1 Peter 3
Continued Instructions to Suffer Well
In this section, Peter continued to offer practical instruction for Christians enduring persecution, beginning here with married believers and then addressing all those who suffered unjustly.
In The Same Way
Husbands and Wives
Having explained before how Christians should conduct themselves in the world, Peter next gave directions about how Christian wives and husbands should behave. He did this to help his readers identify appropriate conduct in family life during times of suffering as well as at other times. - Thomas Constable
Vs. 1 - In the same way
"In the same way" refers to the spirit of deference that Peter had already advocated regarding our dealings with government authorities (1 Peter 2:13-17) and people in direct authority over us (1 Peter 2:18-25). Primarily he meant as Christ submitted to the Father (1 Peter 2:21-24). - Thomas Constable
Vs. 1 - wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands
The teaching about submission was especially relevant to a first century married woman who had begun to follow Jesus. She would ask questions such as “Should I leave my husband?” or “Should I change my behavior towards him?” or “Should I assume a superior position to him because now I am in Jesus?”
In the culture of the ancient world, it was almost unthinkable for a wife to adopt a different religion than her husband. Christian women who came to Jesus before their husbands needed instruction. - David Guzik
But what was probably surprising to the original readers is that, here in a seemingly traditional ethical section, wives are addressed at all. In that society, women were expected to follow the religion of their husbands; they might have their own cult on the side, but the family religion was that of the husband. Peter clearly focuses his address on women whose husbands are not Christians (not that he would give different advice to women whose husbands were Christians), and he addresses them as independent moral agents whose decision to turn to Christ he supports and whose goal to win their husbands he encourages. This is quite a revolutionary attitude for that culture.
His [Peter’s] concern is that the church not be known for its production of rebellious wives who have an attitude of superiority, but of women who, because they know God will reward them and set everything right, demonstrate the virtue of gentle submission where Christianly possible. - Davids
Vs. 7 - Husbands…live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life
It is clear that Peter does not think about the possibility of a husband with a non-Christian wife, for if a family head in that culture changed his religion it would be normal that his wife, servants, and children also changed. - Davids
While Christian wives were called to submit, Christian husbands were called to serve. Peter emphasized equality in the marriage relationship, that each partner was called to lovingly consider the other so that, by their conduct, the unbelieving spouse would be converted, and God would be glorified.
All of You
Vs. 8 - all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble
Finally, Peter called every believer to follow Jesus’ instruction and example in loving one another. This was how Jesus had said that all men would recognize His followers (John 13:35).
Vs. 9 - not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this
As Christians we can live on one of three levels. We can return evil for good, which is the satanic level. We can return good for good and evil for evil, which is the human level. Or, we can return good for evil, which is the divine level. Jesus is the perfect example of this latter approach. - Wiersbe
These verses take on a powerful meaning when considering Peter’s persecuted audience. He quoted David’s song of praise (Psalm 34) when fleeing from Saul and the Philistines to illustrate the need to endure in hope. During an extended season of suffering in his own life, David consistently reminded Himself that God opposes the wicked and upholds the godly.
If You Should Suffer for Righteousness
Blessing
Vs. 14 - if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed
Peter knew that, despite all the efforts of Christians to live peacefully and lovingly with others, some persecution would persist. He reminded them that they were called to this, that Jesus had predicted it, and that He had been the great example of how to suffer well.
Confidence
Vs. 14 - Do not fear them or be intimidated
Peter quoted the Lord’s exhortation to Isaiah when the prophet learned that the people of Judah and Jerusalem would not respond to his ministry positively (Isaiah 8:12-13). God promised to take care of Isaiah, and He did. Though Isaiah eventually died a martyr’s death, he persevered in his calling because God sustained him. This is what God will do for the Christian, and it gives us the courage we need to continue serving him faithfully in spite of persecution. - Thomas Constable
Defense
Vs. 15 - “...ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
Vs. 16 - “...those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.”
Again, Peter encouraged the kind of response to suffering that would demonstrate the reality of the Christian’s relationship with God. Persecution was, to Peter, both opposition and opportunity. It was to be endured but also leveraged for the glory of God and the good of others.
Christ Also Suffered
Example
Vs. 18 - For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.
Although this passage is one of the most difficult in the New Testament, it begins with something which anyone can understand. The point that Peter is making is that, even if the Christian is compelled to suffer unjustly for his faith, he is only walking the way that his Lord and Saviour has already walked. The suffering Christian must always remember that he has a suffering Lord. In the narrow compass of these two verses, Peter has the greatest and the deepest things to say about the work of Christ. - William Barclay
Spirits in Prison
Vs. 18-20 - He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.
A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty what Peter means. - Martin Luther
1 Peter 3:18-22 contains some very difficult exegetical problems. Who are the spirits who received a proclamation? When did Jesus make this proclamation? What was its content? Why did Peter mention Noah? In what sense does baptism save us?
One group of interpreters believes Jesus went to the realm of the dead and preached to Noah’s contemporaries between His crucifixion and His resurrection. [Note: E.g., Bigg, p. 162.] Some of these say He extended an offer of salvation to them. Others feel He announced condemnation to the unbelievers. Still others hold that He announced good news to the saved among them.
A second group believes Jesus preached to Noah’s sinful generation while Noah was living on the earth. They see Him doing so through Noah.
A third group holds that Jesus proclaimed His victory on the cross to fallen angels. Some advocates of this view say this took place in hell between His crucifixion and His resurrection. Others believe it happened during His ascension to heaven. - Thomas Constable
Baptism
Vs. 20-21 - eight people—were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
God’s saving of Noah and his family by means of the ark illustrates the salvation of believers. A corresponding illustration in the New Testament is baptism. Christ has died and triumphed over death, and therefore believers are, through him, cleansed from sin, made alive and brought back to God. - Don Fleming
