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 coupled with fear.
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Christ ... went and preached unto the spirits in prison. 3:18
Trivia: According to 1 Peter 3, who preached to the spirits in prison?
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 coupled with fear.
Wives, obey your husbands. [1]
3Whose 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.
Don't braid your hair, wear gold jewelry, or fancy clothes. [2]
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:
That's how holy women did it in the good old days.
They trusted in God and obeyed their 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.
Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord.
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.
Husbands, honor your wife, as the weaker vessel.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Love, be courteous, and show compassion toward one another.
9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Don't seek revenge when you are harmed by another.
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:
If you love life, you will be happier.
Don't speak badly of others.
11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
Do good, avoid evil, and seek peace.
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.
Because God sees righteous people [3]
and hears their prayers.
13And 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;
Who will harm you if you are good? [4]
15 But sanctify the Lord God in you 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.
Be ready to explain and defend your beliefs
to those who ask about them. [5]
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 suffered for the just and the unjust. [6]
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
He preached to the spirits in prison. [7]
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.
Among whom were the people who were drowned in the flood,
from which only eight people survived. [8]
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:
22Who is gone into
heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made
subject unto him.
Jesus is now in heaven on the right hand of God. [9]
Christians should be ready to explain why they believe what they do. This is a good verse to remember when they refuse to debate you.
Jesus delivered a sermon in hell (prison). (See 1 Peter 4:6 and Acts 2:31)
God drowned everyone on earth except for Noah and his family. This verse is used by young-earth Creationists to show that New Testament writers believed the Old Testament stories.