Wives and Husbands

¹In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live[#3:1 Eph 5:22–33; Col 3:18–19; 1Tm 3:11; #3:1 1Co 7:16; 1Pt 1:24–25; #3:1 1Co 9:19–22; Php 3:8; #3:1 2Pt 3:11]

²when they observe your pure, reverent lives.[#3:2 Ti 2:5]

³Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewellery or fine clothes,[#3:3 Is 3:18–24; 1Tm 2:9]

⁴but rather what is inside the heart , #– #the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.[#3:4 Or rather, the hidden person of the heart; #3:4 Rm 2:29; 7:22; #3:4 Mt 5:5; #3:4 1Tm 2:2]

⁵For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands,[#3:5 Ps 20:6; 1Co 7:14; #3:5 1Tm 5:5; 1Pt 1:3]

⁶just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.[#3:6 Gn 17:15–21; 18:6–15; Heb 11:11; #3:6 Pr 3:25]

⁷Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honour as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.[#3:7 Mt 1:19; 1Co 14:35; Eph 5:22–28; Col 3:18–19; Ti 2:4–5; #3:7 1Th 4:4]

Do No Evil

⁸Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,[#3:8 Heb 13:1; #3:8 Eph 4:32; #3:8 Other mss read courteous]

⁹not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.[#3:9 Rm 12:17; #3:9 Lk 6:28; Rm 12:14; 1Co 4:12]

Undeserved Suffering

¹³Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

¹⁴But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them , or be intimidated, ,[#3:14 Mt 6:33; Rm 1:17; 2Pt 1:1; #3:14 Or Do not fear what they fear; #3:14 Jn 6:20; 7:13; #3:14 Is 8:12; #3:14–15 Is 8:12–13]

¹⁵but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.[#3:15 Or sanctify , or set apart; #3:15 Other mss read set God; #3:15 1Jn 4:4]

¹⁶Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.[#3:16 Ac 23:1; 24:16; Rm 9:1; 2Co 1:12; 1Tm 1:5,19; 3:9; Heb 10:22; 1Pt 3:21; #3:16 Other mss read when they speak against you as evildoers]

¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.[#3:17 Php 1:29; 1Pt 2:19]

¹⁸For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh , but made alive by the Spirit,[#3:18 Mk 8:31; Rm 5:8; #3:18 Rm 6:10; Heb 9:28; 10:10; 1Pt 2:21; 4:1; #3:18 Rm 5:2; #3:18 Or by the flesh , or in the fleshly realm; #3:18 Eph 2:14; #3:18 Or in the spirit , or in the Spirit , or in the spiritual realm]

¹⁹in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison[#3:19 Or by whom , or in whom , or at that time; #3:19 1Jn 4:1]

²⁰who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few #– #that is, eight people , #– #were saved through water.[#3:20 Gn 5:29; #3:20 Or souls; #3:20 Gn 5:32; 6:18; 7:7,13; 8:16,18]

²¹Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience towards God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,[#3:21 Heb 9:14; 10:22; #3:21 Or the appeal; #3:21 1Pt 1:3]

²²who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.[#3:22 Ac 1:10,12; 1Tm 3:16; Heb 4:14; 6:20; #3:22 Ps 110:1; Mk 16:19; Ac 2:33–34; Rm 8:34; Heb 10:12; #3:22 Eph 1:20–22]