1 Peter
Summary
Peter provides instructions for wives and husbands, emphasizing inner beauty over external adornment and the need for husbands to treat their wives with honour and understanding. He calls all believers to be of "one mind" and to show compassion, warning against returning evil for evil. Peter encourages them to "be ready always to give an answer" for the hope that is in them, with gentleness and fear. The chapter concludes with a profound discussion on Christ's suffering, noting that He died "the just for the unjust" to bring us to God, and alludes to His "preaching to the spirits in prison" and the symbolic significance of baptism.
Likewise, you 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 conduct of the wives;
While they behold your chaste conduct coupled with fear.
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden person of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brothers, be pitiful, be courteous:
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are hereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing.
For he who will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Let him shun evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
And who is he who will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?
But and if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every person who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with gentleness and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
For Christ also has 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:
By which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison;
Who 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.
The like figure to which even baptism does 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:
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.