Text -- 1 Peter 3:1-15 (NET)

Wives and Husbands

3:1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, 3:2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct. 3:3 Let your beauty not be external– the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes– 3:4 but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 3:5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 3:6 like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so. 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. 3:10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. 3:11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil. 3:13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. 3:15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:1

¹ tn Grk “that…they may be won over,” showing the purpose of “being subject” (vs. 1b). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

² tn Grk “by the wives’ behavior.”

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:2

¹ tn Grk “behavior,” the same word translated “the way you live” in vs. 1.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:3

¹ tn Grk “whose,” referring to the wives.

² tn Or “adornment.”

³ tn The word “jewelry” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate that gold ornaments or jewelry is intended; otherwise the reader might assume wearing gold-colored clothing was forbidden.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:4

¹ tn Grk “the hidden man.” KJV’s “the hidden man of the heart,” referring to a wife, could be seriously misunderstood by the modern English reader.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:6

¹ tn Grk “as Sarah obeyed.”

² tn Grk “whose children you become.”

³ tn Grk “doing good and not fearing any intimidation.”

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:7

¹ tn Grk “living together according to knowledge, as to the weaker, female vessel.” The primary verbs of vs. 7 are participles (“living together…showing honor”) but they continue the sense of command from the previous paragraphs.

² tn Grk “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek, this clause was translated as a separate sentence.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:8

¹ tn There is no main verb in this verse (Grk “Finally, all [ ] harmonious”), but it continues the sense of command from the previous paragraphs.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:9

¹ tn Grk “not returning…but blessing,” continuing the sense of command from the preceding.

² tn The direct object “others” is omitted but implied in Greek, and must be supplied to suit English style.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:10

¹ tn Grk “stop.”

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:12

¹ tn The verbs are implied but not expressed in this verse: “the Lord’s eyes [ ] on the righteous and his ears [ ] to their prayer, but his face [ ] against those who do evil.”

² sn Verses 10-12 are a quotation from Ps 34:12-16.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:13

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “For” to indicate that what follows gives an explanation.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:14

¹ sn The Greek construction here implies that such suffering was not the norm, even though it could happen, and in fact may well have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).

² tn Grk “because of righteousness.”

³ tn Grk “do not fear their fear,” referring to those who cause their suffering. The phrase “their fear” may mean “what they fear” (subjective genitive), but in a situation of persecution it more likely means “fear of them” (objective genitive).

⁴ sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.

NET Notes: 1Pe 3:15

¹ tc Most later mss (P Ï) have θεόν (qeon, “God”) instead of Χριστόν (Criston; “Christ”) here. But Χριστόν is widely supported by excellent and early witnesses (Ì⁷² א A B C Ψ 33 1739 al latt sy co), and as a less common idiom better explains the rise of the other reading.

² tn Or “sanctify Christ as Lord.”

³ tn Grk “the hope in you.”