1 Peter 3-4
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wives and Husbands
3 In the same way, wives,(A) submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message,(B) they may be won over[a](C) without a message by the way their wives live(D) 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives.(E) 3 Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments[b] or fine clothes.(F) 4 Instead, it should consist of what is inside[c] the heart(G) with the imperishable quality of a gentle(H) and quiet(I) spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. 5 For in the past, the holy(J) women who put their hope(K) in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah(L) obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.(M)
7 Husbands,(N) in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature[d](O) yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Do No Evil
8 Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers,[e](P) and be compassionate(Q) and humble,[f] 9 not paying back evil for evil(R) or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing,(S) since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.
10 For the(T) one who wants to love life
and to see good days
must keep his tongue from evil(U)
and his lips from speaking deceit,(V)
11 and he must turn away(W) from evil
and do what is good.
He must seek peace(X) and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and His ears are open to their request.
But the face of the Lord is against
those who do what is evil.[g]
Undeserved Suffering
13 And who will harm[h] you if you are deeply committed to what is good?[i] 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness,(Y) you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear(Z) or be disturbed,(AA)[j] 15 but honor[k] the Messiah[l] as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason[m] for the hope that is in you.(AB) 16 However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear,[n][o](AC) so that when you are accused,[p] those who denounce your Christian life[q] will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer(AD) for doing good, if that should be God’s will,[r] than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered(AE) for sins once for all,[s](AF)
the righteous for the unrighteous,[t]
that He might bring you[u] to God,(AG)
after being put to death in the fleshly realm[v](AH)
but made alive in the spiritual realm.[w]
19 In that state[x] He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits(AI) in prison[y] 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah(AJ) while an ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people[z](AK)—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh,(AL) but the pledge[aa] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.(AM) 22 Now that He has gone into heaven,(AN) He is at God’s right hand(AO) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.(AP)
Following Christ
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered[ab] in the flesh,[ac] equip[ad] yourselves also with the same resolve[ae]—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished(AQ) with sin[af]— 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires,[ag] but for God’s will.(AR) 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do:[ah] carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,(AS) drunkenness, orgies,(AT) carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood[ai] of wild living—and they slander you. 5 They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.(AU) 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,(AV) so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly(AW) realm,[aj] they might live(AX) by God in the spiritual realm.[ak]
End-Time Ethics
7 Now the end of all things is near;(AY) therefore, be serious and disciplined(AZ) for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain an intense love(BA) for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.(BB)[al] 9 Be hospitable(BC) to one another without complaining. 10 Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others,(BD) as good managers of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides,(BE) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Christian Suffering
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal[am] comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.(BF) 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah,(BG) so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation(BH) of His glory. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,(BI) you are blessed, because the Spirit(BJ) of glory and of God rests on you.[an] 15 None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.[ao] 16 But if anyone suffers as a “Christian,” he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name. 17 For the time has come for judgment(BK) to begin with God’s household,(BL) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?(BM)[ap]
19 So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves(BN) to a faithful Creator.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:1 Lit may be gained
- 1 Peter 3:3 Lit and of putting around of gold items
- 1 Peter 3:4 Lit Instead, the hidden man of
- 1 Peter 3:7 Lit understanding as the weaker vessel
- 1 Peter 3:8 Lit sympathetic, loving the brothers
- 1 Peter 3:8 Other mss read courteous
- 1 Peter 3:12 Ps 34:12-16
- 1 Peter 3:13 Or mistreat, or do evil to
- 1 Peter 3:13 Or you are partisans for the good; lit you are zealots
- 1 Peter 3:14 Is 8:12
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or sanctify; lit set apart
- 1 Peter 3:15 Other mss read set God
- 1 Peter 3:15 Or who demands of you an accounting
- 1 Peter 3:16 Lit good
- 1 Peter 3:16 Or keeping a clear conscience
- 1 Peter 3:16 Other mss read when they speak against you as evildoers
- 1 Peter 3:16 Lit your good behavior in Christ
- 1 Peter 3:17 Lit if the will of God should will
- 1 Peter 3:18 Other mss read died for sins on our behalf; other mss read died for our sins; other mss read died for sins on your behalf
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or the Righteous One in the place of the unrighteous many
- 1 Peter 3:18 Other mss read us
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or in the flesh
- 1 Peter 3:18 Or in the spirit, or in the Spirit
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or In whom, or At that time, or In which
- 1 Peter 3:19 Perhaps fallen supernatural beings or angels; 2Pt 2:4; Jd 6
- 1 Peter 3:20 Lit souls
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or the appeal
- 1 Peter 4:1 Other mss read suffered for us
- 1 Peter 4:1 The phrase “in the flesh” probably means in human experience.
- 1 Peter 4:1 Or arm
- 1 Peter 4:1 Or perspective, or attitude
- 1 Peter 4:1 Or the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin
- 1 Peter 4:2 Lit for desires of human beings
- 1 Peter 4:3 Or Gentiles
- 1 Peter 4:4 Lit you don’t run with them into the same pouring out
- 1 Peter 4:6 Or in the flesh
- 1 Peter 4:6 Or in the spirit
- 1 Peter 4:8 Pr 10:12
- 1 Peter 4:12 Lit the burning
- 1 Peter 4:14 Other mss add He is blasphemed because of them, but He is glorified because of you.
- 1 Peter 4:15 Or as one who defrauds others
- 1 Peter 4:18 Pr 11:31 LXX
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