the spirits in prison – one of the thorniest passages in the Bible, this is the source for the statement that Jesus “descended into Hell” in the creeds. Some commentators see this as a literal visit to the unbelievers who died before Jesus was born, while others interpret this passage more figuratively as the universal proclamation of the Gospel to all humans. Genesis 6:1-6 describes the situation where the “sons of God” (or fallen angels) were sexually violating human young girls, which led God to blot out from the earth all the human beings . . . for I am sorry I have made them, (v. 6:6). NOTE: this will show up in 2 Peter as well.
3:21. Baptism – Peter links the current sacrament of baptism with Noah’s survival for 40 days on the water before finding renewed life on dry land, similar to the Israelites walking through the “Red Sea.”
Resurrection of Jesus Christ – Jesus’ resurrection is the “proof” that validates our new life.
Memory Verse
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God, [1 Peter 3:18]
Next Lesson
Good stewards of God’s grace – 1 Peter 4
