WIVES ARE TO SUBMIT IN OBEDIENCE TO THEIR HUSBANDS WHO ARE TO RESPOND WITH COMPASSION AND CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE JOINT-HEIRS OF THE GRACE OF LIFE (1 PETER 3:1). Peter's view of the new people of God (he never uses the term ‘church' in the Greek text) as the sons and daughters of Abraham (compare Gala... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In the same way, you who are wives, be subject in obedience to your own husbands, so that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behaviour of their wives, beholding your chaste behaviour in fear.' Becoming a Christian clearly opened up new avenues of thought in... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.' Thus Christian women are... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For in a similar way in the past the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any intimidation.' Peter now relates what their be... [ Continue Reading ]
‘You husbands, in the same way, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life, to the end that your prayers be not hindered.' Christian husbands are to respond to their wives ‘in the same way' (i.e.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Finally, all of you, be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers and sisters, tender-hearted, humble-minded,' Peter now addresses ‘all of you' and outlines their required manner of life. They are to be at unity among themselves, walking in agreement on essentials, filled with love and compas... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL ARE TO BEHAVE AS THOSE WHO ARE OBEDIENT WITH REGARD TO EACH OTHER (1 PETER 3:8). After briefly recalling admonitions he has already given (1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 2:22) Peter now sums up and expands on the section from the Scriptures, calling on all Christians, both men and women, slave and free,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but rather to the contrary, blessing; for to this you were called, that you should inherit a blessing.' We are not to combat evil with evil, nor to revile those who revile us (compare 1 Peter 2:22), but are rather to respond to evil with good,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For, “He who would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile, And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And his ears to their supplication,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And who is he who will harm you, if you are zealous for what is good?' The first principle is that if they are zealous for what is good (i.e. what has already been revealed as good in the previous verses), then no one will justly harm them. In the normal course of events they will be safe from har... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAN GO FORWARD IN CONFIDENCE TO FACE WHATEVER COMES KNOWING THAT THE VICTORY OVER SUFFERING HAS ALREADY BEEN WON (1 PETER 3:13 TO 1 PETER 4:6). Peter now encourages them in the face of opposition. They are not to be afraid when they suffer for righteousness' sake, but are rather to set apart C... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But even if you should suffer, for righteousness' sake, blessed ones are you: and do not be afraid of their fear, nor be troubled,' Nevertheless it is possible that they may suffer. For those who live righteously and follow the Righteous One (1 Peter 3:18) are always likely to have to suffer becau... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord, being ready always to give answer to every man who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear,' So they are rather to ‘set Christ apart in their hearts as holy', (or ‘acknowledge Him in their hearts as holy'), and as... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Having a good conscience; that, wherein you are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ, for it is better, if the will of God should so will, that you suffer for well-doing than for evildoing.' And in this battle between good and evil only the righteou... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,' Once again we learn that when the Christian faces suffering he must bear in mind that Christ also suffered for sins. Sufferin... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GROUNDS OF THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE FACE OF THE POWERS THAT ARE AGAINST THEM (1 PETER 3:18). If we are to understand the significance of the verses that follow it is important that we recognise their context. It is a context of contrast. On the one hand are the people of God, who follow Christ, a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In which also he went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison,' And it was thus in His spiritual resurrection body, which was the consequence of His obedience unto death, that He went and made proclamation to ‘the spirits who were in prison because they had been disobedient in the days of N... [ Continue Reading ]
This confirms who these ‘spirits in prison' were. Human beings are never spoken of in this way (as spirits in prison), while 2 Peter 2:4 confirms Peter's interest in the angels who sinned in the time of Noah. And we should note that their disobedience and its punishment had taken place against the b... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Which water after a true likeness (or ‘echo') also now saves you, (even baptism, which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation (or ‘answer' or ‘consultation') of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,' The thought of the ark brought... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being brought into obedience to him.' And the final stage in this process was Jesus' enthronement at the right hand of God in Heaven, with all angelic and supernatural powers being brought into obedience to... [ Continue Reading ]