1 Peter 3 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
c. AD 62-64
Location
Provinces of northern Asia Minor (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia)
Audience
Predominantly Gentile Christian communities, referred to as 'elect exiles'
Situation
Christians were facing trials, social ostracism, and suffering for their faith in a hostile pagan society, with Peter urging holy living amid persecution.
Key Background
Written by the Apostle Peter from 'Babylon' (likely Rome), the letter addresses believers undergoing a 'fiery ordeal' (1 Peter 4:12). Chapter 3 features household codes promoting submission and honor in marriages and among slaves/masters, modeled on Christ's example. This reflects Greco-Roman social norms reframed through Christian submission to God, encouraging endurance in unjust suffering with hope in future salvation.
In the same way, wives, the of your own husbands — so that even if some of them refuse to trust the they may be won over without a word through the way their wives live,
when they see how you live — with and lives that are
Don't let your be about the external stuff — braided hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes.
Instead, let it be the of the — the unfading beauty of a and which is incredibly valuable to God.
This is exactly how the women of the past who their in used to make themselves beautiful — by placing themselves under the lead of their own husbands.
Like Sarah, who followed Abraham's lead and called him her You've become her daughters by doing what's right and not in to
Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with Show her honor as the more and as an of the of so that nothing gets in the way of your prayers.
Finally, all of you: be what each other be and be
Don't pay back evil with evil or insult with insult. Instead, respond with a word for them, because this is what you were to — so that you would
Because: "Whoever wants to and experience good days must keep their tongue from speaking evil and their lips from telling lies.
They must turn away from what's wrong and do what's right. They must pursue and chase after it.
Because watches over those who do right, and he listens to their cries for help. But he those who do evil."
And who's going to harm you if you're
But even if you do suffer for doing what's right, is for you. Don't be afraid of their and don't let them shake you.
Instead, The as ultimate in your hearts. Always be ready to give a thoughtful answer to anyone who asks you about the that drives you — but do it with gentleness and respect,
keeping a That way, when people trash-talk you, the ones slandering your in The will end up being the ones who are put to shame.
After all, it's better to suffer for doing good — if what — than for doing wrong.
Because The himself for — the just for the — to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the
through which he also went and an to the —
those who disobeyed long ago when in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it, only a few people — eight in all — were the water.
And this water symbolizes the that now you — not the washing off of physical dirt, but an to for a — through the resurrection of Jesus, The
He has gone into heaven and is at — with and now