1 Peter 3

Submission to husbands 1
Advice for husbands 7
Blessed for unity 8
Suffering 13
Following the suffering of Christ - Spirits in Prison 18
Text Comments
.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;
 2  While they behold your chaste conversation [behavior] coupled with fear.
.3  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
.4  But 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.
 5  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
.6  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
   1 - Be in subjection In order to be a witness. See on ep0522.
   3 - Adorning How much decoration is in harmony with the quiet man of the heart – with our humility before God? Let's talk about jewelry. Below. Compare 1ki1027.
 4 - Even the adorning These words were supplied by translators but are appropriate in the text. Compare pr0108.
  6 - Sara obeyed See ge1812.
  6 - Daughters Or "children."
  6 - Amazement From ptoesis, meaning "fear" or "terror." Her duties or the influence of her husband may make her feel depressed but she may keep a sweet spirit v4.
Image © Corel
.7  Likewise, 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.   According to knowledge He needs to be sensitive to her feelings and needs. She deserves honor as he does 1co0702-5.
  Prayers not hindered Compare mt1819.
.8 ¶ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
 9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
 10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
 11  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
 12  For 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.
  8 - One mind How important is it to have unity of spirit in working together for God's glory. Different opinions are important and provide strength. The key to harmony is in not insisting on our own opinions. See jn1721; ro1210,16.
.13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
 14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
.15  But 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:
 16 ¶ Having 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.
.17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
  15 - Be ready to answer Loving God is important but it is based on knowledge He has revealed to us. Compare pr2221 and its context.
.18 ¶ For 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:   Christ ... preached to the spirits Many today believe that Jesus' spirit left His body and found those who had lived before the flood that were now in hell. Even on the surface, this explanation has problems. The text deserves a careful explanation. See the article on the note page.
  Once As at he0926.
  Being put ... He became a man to live and die in our place – in human flesh.
  Quickened Made alive. 
 19  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;


By which He appealed by the same life-giving "Spirit of God" v18, ge0603. He offered them life in safety from the coming flood.
  Went His home was in heaven v22, jn0633.
  Preached Greek kerusso as in lu2447.
  Spirits Greek pneuma the same as in Jesus' statement, "the spirit is willing." The spiritual nature of the mind mt2641. (The word has other meanings which do not apply here.) An aspect of a person is sometimes used to mean the person pr0518, ga0618, 2co0521. Also note that eight who were saved out of the larger group who heard the preaching are clearly people v20.
  Spirits in prison Considering the "spirits" as individuals being preached to, "prison" would be a metaphor for the grave where the dead rest jb0318, la0334, is1417. They were dead when Peter wrote, having been buried in the turmoil of the flood and awaiting the resurrection of the wicked re2005. The beginning of the next verse may be seen to take us back to the earlier time. Also see 1pe0406.
.20  Which 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.   Longsuffering of God waited Noah preached for 120 years while building the ark ge0603. Eight were saved by the water that carried their ship. That salvation is like the spiritual salvation rejected by those who refused the invitation to enter the ark.
.21 ¶ The 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:   Baptism doth ... save us So if we are baptized we are automatically saved? No re2108. Look at the verse again and compare it to verse 20 which it builds on. What baptism is it? The resurrection of Christ. How so? His death and resurrection symbolize baptism ro0603. He went into the tomb and came out again as one is baptized, going under the water and being brought up. It is His "baptism" of death that saves us when we claim His sacrifice to wash away our sins.
  Not the putting away We might become physically clean by being baptized but it's our attitude toward God which counts.
.22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.   Angels ... subject to Him He is leader of the angels jos0514f.

 
Someone asked for texts about wearing jewelry

Daniel,
   This is a good question. The topic is often confusing. Let's start with a key passage and add more as we discuss:

    1 Peter 3:3-5  "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; The context broadens the thought a little. But 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. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"
    Paul has essentially the same advice. 1ti0209. And see is0316ff.

    The principle I see is that the focus should be on beauty of character. Of course it applies to men as well. And it goes for makeup.
    The next question is, can't jewelry and makeup be modest? I believe they can, but we come to another question: How much is too much? My wife wears neither jewelry nor makeup and I believe that this is best. I've seen other women with very simple jewelry or makeup who I felt were being modest. They did not have the convictions that my wife and I do, and I really expect that God who knows hearts was not dishonored. My belief that none is best is based on two principles: It's easy to go over the line on special occasions where the human body is glorified instead of God. And wearing modest jewelry can be misinterpreted by younger women so that they begin drawing attention to themselves.
    Expense is sometimes a factor, but not always.
    My wife and I do not wear wedding rings, but if one or both of us were in a social situation where our marital status might be misunderstood, I believe wearing simple rings would be good.
    Next question: Wasn't jewelry seen positively in the Old Testament? No and yes. No according to Peter. In our first passage, he told us that the holy women of old adorned themselves as he described. And yes, at least in symbolic prophecies like Is. 61:10: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Compare. Ezek. 16.
     And Lucifer, who became Satan, symbolically related to the king of Tyre, wore jewels before he fell: "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." (Ezek. 28:13, 14).
    God made the beautiful metals and jewels. As we read a little more, however, we get a clue about why our situation is different here. "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." (verses 17-19).
    If a holy angel could choose to be proud and rebellious because of his appearance, how dare we, who are weak and with natural tendencies to sin, place ourselves in the way of temptation? As we live in simplicity of appearance, we may pray, "Lead us not into temptation." (Matt. 6:13).
    In Ex. 33 we see how the people took off their jewelry when God came in judgment after they worshipped the golden calf (ch. 22). "And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. . . . And I will send an angel before thee. . . . for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb." (verses 1-6).
    As frail humans on our way to the heavenly Canaan, dare we take any actions that will draw our minds away from our total dependence on the grace of God in our Lord Jesus?
    The sanctuary yearly calendar of events begins with Passover when the people left Egypt and parallels other experiences on the way to Canaan. Just before the feast of tabernacles which celebrates arrival into the new land. Leaving Egypt is a symbol of leaving sin, and our spiritual journey continues until we are in heaven. The last special day before that represents our last experience on earth. It is the day of atonement also recognized as a day of judgment (Lev. 16 and 23). It was a day when the people were to humble themselves before the Lord so that they would not be cut off from the people le1629. This is our time and sufficient reason for humility in dress. I realize that I've covered a lot in a few sentences, but I think you can see the overall picture.
    The topic is discussed in connection with the story of Joseph ex4141f. In heaven we will be given crowns. And with jewels! I look forward to meeting you there by God's grace.

    Also see Isa. 3:16-24; 1 Tim. 2:9; Hosea 2:13; Psalm 101:2, 3.

Ted


 
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