1 PETER 3
"Scripture quotes taken from the Amplified Bible, unless otherwise indicated."
1 Peter 3:1 "IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives,
1 Peter 3:2 When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him--to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].
1 Peter 3:3 Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes;
1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:5 For it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were [accustomed] to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands [adapting themselves to them as themselves secondary and dependent upon them].
1 Peter 3:6 It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].
1 Peter 3:7 In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God's unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.]"
Whenever a chapter of scripture begins with "therefore", "likewise" or a phrase such as "in like manner", we have to look back for a moment to see how the previous chapter ended, since the author is obviously continuing the same thought which has already been stated. 1 Peter 2:18-25 speaks about being willing to suffer unjustly for Christ's sake. Specifically, Peter asked slaves to obey their masters, not just when they're kind, reasonable and understanding, but even when they're not. Peter says it's commendable in God's sight if a slave patiently even takes a beating unjustly, and he adds that Christ suffered unjustly for us all and left us an example which we should follow.
The question which arises here is how much submission does the scripture require of a wife whose husband is unreasonable and unkind? There is an obvious difference between a master/slave relationship and a husband/wife relationship, yet some might read this passage and conclude that if a slave's patience with an unjust beating is commendable to God, a woman's patience with an unjust beating by her husband would also be commendable. Scripture doesn't give us a formula which would tell us how much submission is too much, but it gives us a hint in verse 1, when it says a woman's behavior ought to be so good that it might win an unbelieving husband for the Lord. My father was an alcoholic, he beat my mother, and I grew up in a home where winning my father to Christ might not have been possible, no matter how my mother behaved. Bringing honor to the name of Christ should be the goal of both spouses, and any decision about marital separation should be based on whether that continues to be possible.
Perhaps there is a limit to a wife's submission to her husband within a marriage. But we shouldn't go to the other extreme of believing this passage can be ignored, and that submission requires no sacrifice at all. But since the marriage relationship is a type of the relationship between Christ and the church, a husband's willingness to live unselfishishly with his wife ought to be even greater than her submission to him as her husband.
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her."
Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them."
There is no scripture which commands wives to love their husbands as Christ loved the church. Many people these days object to the writings of both Peter here in verse 1 and Paul in Ephesians 5:22 which tell wives to be submissive to their husbands. But God never asks us to be submissive to anyone without giving the one being submitted to a greater obligation and responsibility for our welfare. Christ died for us all, he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and he intercedes for us today, in every way providing for our spiritual well-being. We are to obey him, but his responsibility for our welfare has required more of him than even martyrs have to give in return. Indeed, it can be argued that our obligation to Christ is because of what he has done and continues to do for us.
In a similar way, husbands have a greater responsibility to their wives than wives have to their husbands. The scriptural ideal is for wives to be submissive to their husbands in the context of a husband's self-sacrificing love for his wife, or alternatively, as part of a wife's effort to win her husband to Christ.
When I was a young Christian, a friend of mine told me that all women should be under the authority of a father or a husband, if possible. I have no personal interest in creating a patriarchal society, and I wouldn't necessarily believe what my friend said if it were not for passages of scripture such as Numbers 30, which gives a woman's husband or father the right, and perhaps the obligation, to nullify her vows if he believes they are unreasonable. The most intriguing verse in Numbers 30 is verse 15, which says a man can nullify his wife's vows and bear her iniquity. Of course, we are under a new covenant, but nowhere in scripture does a woman carry a man's sins in this way.
Particularly with regard to the culture of the Middle East, Christianity was a giant leap forward in regard to women's rights, since no other religion had ever taught that husbands ought to have Christ-like love for their wives. Also, since women arrived first at Christ's tomb first after his resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-10) and played a prominent part in his ministry (Mark 15:40-41, , John 11:1-45) women are not secondary citizens as Christians, even if they have less authority at home or in the church.
Some women are referred to as trophy wives, which unfortunately usually means the world regards them as trophies or showpieces which have been successfully competed for. But every wife should be regarded as a trophy wife by her husband, regardless of how desirable society thinks his wife is. Believe me, when I was single, I was very familiar with the following verse:
Proverbs 1822 "He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."
The prevailing doctrine in the world is that both power and responsibility should be shared equally between men and women within marriage, but the effort to make things that way has only led to an escalating divorce rate and the breakup of families. We can all look back to our childhoods when we had very little power and only a few responsibilities. Of course, there is excitement about growing up, having more and more freedom and making our own decisions, but the responsibilities of adulthood are such that many of us would probably enjoy returning to our childhood from time to time if we could. I think most unhappiness among women really stems from carrying too many responsibilities and having men abdicate theirs. The world values power and claims men have too much of it, but we should value love and expect men to do more of it. It will make women better off. God's word says so.
I chose to quote the Amplified Bible in a discussion of this chapter, because some translations of verse 3 make it sound as though women ought not to fix their hair, have nice clothes or wear jewelry, and I don't believe that's Peter's intent here. Peter's purpose seems to be that women should value having a gentle and quiet spirit, which verse 4 indicates is very precious in the sight of God, rather than making a high priority of clothes, jewelry and hair styles.
The Amplified Bible speaks of a peaceful and quiet spirit in verse 4, but most translations say gentle and quiet. As for peace and quiet, I sometimes say that peace left my home when our first son was born and quiet left when the second son was born. But seriously, 1 Peter 3:4 is one of my favorite verses of scripture because both gentleness and quietness are vanishing from our society. It is quite common these days to be at a stoplight with someone whose boom box can be heard for at least three or four blocks. When I watch sporting events, I often hear the song which says, "We will, we will rock you." Again, this is a reflection of the world's fascination with power, but their rejection of love and good sportsmanship.
Unfortunately, it's not just the secular world which doesn't value quietness anymore. I have been to many churches which seem as loud to me as the battle for the beaches of Normandy probably was, and I can only wonder why they find that necessary. Churches are the loudest places I ever intentionally go to. I know the walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelis shouted, but they weren't shouting into an amplifier. I, for one, feel very tired of the noise of modern life.
Verse 7 provides one of the few conditional comments in scripture about receiving answers to prayer, since it says a man's prayers will be hindered if he does not treat his wife considerately. There is no scripture which says a woman's prayers will be ineffective if she doesn't treat her husband well.
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).
1 Peter 3:9 Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].
1 Peter 3:10 For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).
1 Peter 3:11 Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them]."
This passage takes us from marriage to our relationships with other Christians in general. Verses 8 and 9 say we are to be loving, compassionate, courteous, tenderhearted and humble among fellow believers and to pray for and bless them, and God will bless us for doing so. We do not have a choice about who God extends his grace to. It is clear in some of Paul's writing that even in the first century, some Christians had personal difficulties with each other, as in Philippians 4:2-3, and I have occasionally met Christians who I would not have been as eager to save as Jesus apparently is. But we are supposed to serve Christ, and these verses give us part of God's plan for that service.
Verses 10-12 are quoted from Psalm 34:12-16. In order to understand this passage better, I'm going to rewrite it from a secular viewpoint.
"Let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days pursue higher education and credentials, try to meet, impress and flatter well-connected people, quit smoking, lose weight and exercise regularly."
Some of those things may be good ideas, but none of them have any inherent spiritual value. Unless we know the Lord and he is the first priority in our lives, God will not be impressed by what we know, who we know, how seldom we smoke or how much fruit and vegetables we eat. God promises to bless those who do what's right and pursue peace with both God and man, but he will destroy those who persist in lying, deception and insincerity.
1 Peter 3:13 "Now who is there to hurt you if you are zealous followers of that which is good?
1 Peter 3:14 But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
1 Peter 3:16 [And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].
1 Peter 3:17 For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong."
Verse 13 is similar to Galatians 5:22-23, in which Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit and tells us their is no law against its fruit. Verse 13 seems to imply, however, that being zealous about doing good is not only the Spirit's work, but the result of our deliberate choices, implying that we may either walk in the Spirit or we may quench the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]."
The second part of verse 14 tells us not to dread or be afraid of threats or to be disturbed by opposition. This reminds me of Philippians 1:28:
Philippians 1:28 "And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God."
As Christians, we ought to pray for the same boldness with which Peter, James, John, Stephen and Paul testified before the Sanhedron, but we ought to be Christ's witnesses gently and courteously. Both of these qualities have been modeled for us by the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God. So what is required by this passage is boldness, gentleness and a clear conscience, and those things, taken together, will save some of the current generation.
1 Peter 3:17 "For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,"
Verses 17-18 reiterate Peter's message that we must be prepared to suffer for our faith as Christ suffered for us. Note the example of the apostles in Acts.
Acts 5:40 "So, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.
Acts 5:41 So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.
Acts 5:42 Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah)."
What is significant here is that the apostles rejoiced in their suffering, believing their unwillingness not to be defeated by it was part of their witness to the world, a confirmation that Christ was with them and their suffering was God's will and not out of his control.
1 Peter 3:18-19 "He was made alive in the spirit, In which He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
1 Peter 3:20 [The souls of those] who long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God's patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few [people], actually eight in number, were saved through water.
1 Peter 3:21 And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:22 [And He] has now entered into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with [all] angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him."
There isn't a consensus about who Jesus spoke to in verses 19-20, whether it was to angels, to men, or both. I am inclined to believe Jesus spoke to the angels who had fallen from their original state, informing them that his death did not represent a victory for Satan, but redemption for mankind. Because some angels openly rebelled against God, though they were at one time physically in his presence, and because Satan appears not to have understood that the crucifixion was part of God's plan of redemption for man, it seems appropriate to me that Jesus would declare his triumph over him. I'm not sure there was any reason for Jesus to give that message to men who were destroyed by the flood of Noah's day, unless they were the products of interbreeding between men and angels.
In any case, as the flood destroyed the immoral of Noah's generation, baptism destroys the immorality of our pre-Christian lives, burying our dead works, yet allowing us to subsequently live lives of faith in Christ and eventually to share in a resurrection like his.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
1 Peter 3:1 "IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives,
1 Peter 3:2 When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him--to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].
1 Peter 3:3 Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes;
1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:5 For it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were [accustomed] to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands [adapting themselves to them as themselves secondary and dependent upon them].
1 Peter 3:6 It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].
1 Peter 3:7 In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God's unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.]"
Whenever a chapter of scripture begins with "therefore", "likewise" or a phrase such as "in like manner", we have to look back for a moment to see how the previous chapter ended, since the author is obviously continuing the same thought which has already been stated. 1 Peter 2:18-25 speaks about being willing to suffer unjustly for Christ's sake. Specifically, Peter asked slaves to obey their masters, not just when they're kind, reasonable and understanding, but even when they're not. Peter says it's commendable in God's sight if a slave patiently even takes a beating unjustly, and he adds that Christ suffered unjustly for us all and left us an example which we should follow.
The question which arises here is how much submission does the scripture require of a wife whose husband is unreasonable and unkind? There is an obvious difference between a master/slave relationship and a husband/wife relationship, yet some might read this passage and conclude that if a slave's patience with an unjust beating is commendable to God, a woman's patience with an unjust beating by her husband would also be commendable. Scripture doesn't give us a formula which would tell us how much submission is too much, but it gives us a hint in verse 1, when it says a woman's behavior ought to be so good that it might win an unbelieving husband for the Lord. My father was an alcoholic, he beat my mother, and I grew up in a home where winning my father to Christ might not have been possible, no matter how my mother behaved. Bringing honor to the name of Christ should be the goal of both spouses, and any decision about marital separation should be based on whether that continues to be possible.
Perhaps there is a limit to a wife's submission to her husband within a marriage. But we shouldn't go to the other extreme of believing this passage can be ignored, and that submission requires no sacrifice at all. But since the marriage relationship is a type of the relationship between Christ and the church, a husband's willingness to live unselfishishly with his wife ought to be even greater than her submission to him as her husband.
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her."
Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them."
There is no scripture which commands wives to love their husbands as Christ loved the church. Many people these days object to the writings of both Peter here in verse 1 and Paul in Ephesians 5:22 which tell wives to be submissive to their husbands. But God never asks us to be submissive to anyone without giving the one being submitted to a greater obligation and responsibility for our welfare. Christ died for us all, he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and he intercedes for us today, in every way providing for our spiritual well-being. We are to obey him, but his responsibility for our welfare has required more of him than even martyrs have to give in return. Indeed, it can be argued that our obligation to Christ is because of what he has done and continues to do for us.
In a similar way, husbands have a greater responsibility to their wives than wives have to their husbands. The scriptural ideal is for wives to be submissive to their husbands in the context of a husband's self-sacrificing love for his wife, or alternatively, as part of a wife's effort to win her husband to Christ.
When I was a young Christian, a friend of mine told me that all women should be under the authority of a father or a husband, if possible. I have no personal interest in creating a patriarchal society, and I wouldn't necessarily believe what my friend said if it were not for passages of scripture such as Numbers 30, which gives a woman's husband or father the right, and perhaps the obligation, to nullify her vows if he believes they are unreasonable. The most intriguing verse in Numbers 30 is verse 15, which says a man can nullify his wife's vows and bear her iniquity. Of course, we are under a new covenant, but nowhere in scripture does a woman carry a man's sins in this way.
Particularly with regard to the culture of the Middle East, Christianity was a giant leap forward in regard to women's rights, since no other religion had ever taught that husbands ought to have Christ-like love for their wives. Also, since women arrived first at Christ's tomb first after his resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-10) and played a prominent part in his ministry (Mark 15:40-41, , John 11:1-45) women are not secondary citizens as Christians, even if they have less authority at home or in the church.
Some women are referred to as trophy wives, which unfortunately usually means the world regards them as trophies or showpieces which have been successfully competed for. But every wife should be regarded as a trophy wife by her husband, regardless of how desirable society thinks his wife is. Believe me, when I was single, I was very familiar with the following verse:
Proverbs 1822 "He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."
The prevailing doctrine in the world is that both power and responsibility should be shared equally between men and women within marriage, but the effort to make things that way has only led to an escalating divorce rate and the breakup of families. We can all look back to our childhoods when we had very little power and only a few responsibilities. Of course, there is excitement about growing up, having more and more freedom and making our own decisions, but the responsibilities of adulthood are such that many of us would probably enjoy returning to our childhood from time to time if we could. I think most unhappiness among women really stems from carrying too many responsibilities and having men abdicate theirs. The world values power and claims men have too much of it, but we should value love and expect men to do more of it. It will make women better off. God's word says so.
I chose to quote the Amplified Bible in a discussion of this chapter, because some translations of verse 3 make it sound as though women ought not to fix their hair, have nice clothes or wear jewelry, and I don't believe that's Peter's intent here. Peter's purpose seems to be that women should value having a gentle and quiet spirit, which verse 4 indicates is very precious in the sight of God, rather than making a high priority of clothes, jewelry and hair styles.
The Amplified Bible speaks of a peaceful and quiet spirit in verse 4, but most translations say gentle and quiet. As for peace and quiet, I sometimes say that peace left my home when our first son was born and quiet left when the second son was born. But seriously, 1 Peter 3:4 is one of my favorite verses of scripture because both gentleness and quietness are vanishing from our society. It is quite common these days to be at a stoplight with someone whose boom box can be heard for at least three or four blocks. When I watch sporting events, I often hear the song which says, "We will, we will rock you." Again, this is a reflection of the world's fascination with power, but their rejection of love and good sportsmanship.
Unfortunately, it's not just the secular world which doesn't value quietness anymore. I have been to many churches which seem as loud to me as the battle for the beaches of Normandy probably was, and I can only wonder why they find that necessary. Churches are the loudest places I ever intentionally go to. I know the walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelis shouted, but they weren't shouting into an amplifier. I, for one, feel very tired of the noise of modern life.
Verse 7 provides one of the few conditional comments in scripture about receiving answers to prayer, since it says a man's prayers will be hindered if he does not treat his wife considerately. There is no scripture which says a woman's prayers will be ineffective if she doesn't treat her husband well.
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).
1 Peter 3:9 Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].
1 Peter 3:10 For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).
1 Peter 3:11 Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them]."
This passage takes us from marriage to our relationships with other Christians in general. Verses 8 and 9 say we are to be loving, compassionate, courteous, tenderhearted and humble among fellow believers and to pray for and bless them, and God will bless us for doing so. We do not have a choice about who God extends his grace to. It is clear in some of Paul's writing that even in the first century, some Christians had personal difficulties with each other, as in Philippians 4:2-3, and I have occasionally met Christians who I would not have been as eager to save as Jesus apparently is. But we are supposed to serve Christ, and these verses give us part of God's plan for that service.
Verses 10-12 are quoted from Psalm 34:12-16. In order to understand this passage better, I'm going to rewrite it from a secular viewpoint.
"Let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days pursue higher education and credentials, try to meet, impress and flatter well-connected people, quit smoking, lose weight and exercise regularly."
Some of those things may be good ideas, but none of them have any inherent spiritual value. Unless we know the Lord and he is the first priority in our lives, God will not be impressed by what we know, who we know, how seldom we smoke or how much fruit and vegetables we eat. God promises to bless those who do what's right and pursue peace with both God and man, but he will destroy those who persist in lying, deception and insincerity.
1 Peter 3:13 "Now who is there to hurt you if you are zealous followers of that which is good?
1 Peter 3:14 But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
1 Peter 3:16 [And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].
1 Peter 3:17 For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong."
Verse 13 is similar to Galatians 5:22-23, in which Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit and tells us their is no law against its fruit. Verse 13 seems to imply, however, that being zealous about doing good is not only the Spirit's work, but the result of our deliberate choices, implying that we may either walk in the Spirit or we may quench the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]."
The second part of verse 14 tells us not to dread or be afraid of threats or to be disturbed by opposition. This reminds me of Philippians 1:28:
Philippians 1:28 "And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God."
As Christians, we ought to pray for the same boldness with which Peter, James, John, Stephen and Paul testified before the Sanhedron, but we ought to be Christ's witnesses gently and courteously. Both of these qualities have been modeled for us by the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God. So what is required by this passage is boldness, gentleness and a clear conscience, and those things, taken together, will save some of the current generation.
1 Peter 3:17 "For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,"
Verses 17-18 reiterate Peter's message that we must be prepared to suffer for our faith as Christ suffered for us. Note the example of the apostles in Acts.
Acts 5:40 "So, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.
Acts 5:41 So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.
Acts 5:42 Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah)."
What is significant here is that the apostles rejoiced in their suffering, believing their unwillingness not to be defeated by it was part of their witness to the world, a confirmation that Christ was with them and their suffering was God's will and not out of his control.
1 Peter 3:18-19 "He was made alive in the spirit, In which He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
1 Peter 3:20 [The souls of those] who long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God's patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few [people], actually eight in number, were saved through water.
1 Peter 3:21 And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:22 [And He] has now entered into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with [all] angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him."
There isn't a consensus about who Jesus spoke to in verses 19-20, whether it was to angels, to men, or both. I am inclined to believe Jesus spoke to the angels who had fallen from their original state, informing them that his death did not represent a victory for Satan, but redemption for mankind. Because some angels openly rebelled against God, though they were at one time physically in his presence, and because Satan appears not to have understood that the crucifixion was part of God's plan of redemption for man, it seems appropriate to me that Jesus would declare his triumph over him. I'm not sure there was any reason for Jesus to give that message to men who were destroyed by the flood of Noah's day, unless they were the products of interbreeding between men and angels.
In any case, as the flood destroyed the immoral of Noah's generation, baptism destroys the immorality of our pre-Christian lives, burying our dead works, yet allowing us to subsequently live lives of faith in Christ and eventually to share in a resurrection like his.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
posted by TAPIOCA at 9/01/2007 05:50:00 AM
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