1 Peter 3

 

1 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands (as one in union with you, as you are with the Lord); so that even if any refuse to be persuaded by the word (we preach), they also might gain (Christ) by seeing how (the fruit of God’s) life in their wives comes alongside the word (preached);

 

2 While they behold the pure innocence of your life (in Christ) along with your honor and respect for them (as one in union with you, as you are with the Lord).

 

3 Whose word is not made more beautiful by outward ornament like the braiding of your hair and wearing fine gold jewelry, or by putting on attractive clothing;

 

4 But through the inner man of that which (flows from) the heart, and which is (born of God) imperishable, even the (inner) ornament of a meek and peaceable spirit (that rests in God and His strength to bring forth His life), which is (the one thing that) in light of the desire of God’s heart (from the beginning to give you His life) is so very precious to Him.

 

5 Because after this same way (of inward adorning) did the holy women of old, whose hope was (also) in God (to fulfill His promise of life), did adorning themselves, being subject to their own husbands:

 

6 Even like Sara who listened diligently to Abraham, calling him lord: whose children you are, (seeing that you) do well (having the same spirit of faith toward God, not staggering in unbelief at His promise to give them His life as an inheritance) wherein you also live (a quiet and peaceful life), without fear of any sudden terror.

 

7 Likewise, you husbands, live in union with your wives according to (the) knowledge (of your union with Christ), giving honor to the wife as (precious) the more delicate vessel, (coming alongside her) as being joint-heirs together of (the same) grace and kindness (born) from the life of God (revealed in) in Jesus Christ; so that your prayers (might be one) and not hindered (by disagreement).

 

8 Finally, may you all be of a single mind (in Christ), (where you will) find compassion (and understanding) for one another, loving each other as brothers, tenderhearted and humble (in depending upon the Lord):

 

9 (To serve you with the life where you) do not return evil for evil or railing for railing: but rather (like Christ) you return blessing; (because) knowing that you, yourself have been surnamed His son and that you will also inherit (the) blessing (of His incorruptible life).

 

10 Because the one that loves and desires (the) life (that only He can give, esteeming it above all), and longing to see good days, (will find it is His life that) allows him to refrain his tongue from evil, and keep his lips from speaking deceit:

 

11 Allowing him to turn away from (evil) wherein you tried to establish your own life, (rather) to do good (in allowing God to serve you with His life); (the life) that allows him to find the peace (that his heart) has always longed for (in Him) and be overtaken in the rest that it brings to him.

 

12 Because the eyes (and the mind) of the Lord are (always) on (His children) to give them His life, and His ears are open to the cries of their hearts: but the face of the Lord is against (the way that brings destruction) in them that do evil (by rejecting His gift of life for the way that can only serve them with destruction and death).

 

13 And who is he that can bring harm to you, if (the life) you eagerly desire (is the indestructible life that He gives) which is good?

 

14 But and (even) if you suffer (an unjust punishment in the flesh) for doing well, you (remain) happy (in this blessed life, knowing that the life you possess cannot be hurt or injured): and (being fully persuaded of that life), you are not afraid of the terror (that men can bring), neither are you troubled;

 

15 But (just as you know you are set apart in God’s heart so also) set apart Christ (the word of eternal life about you) as Lord in your hearts: and always be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you for an account concerning the (sure) hope that is in you (of the same life in Christ) with gentleness and reverence:

 

16 Having a good conscience (which is one that rests in God and His ability to establish His life in you), so that, should they speak against you (and your way of life, trusting in the Lord), they may see (that it is their hope to establish their own life which disappoints) and not your hope in Christ of which they have falsely accused you.

 

17 Because if the hope and desire of God be (that you inherit His incorruptible life), it is better that when you suffer persecution under the injustice of death that you do well, in placing your hope in God (who promised you His life) and not in yourself which is evil (and that which causes you to labor without benefit).

 

18 Because Christ (our high priest) has also suffered under the (same) injustice of death for (the purpose of) sending death away from us, the just (whose flesh rested in the sure hope of the Father to protect and persevere His life) on behalf of the unjust (who had all their lifetime suffered under the injustice of death laboring in vain in their flesh), so that He might bring us to God (our Father, where we also would rest in Him), (by the testimony of Jesus Christ, who) being put to death in the flesh, was made alive (in immortal flesh and bone) by the Spirit (of God).

 

19 By the same (Spirit) which He also (came, declaring the gospel in Noah) to those souls (who were suffering) in bondage (and laboring in vain under the reign of death);

 

20 Who at that time refused to be persuaded (that God’s desire was to save their lives from destruction and to preserve it in Him), (during the time) when the patience of God waited (120 years) in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, the ark (being a figure of Christ), in which, a few, that is eight souls were saved (from the world filled with labor and anguish that perished, being overflowed) by water (which also carried them to safety being pitched within and without in the ark).

 

21 The same (is a) figure of (the) baptism (into Christ’s death and resurrection, that being planted in the likeness of His death, so are we also pitched within and without and pass from death unto life) which (baptism) does also now save us, not by the washing away of the filth of the flesh (which could never purge our conscience from death), but the answer of a good conscience toward God (who has freed us from death and the fear of death, and given us the sure hope of His promise to raise us to life and bodily immortality), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: