THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF
PETER
1 Peter 3 ©
1 Peter exhorts wives to subjection to their husbands. 3 And to adorning, not of the outward but of the hidden man. 5 To this end propounds unto them the example of the holy women in the Old Testament, and especially of Sarah. 7 Exhorts husbands also that they dwell with their wives with understanding. 8 Afterward comes again to exhortations of mutual love. 9 And especially to forbearance and peaceableness, with a promise of God’s blessing out of the 34th Psalm. 13 Shows that they need not fear when they suffer innocently, and how they must always be ready to give a reason of the hope which is in them. 18 Sets before their eyes the example of Christ’s suffering, and His coming forth out of the same. 19 As also the contrary example of the punishments of the disobedience of the first world, in the times of Noah, and of the deliverance of Noah by the ark from the water, when he had with patience waited for it. 21 Whereof now also Baptism is an antitype, which directs us to the resurrection and glory of Christ.
LIKEWISE, yea wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not 1the word, they also 2may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
While they behold your chaste conversation coupled 3with fear.
Whoseb4adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be 5the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God 6of great price.
For after this manner in the old time 7the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
Evenc as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose 8daughters 9ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid 10with any amazement.d
Likewise, ye husbands, dwelle with them according to 11knowledge, giving 12honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker 13vessel, and as being 14heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be 15not hindered.
16Finally, bef ye all of one mind, having 17compassion one of another, love as brethren, be 18pitiful, be 19courteous:
Notg rendering evil for evil, or railingh for railing: but contrariwise 20blessing; knowing 21that ye are thereunto called, thati ye should inherit a 22blessing.
23Forj he that will love 24life, and see 25good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Letk him eschewl evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensuem it.
For 26the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but 27the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
And 28who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
Butn and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: ando29be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Butp30sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: andqbe ready always to give 31an answer to every man 32that asketh you a reason 33of the hope that is in you with meekness and 34fear:
35Having a good conscience; that,r whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation 36in Christ.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye 37suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Fors Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death 38in the flesh, but quickened 39by the Spirit:
40By which also 41he 42went and 43preached unto 44the spirits int prison;
Whichu sometimev were disobedient, whenw once the longsuffering of God 45waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, thatx is, eight 46souls were saved 47by water.
The 48like figure 49whereunto even baptismy doth also now save us (50not the putting away of the filth 51of the flesh, but the 52answer 53of a good conscience toward God,) 54by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Whoz is gone into heaven, and is 55on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.