1 Peter 3 explained: Doing Good When It Costs You

Wives and unbelieving husbands (vv. 1-6)

In that world a wife was expected to follow her husband's gods, so Peter tells Christian wives of unbelieving husbands to submit to them and win them over by how they live rather than by argument. He prizes a gentle inner character over showy hair, gold and fine clothes, points to Sarah, who called Abraham her lord, and tells them to do right without giving way to fear. Churches across traditions teach that this never means staying in danger or accepting abuse. Anyone being harmed should seek safety and help.

Husbands and honor (v. 7)

Husbands are told to live with their wives with understanding and to honor them as fellow heirs of God's gift of life, or the husbands' own prayers will be hindered. Translations say 'weaker vessel' or 'weaker partner', and interpreters are unsure whether this means physical strength or women's more vulnerable place in that society.

Blessing instead of insult (vv. 8-12)

Turning to everyone, Peter asks for sympathy, love and humility, and for answering insult with blessing instead of revenge. He backs this with Psalm 34: whoever guards their tongue and pursues peace will see good days, because the Lord watches over the righteous and opposes those who do evil.

Suffering for doing good (vv. 13-18)

Peter admits people may suffer even for doing right, but calls them blessed, tells them not to fear threats (echoing Isaiah 8), and asks them to be ready to explain their hope with gentleness and respect. His example is Christ, who suffered once, the innocent for the guilty, to bring people to God, and was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit (translations differ on whether this means the Holy Spirit or his own spirit).

The spirits in prison (vv. 19-20)

This is one of the most debated passages in the New Testament, and scholars openly say they are unsure what it means. Readings include Christ announcing his victory to rebellious spirit beings that Jewish tradition tied to Noah's day (common among modern scholars), Christ going to the dead after his death (linked by many to the creeds' statement that he descended to the dead), or Christ's Spirit speaking through Noah to the people of his own time.

Noah's flood and baptism (vv. 21-22)

Peter compares the flood water that carried Noah's family of eight to safety with baptism, which saves not by washing dirt from the body but as a clear conscience's pledge to God (translations differ on this phrase), through the risen Jesus, who now rules over every power. Christians differ on how baptism saves: Catholic, Orthodox and many Lutheran Christians see God truly at work in the act itself, while many other Protestants see it as an outward sign of a faith that already saves.

Key verse: 1 Peter 3:15

Where Christians differ

Christians differ over whether the call for wives to submit (vv. 1-6) sets a pattern for marriage in every age or was guidance for Christian wives in a risky setting in the first century, with many today stressing verse 7's picture of husband and wife as fellow heirs.

Something to think about

Have you ever been more persuaded by how someone lived than by anything they said, and what made the difference?