3 Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7 Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Suffering for Doing Good
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[Psalm 34:12-16]
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[Or fear what they fear ]; do not be frightened.”[Isaiah 8:12 ] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
19 After being made alive, [Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.[Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
NOTES:
3:1–6 The typical marital virtues of women of the ancient
world, obedience, reverence, and chastity (1 Pt 3:1–2), are outlined here by
the author, who gives them an entirely new motivation: Christian wives are to
be virtuous so that they may be instrumental in the conversion of their
husbands. In imitation of holy women in the past (1 Pt 3:5) they are to
cultivate the interior life (1 Pt 3:4) instead of excessive concern with their
appearance (1 Pt 3:3).
3:7 Husbands who do not respect their wives will have as
little success in prayer as those who, according to Paul, have no love: their
prayers will be “a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1).
Consideration for others is shown as a prerequisite for effective prayer also
in Mt 5:23–24; 1 Cor 11:20–22; Jas 4:3. After all, whatever the social position
of women in the world and in the family, they are equal recipients of the gift
of God’s salvation. Paul is very clear on this point, too (see 1 Cor 11:11–12;
Gal 3:28).
3:8–12 For the proper ordering of Christian life in its
various aspects as described in 1 Pt 2:11–3:9, there is promised the blessing
expressed in Ps 34:13–17. In the Old Testament this refers to longevity and
prosperity; here, it also refers to eternal life.
3:13–22 This exposition, centering on 1 Pt 3:17, runs as
follows: by his suffering and death Christ the righteous one saved the
unrighteous (1 Pt 3:18); by his resurrection he received new life in the
spirit, which he communicates to believers through the baptismal bath that
cleanses their consciences from sin. As Noah’s family was saved through water,
so Christians are saved through the waters of baptism (1 Pt 3:19–22). Hence
they need not share the fear of sinners; they should rather rejoice in
suffering because of their hope in Christ. Thus their innocence disappoints
their accusers (1 Pt 3:13–16; cf. Mt 10:28; Rom 8:35–39).
3:18 Suffered: very many ancient manuscripts and versions
read “died.” Put to death in the flesh: affirms that Jesus truly died as a
human being. Brought to life in the spirit: that is, in the new and transformed
existence freed from the limitations and weaknesses of natural human life (cf.
1 Cor 15:45).
3:19 The spirits in prison: it is not clear just who these
spirits are. They may be the spirits of the sinners who died in the flood, or
angelic powers, hostile to God, who has been overcome by Christ (cf. 1 Pt
3:22; Gn 6:4; Enoch 6–36, especially 21:6; 2 Enoch 7:1–5).
3:21 Appeal to God: this could also be translated “pledge,”
that is, a promise on the part of Christians to live with a good conscience
before God, or a pledge from God of forgiveness and therefore a good conscience
for us.
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