1 Peter 03 (Contemporary English Version)
- If you are a wife, you must put your husband first. Even if he opposes our message, you will win him over by what you do. No one else will have to say anything to him,
- because he will see how you honor God and live a pure life.
- Don't depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful.
- Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.
- Long ago those women who worshiped God and put their hope in him made themselves beautiful by putting their husbands first.
- For example, Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her true children, if you do right and don't let anything frighten you.
- If you are a husband, you should be thoughtful of your wife. Treat her with honor, because she isn't as strong as you are, and she shares with you in the gift of life. Then nothing will stand in the way of your prayers.
- Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble.
- Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say,
- "Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies.
- Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.
- The Lord watches over everyone who obeys him, and he listens to their prayers. But he opposes everyone who does evil."
- Can anyone really harm you for being eager to do good deeds?
- Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don't worry about what people might do.
- Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
- Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear. This way you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ.
- You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong.
- Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God, when his body was put to death and his spirit was made alive.
- Christ then preached to the spirits that were being kept in prison.
- They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood.
- Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you. But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death.
- Christ is now in heaven, where he sits at the right side of God. All angels, authorities, and powers are under his control.
Peter was addressing those he referred to in chapter 2 as, "aliens and temporary residents." This would also describe those of us today who are believers in Christ. We live in a temporary setting, but we are actually citizens of heaven, waiting for the time when our "salvation . . . is ready to be revealed in the last time. " (1:5) Peter was instructing his readers (and us) on how they should live as temporary residents. In chapter 2 he instructed them to live as "God's slaves," (2:16) and in so doing, they will serve their master (God) if they "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor." Furthermore, he told those who were household slaves to "submit yourselves to your masters with all respect." We do not serve God as His slaves by seeking our own rights.
In this same vein, Peter gives instructions for the family in chapter 3. As Christians are to submit to each other and to authority, etc., wives are to submit to their husbands and husbands are to show honor to their wives. The goal for the wife is not outward beauty but rather inward beauty, though outward beauty is not prohibited. Rather than using outward beauty and manipulation to sway their husbands, wives can have greater affect with an inward beauty displayed through a gentle and quiet spirit and submission. The husband should give his wife understanding and honor, recognizing she is a co-heir with him of the "grace of life." She is the husband's equal in God's kingdom.
Beyond the family, believers are to "be like-minded and sympathetic," toward each other and to "love believers." Toward all they are to "be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing." This is the way to "love life and to see good days," and a good way to avoid harm. For "who will harm you if your are passionate for what is good?" And yet, some will do harm even to those who seek what is good.
However, Peter says that if we "should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed." If we will "set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts," we should not fear what others will do. I believe Peter refers here to a controlling fear that guides what we do. Will Christians who "set apart the Messiah as Lord" in their hearts never experience fear? Probably not, but our choices and decisions should not be determined by the fear. We must keep on following the Messiah as Lord. We must keep Christ's model in our minds, for He suffered even though He did good. And it is His suffering that makes it possible for us to live above fear.
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