1 Peter 3

King James Version

Full text for 1 Peter Chapter 3

1¶ Likewise, 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.

8¶ Finally, [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:

16¶ Having 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.

18¶ For 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.

21¶ The 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Peter instructs wives to be submissive and adorn themselves with a meek spirit, and husbands to honor their wives as co-heirs of grace. He then exhorts all believers to live righteously, showing compassion and blessing even those who do evil, and to be prepared to defend their hope. The chapter concludes by highlighting Christ's suffering for sins, his preaching to spirits in prison, and his resurrection and ascension, through which baptism now saves us.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by addressing wives, urging them to be subject to their husbands, particularly to win unbelieving spouses through their chaste and reverent conduct rather than outward adornment. Instead, their true beauty should be the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, exemplified by holy women like Sarah. Husbands are likewise commanded to dwell with their wives with understanding, giving them honor as weaker vessels and joint heirs of God's grace, lest their prayers be hindered. Peter then calls all believers to unity, compassion, and brotherly love, advocating for blessing instead of retaliation, and encouraging a life of peace and good deeds. He assures them that suffering for righteousness is blessed, and they should be ready to articulate their hope with meekness. The chapter culminates with the theological foundation of Christ's singular suffering for sins, his quickening by the Spirit, his preaching to spirits disobedient in Noah's time, and his subsequent resurrection and ascension, through which baptism, as a pledge of a good conscience, now saves believers.

Long Summary

First Peter chapter three provides specific instructions for marital conduct and general exhortations for Christian living, culminating in a profound theological reflection on Christ's redemptive work. Wives are admonished to be in subjection to their own husbands, particularly those who do not obey the word, so that their chaste and reverent conversation might win them without a spoken word. Their adorning is not to be external, such as elaborate hairstyles or costly apparel, but rather the internal, incorruptible beauty of a meek and quiet spirit, which is highly valued by God, following the example of holy women of old like Sarah. Husbands are then instructed to dwell with their wives according to knowledge, giving them honor as the weaker vessel and as fellow heirs of the grace of life, to ensure their prayers are not hindered. Transitioning to broader Christian conduct, Peter urges all believers to be of one mind, compassionate, loving as brethren, pitiful, and courteous. They are to refrain from returning evil for evil or railing for railing, but rather to bless, understanding that they are called to inherit a blessing. This principle is reinforced by the teaching that those who desire to love life and see good days must guard their tongue from evil and their lips from deceit, eschew evil, do good, and earnestly seek peace. The Lord's watchful eyes are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but His face is set against those who do evil. Believers are encouraged that if they follow that which is good, they need not fear harm, and if they suffer for righteousness' sake, they are blessed. They are commanded not to be afraid or troubled, but to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts and always be prepared to give a reason for their hope with meekness and fear. Maintaining a good conscience ensures that false accusers of their good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. Peter asserts that it is better to suffer for well-doing, if it be God's will, than for evil-doing. The chapter concludes by presenting Christ as the ultimate example, who suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring humanity to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit. Through this Spirit, He also preached to the spirits in prison, those disobedient in Noah's time, when God's longsuffering awaited during the ark's preparation. This event serves as a figure for baptism, which now saves us—not as a physical cleansing, but as the pledge of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has ascended to heaven and sits at God's right hand, with all angelic powers subject to Him.

Core Concepts

  • Marital Roles and ConductWives are exhorted to be in subjection and adorn themselves with an inner, meek spirit, while husbands are to dwell with their wives with understanding and honor them as co-heirs of grace.
  • Inner AdornmentTrue beauty for women is described as the "hidden man of the heart," an incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, valued by God more than outward displays of hair, gold, or apparel.
  • Blessing in Response to EvilBelievers are instructed not to return evil for evil or railing for railing, but rather to bless their adversaries, as they are called to inherit a blessing themselves.
  • Suffering for RighteousnessThe chapter teaches that suffering for doing good, if it is God's will, is preferable to suffering for evil, and those who endure such suffering for righteousness' sake are considered happy.
  • Reason for HopeChristians are commanded to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts and always be ready to articulate the reason for the hope they possess, doing so with meekness and fear.
  • Christ's Atonement and DescentChrist suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit, through which he also preached to the spirits in prison from Noah's time.
  • Baptism and ResurrectionBaptism is presented as a saving act, not through physical cleansing, but as the "answer of a good conscience toward God," made effective by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His subsequent ascension and exaltation.