1 Peter 3–4

Submission to Husbands

3Wives, likewise, be ^asubmissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, ^bthey, without a word, may ^cbe won by the conduct of their wives, ^2dwhen they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ^3eDo not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—⁴rather let it be ^fthe hidden person of the heart, with the ¹incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^gcalling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

A Word to Husbands

^7hHusbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, ⁱas to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, ^jthat your prayers may not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

⁸Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be ²courteous; ^9knot returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary ^lblessing, knowing that you were called to this, ^mthat you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For

ⁿ“He who would love life

And see good days,

^oLet him ³refrain his tongue from evil,

And his lips from speaking deceit.

¹¹Let him ^pturn away from evil and do good;

^qLet him seek peace and pursue it.

¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

^rAnd His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Right and Wrong

^13sAnd who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ^14tBut even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ^u“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵But ⁴sanctify ⁵the Lord God in your hearts, and always ^vbe ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the ^whope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ^16xhaving a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

¹⁸For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring ⁶us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰who formerly were disobedient, ⁷when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ^21yThere is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism ^z(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, ^abut the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who has gone into heaven and ^bis at the right hand of God, ^cangels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

4Therefore, since Christ suffered ¹for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ²that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, ^abut for the will of God. ³For we have spent enough of our past ²lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. ⁴In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵They will give an account to Him who is ready ^bto judge the living and the dead. ⁶For this reason ^cthe gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but ^dlive according to God in the spirit.

Serving for God’s Glory

⁷But ^ethe end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ^f“love will cover a multitude of sins.” ^9gBe hospitable to one another ^hwithout grumbling. ¹⁰ⁱAs each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, ^jas good stewards of ^kthe manifold grace of God. ^11lIf anyone speaks, let him speak as the ³oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that ^min all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the ⁴dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering for God’s Glory

¹²Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³but rejoice ⁿto the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that ^owhen His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴If you are ⁵reproached for the name of Christ, ^pblessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ⁶On their part He is blasphemed, ^qbut on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a ⁷busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this ⁸matter.

¹⁷For the time has come ^rfor judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, ^swhat will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸Now

^t“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,

Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

¹⁹Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God ^ucommit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.