1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4But let it be the 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 of great price.

5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him

Likewise, ye wiues, be in subiection to your owne husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues:

2While they beholde your chaste conuersation coupled with feare:

3Whose adorning, let it not bee that outward adorning, of plaiting the haire, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparell.

4But let it bee the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, euen the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5For after this manner in the olde time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselues, beeing in subiection vnto their owne husbands.

6Euen as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are as long as ye doe well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

7Likewise ye husbands, dwel with them according to knowledge, giuing honour vnto the wife as vnto the weaker vessel, and as being heires together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

8Finally be ye all of one minde, hauing compassion one of another, loue as brethren, be pitifull, be courteous,

9Not rendring euill for euill, or railing for railing: but contrarywise blessing, knowing that yee are thereunto called, that ye should inherite a blessing.

10For hee that will loue life, and see good dayes, let him refraine his tongue from euil, and his lips that they speake no guile:

11Let him eschew euil and do good, let him seeke peace and ensue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are ouer the righteous, and his eares are open vnto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that doe euill.

13And who is hee that will harme you, if ye bee followers of that which is good?

14But and if ye suffer for righteousnes sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terrour, neither be troubled:

15But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, & be ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekenesse and feare:

16Hauing a good conscience, that whereas they speake euill of you, as of euill doers, they may bee ashamed that falsly accuse your good conuersation in Christ.

17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that yee suffer for well doing, then for euill doing.

18For Christ also hath once suffered for sinnes, the iust for the vniust, that he might bring vs to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

19By which also he went and preached vnto the spirits in prison,

20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah, while the Arke was a preparing: wherein few, that is, eight soules were saued by water.

21The like figure whereunto, euen Baptisme, doth also now saue vs, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answere of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Iesus Christ.

22Who is gone into heauen, and is on the right hand of God, Angels, and authorities, and powers being made subiect vnto him.

 

 

3:6==GEN18:12

3:10-12==PS 34:12-16

3:14-15==IS 8:12-13

3:16==GEN 18:12

3:20==GEN 6-8

1 Likewise, you wives should be subordinate to your husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives' conduct 2 when they observe your reverent and chaste behavior. 3 Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes, 4 but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For this is also how the holy women who hoped in God once used to adorn themselves and were subordinate to their husbands; 6 thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him "lord." You are her children when you do what is good and fear no intimidation. 7 Likewise, you husbands should live with your wives in understanding, showing honor to the weaker female sex, since we are joint heirs of the gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.8 Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. 9 Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For: "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit, 11 must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers."13 Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, 16 but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. 19 In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,20 who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. 21 This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

v 1,2. The pendulum has swung from pagan culture to women’s lib, and many are becoming dominant over their husbands. Subjection is to be to their own husband, not a pastor or fellow worker. Unsaved husbands may be won by wives proper conduct.  

v 3,4. In every age Oriental ladies have prized long braided hair with many rich adornments attached. Even the poor were expected to borrow more for their wedding. Tresses weighted by ornaments might hang to the ground. Faces may wrinkle with age, but a meek, quiet spirit only makes one more appealing. Hidden man is Christ united with our spirit.

v 5,6. Sarah took great risk, posing as Abraham's sister. Nevertheless, God blessed her, and God will bless in homes where the wife is in proper submission.

v 7. Husbands are to be specially considerate of a wife who is submissive for two reasons. First, in most cases she is not as strong and has physical limitations. Second, believing husbands and wives are equal spiritually and can build up one another.

v 8. This addresses all the groups previously mentioned, as brethren. We should be in one accord and in love show active sympathy and understanding for each other.

v 9. This forbids retaliation and goes beyond patient endurance, to actually return good for evil, as Christ has called us to this kind of behavior to be blessed ourselves.

v 10-12. If we would truly enjoy life, there is no place for evil speaking or any other wickedness for the Lord is against that. Instead, actively seek peaceful relationships with the Lord and others, for he will hear us and give us inner peace.

v 13,14. Believers may suffer persecution, but if our lives are above reproach, we can rejoice, because the Lord will not allow it to go beyond the boundary of His will.

v 15. We should set the Lord apart in first place in our hearts and humbly tell others of our eternal hope.

v 16,17. Make sure others will have no basis for accusing us of wrong doing, and if we suffer slander having a clear conscience before God, they shame themselves.

v 18. Christ set the example in suffering innocently, but His was an atoning death, and He rose again, all for the purpose that we might come to God.

v 19,20. This definitely does not indicate that Christ went to Hades after death and preached to the sinners of Noah’s day giving them a second chance, or that He went to Hades to preach victory over death or any other such argument. This continues the context of suffering and of the Holy Spirit mentioned in verses 17 and 18. Christ, by the Holy Spirit, preached through Noah for 120 years to those antediluvian people now in Hades.  That “preacher of righteousness” no doubt suffered much ridicule from them, but the eight in his family were borne up by the same water that destroyed others.

v 21,22. Baptism does not save anyone. As Noah was saved by water, we are saved by the death of Christ, followed by His resurrection, both of which are pictured in water baptism by immersion. Not the ceremonial washing of Jewish baptisms, but the outward expression of the change that has taken place in our heart, that we have been buried with Christ and raised to new life, Rom. 6:3,4. Christ is now seated at the right hand of God, everything being made subject unto Him.