Digging into Peter - Part 3: 1 Peter 3

 

Background to the Books of 1 & 2 Peter

The historical indications are that these two books of the Bible were written when the Apostle Peter was in Rome. Peter was writing to the Church, both Jew and Gentile converts that had been scattered through Asia through persecution. Paul was writing to those that were exiled in what today is known as Northwest Turkey.

Both letters are written in a very warm, loving and caring way – a Pastor taking care of his congregation.

Believing the Bible and putting it into practice – allowing it to change us.

1 Peter chapter 3 - ESV (the verses from 1 Peter 3 are in light italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in light, straight text with additional scriptures from other Bible books in bold italics)

Godly Living:

Wives and Husbands

In the first seven verses of this chapter Peter addresses the relationship between wives and husbands. He first speaks to wives and then to husbands.

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

In these first two verses Peter tells wives to submit themselves to their husbands whether they are believers or not. He goes on to say that if wives do this, they (their husbands) ‘may’ be won to the Lord by their (wives) behaviour. Note that Peter says ‘may’ and not ‘will’, there is a good chance that they will be won to the Lord but there is no guarantee!

3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

In verses 3 and 4 we are told that a wife’s beauty should not stem from her outward appearance, but her beauty should come from the condition of her heart, a heart that is totally sold out to Jesus in obedience to the Word! This submersion in Jesus and the Word produces an imperishable beauty and a soft, gentle spirit; it will not age as the flesh does – it is a spiritual beauty born of the Holy Spirit; and which is precious in God’s eyes! This kind of gentle spirit is not only precious to God but is ‘very’ precious, it touches God’s heart in a very special way.

And let my say here too, husbands (myself included) we should endeavour to be like this too if we love our wives as Christ loves the Church!

Proverbs 31:10-12

10 A wife of noble character who can find?

    She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her

    and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

    all the days of her life.

5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Verses 5 and 6 tell us that when wives are adorned in this way, they are following in the footsteps of the holy women of old whose hope was in God alone. This is how Sarah was with Abraham and Christian wives are likened to her as her children.

I believe that verse six is far better explained by the Amplified Bible:

1 Peter 3:6 (AMP)

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham [following him and having regard for him as head of their house], calling him lord. And you have become her daughters if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear [that is, being respectful toward your husband but not giving in to intimidation, nor allowing yourself to be led into sin, nor to be harmed].

The Amplified Bible translation gives a perfect explanation of what ‘and do not fear anything that is frightening’ really means. Wives should not live in fear of their husbands and be intimidated by them and let themselves be led into sin by him or to be physically or mentally harmed by him in any form of abuse.

Husbands

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Here again the Amplified Bible translation of 1 Peter 3:7 gives the best explanation of how a husband should treat his wife. Husbands your wife is a co-heir with you in Jesus in everything God has for your marriage! When you love your wife in this way, your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective!

1 Peter 3:7 (AMP)

In the same way, you husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way [with great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship], as with someone physically weaker, since she is a woman. Show her honor and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective.

And in the verse below from Ephesians, Paul also gives a very similar command to that of Peter of how husbands are to love their wives.

Ephesians 5:25 (AMP)

Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

God made Eve from the rib of man so that she is always close to his heart, he did not make her from the bone of the foot so that she can be trampled on! Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the Church! Treat her with great respect, she is precious to you and the family. She, in Christ Jesus, is the glue that holds the family together - the wife of noble character! She was given to you by God - do not disrespect anything that God gives you!

Living in unity

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

In verse 8 Peter commands us, the Church, to have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, and to wear a tender heart and humility as our Christian make-up and character. When we live in unity like this; when we have the same mindset as Christ and are thus in the unity of the Spirit; God blesses us!

Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

How good and pleasant it is

when God’s people live together in unity!

Philippians 2:5-9 (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

Christian living

9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

From verses 9 – 12 Peter is telling us how we should be living and acting towards our brothers and sisters in Christ and to others if we are to call ourselves Christians.

• We are not to repay evil for evil – we are called to bless instead and when we do this God will bless us.

• We are to keep our tongues from evil and lying.

• We are to turn from evil and do good.

• We are to seek peace and pursue it.

We reap what we sow!

Galatians 6:9-7 (NIV)

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

In verses 13-14 below Peter reiterates what he says in 1 Peter 2:19 about suffering for righteousness. It is commendable before God and when we do suffer in this way we will be blessed! We all need to be consciously active in doing what is good without holding back because of the fear of man. For what can mortal man do to us?

Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”[Ps 118:6,7]

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Honour Jesus as holy
In verses 15-17 below Peter tells us to honour Jesus as holy from the heart. It is only through Jesus that we are made holy! 

But, what is holiness? We are told in the Book of Hebrews that without holiness we won’t see God!

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Holiness is from the Greek word ‘hagiotes’ meaning holiness or sanctity – holiness is God’s sanctification work in us once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, in other words once we are born again. 

Sanctification is a process that we go through on our walk to Christian maturity, and it is achieved by being obedient to His Word and by being led by His Holy Spirit – living life in the Spirit (Romans 8). Hagiotes is derived from the Greek adjective ‘hagios’ which means set apart (for God) for the specific purpose of being holy and sacred.

From this we can safely conclude that God expects us, as Christians, to set ourselves apart to be holy because He is holy. In fact, Hebrews 12:14 states quite emphatically that we won’t see the Lord unless we pursue holiness.

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Peter also tells us that we must always be prepared to defend the hope we have in Christ Jesus but to do it with gentleness and respect as when we do this it will silence the tongues of those who would revile and slander us for our belief in Jesus and it is they who will be put to shame!

No Bible bashing please!

Sometimes it is God’s will for us to suffer for doing good, after all Jesus did!

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, 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, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

Water baptism symbolises a Christian’s appeal to God for a good conscience thorough the resurrection of Jesus our Lord and Saviour!

21 Baptism, which corresponds to this (verse 20), now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 4 warns us that if we don’t develop a good conscience our faith will become shipwrecked and non-existent!

1 Timothy 1:19 (NIV)

holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that by your Holy Spirit, you would strengthen me to endure life’s sufferings and to keep my eyes on you for you are the author and perfecter of my faith. Help me Lord to develop holiness as you are holy. Help Lord, to study and apply the teachings of your Word to my life and to always be led by the Holy Spirit that I may glorify your name. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!