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Wives and Husbands

In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then,[a] even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,[b] when they see your pure and reverent conduct.[c] Let your[d] beauty[e] not be external—the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry[f] or fine clothes— but the inner person[g] of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, like Sarah who obeyed[h] Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children[i] when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.[j] Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor[k] as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.[l]

Suffering for Doing Good

Finally, all of you be harmonious,[m] sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless[n] others[o] because you were called to inherit a blessing. 10 For

the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep[p] his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
11 And he must turn away from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are[q] upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.[r]

13 For[s] who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer[t] for doing what is right,[u] you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them[v] or be shaken.[w] 15 But set Christ[x] apart[y] as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.[z] 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect,[aa] keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.[ab] 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it,[ac] than for doing evil.

18 [ad] Because Christ also suffered[ae] once for sins,
the just for the unjust,[af]
to bring you to God,
by being put to death in the flesh
but[ag] by being made alive in the spirit.[ah]
19 In it[ai] he went and preached to the spirits in prison,[aj]

20 after they were disobedient long ago[ak] when God patiently waited[al] in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark[am] a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. 21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you[an]—not the washing off of physical dirt[ao] but the pledge[ap] of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God[aq] with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.[ar]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:1 tn Grk “that…they may be won over,” showing the purpose of “being subject” (vs. 1b). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  2. 1 Peter 3:1 tn Grk “by the wives’ behavior.”
  3. 1 Peter 3:2 tn Grk “behavior,” the same word translated “the way you live” in vs. 1.
  4. 1 Peter 3:3 tn Grk “whose,” referring to the wives.
  5. 1 Peter 3:3 tn Or “adornment.”
  6. 1 Peter 3:3 tn The word “jewelry” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate that gold ornaments or jewelry is intended; otherwise the reader might assume wearing gold-colored clothing was forbidden.
  7. 1 Peter 3:4 tn Grk “the hidden man.” KJV’s “the hidden man of the heart,” referring to a wife, could be seriously misunderstood by the modern English reader.
  8. 1 Peter 3:6 tn Grk “as Sarah obeyed.”
  9. 1 Peter 3:6 tn Grk “whose children you become.”
  10. 1 Peter 3:6 tn Grk “doing good and not fearing any intimidation.”
  11. 1 Peter 3:7 tn Grk “living together according to knowledge, as to the weaker, female vessel.” The primary verbal ideas of v. 7 are contained in participles (“living together…showing honor”) but they continue the sense of command from the previous paragraphs.
  12. 1 Peter 3:7 tn Grk “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek, this clause was translated as a separate sentence.
  13. 1 Peter 3:8 tn There is no main verb in this verse (Grk “Finally, all [ ] harmonious”), but it continues the sense of command from the previous paragraphs.
  14. 1 Peter 3:9 tn Grk “not returning…but blessing,” continuing the sense of command from the preceding.
  15. 1 Peter 3:9 tn The direct object “others” is omitted but implied in Greek, and must be supplied to suit English style.
  16. 1 Peter 3:10 tn Grk “stop.”
  17. 1 Peter 3:12 tn The verbs are implied but not expressed in this verse: “the Lord’s eyes [ ] on the righteous and his ears [ ] to their prayer, but his face [ ] against those who do evil.”
  18. 1 Peter 3:12 sn Verses 10-12 are a quotation from Ps 34:12-16.
  19. 1 Peter 3:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “For” to indicate that what follows gives an explanation.
  20. 1 Peter 3:14 sn The Greek construction here implies that such suffering was not the norm, even though it could happen, and in fact may well have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).
  21. 1 Peter 3:14 tn Grk “because of righteousness.”
  22. 1 Peter 3:14 tn Grk “do not fear their fear,” referring to those who cause their suffering. The phrase “their fear” may mean “what they fear” (subjective genitive), but in a situation of persecution it more likely means “fear of them” (objective genitive).
  23. 1 Peter 3:14 sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.
  24. 1 Peter 3:15 tc Most later mss, including some significant ones (P 5 81 436 442 1735 2344 2492 M) have θεόν (theon, “God”) instead of Χριστόν (Christon; “Christ”) here. But Χριστόν is widely supported by excellent and early witnesses (P72 א A B C Ψ 33 1175 1243 1611 1739 1852 latt sy co), and as a less common idiom better explains the rise of the other reading.
  25. 1 Peter 3:15 tn Or “sanctify Christ as Lord.”
  26. 1 Peter 3:15 tn Grk “the hope in you.”
  27. 1 Peter 3:16 tn Grk “but with courtesy and respect,” continuing the command of v. 15. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  28. 1 Peter 3:16 tn Grk “when you are spoken against.”
  29. 1 Peter 3:17 tn Grk “if the will of God should will it.” As in 3:14 the Greek construction here implies that suffering for doing good was not what God normally willed, even though it could happen, and in fact may have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).
  30. 1 Peter 3:18 sn This passage has been typeset as poetry because many scholars regard this passage as poetic or hymnic. These terms are used broadly to refer to the genre of writing, not to the content. There are two broad criteria for determining if a passage is poetic or hymnic: “(a) stylistic: a certain rhythmical lilt when the passages are read aloud, the presence of parallelismus membrorum (i.e., an arrangement into couplets), the semblance of some metre, and the presence of rhetorical devices such as alliteration, chiasmus, and antithesis; and (b) linguistic: an unusual vocabulary, particularly the presence of theological terms, which is different from the surrounding context” (P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [NIGTC], 188-89). Classifying a passage as hymnic or poetic is important because understanding this genre can provide keys to interpretation. However, not all scholars agree that the above criteria are present in this passage, so the decision to typeset it as poetry should be viewed as a tentative decision about its genre.
  31. 1 Peter 3:18 tc The variants here are legion (B. M. Metzger produces eight variants in a nice layout of the evidence [TCGNT 622]). Most of these variants involve pronouns, prepositions, or word order changes, but the major problem involves whether Christ “suffered” (ἔπαθεν, epathen) or “died” (ἀπέθανεν, apethanen). The witnesses that read ἀπέθανεν are P72 א*,2 A Cvid Ψ 0285 5 436 442 614 630 945 1175 1241 1243 1505 1611 1735 1739 1852 2344; the witnesses that read ἔπαθεν are B L P 81 2492 M. Although the external evidence slightly favors ἀπέθανεν, such may be a secondary reading. Intrinsically, ἔπαθεν both fits the context better, especially the verbal link between v. 17 and v. 18 (note in particular the introductory causal ὅτι [hoti, “because”] and the emphatic καί [kai, “also”]), and fits the author’s style (1 Peter never uses ἀποθνῄσκω [apothnēskō], but uses πάσχω [paschō] 11 other times, more than any other NT book). However, scribes would most likely realize this, and might conform the verb in v. 18 to the author’s typical usage. It may be argued, however, that scribes tended to alter the text in light of more common NT idioms, and did not have as much sensitivity to the literary features in the immediate context. In this instance, it may not be insignificant that the NT collocates ἀποθνῄσκω with ἁμαρτία (hamartia, “sin”) seven other times, though only once (1 Cor 15:3) with a meaning similar to what would be demanded here, but collocates πάσχω with ἁμαρτία in only one other place, 1 Pet 4:1, where the meaning also detours from what is seen here. All in all, a decision is difficult, but ἔπαθεν is to be preferred slightly.
  32. 1 Peter 3:18 sn The reference to the just suffering for the unjust is an allusion to Isa 53:11-12.
  33. 1 Peter 3:18 tn Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two phrases more than can be easily expressed in English.
  34. 1 Peter 3:18 sn Put to death in the flesh…made alive in the spirit. The contrast of flesh and spirit is not between two parts of Christ’s person (material versus immaterial) but between two broader modes of existence: the realm of unregenerate earthly life versus eternal heavenly life. The reference may not be to the Holy Spirit directly, but indirectly, since the Spirit permeates and characterizes the spiritual mode of existence. However, ExSyn 343 (n. 76) states “It is often objected that the Holy Spirit cannot be in view because the two datives of v 18 (σαρκί, πνεύματι [sarki, pneumati]) would then have a different syntactical force (sphere, means). But if 1 Pet 3:18 is a hymnic or liturgical fragment, this can be no objection because of ‘poetic license’: poetry is replete with examples of grammatical and lexical license, not the least of which is the use of the same morpho-syntactic categories, in parallel lines, with entirely different senses (note, e.g., the dat. expressions in 1 Tim 3:16).”
  35. 1 Peter 3:19 tn Grk “in which.” ExSyn 343 notes: “The antecedent of the RP [relative pronoun] is by no means certain. Some take it to refer to πνεύματι immediately preceding, the meaning of which might be either the Holy Spirit or the spiritual state. Others see the phrase as causal (‘for which reason,’ ‘because of this’), referring back to the entire clause, while still other scholars read the phrase as temporal (if so, it could be with or without an antecedent: ‘on which occasion’ or ‘meanwhile’). None of these options is excluded by syntax. It may be significant, however, that every other time ἐν ᾧ is used in 1 Peter it bears an adverbial/conjunctive force (cf. 1:6; 2:12; 3:16 [here, temporal]; 4:4).” Also, because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  36. 1 Peter 3:19 sn And preached to the spirits in prison. The meaning of this preaching and the spirits to whom he preached are much debated. It is commonly understood to be: (1) Christ’s announcement of his victory over evil to the fallen angels who await judgment for their role in leading the Noahic generation into sin; this proclamation occurred sometime between Christ’s death and ascension; or (2) Christ’s preaching of repentance through Noah to the unrighteous humans, now dead and confined in hell, who lived in the days of Noah. The latter is preferred because of the temporal indications in v. 20a and the wider argument of the book. These verses encourage Christians to stand for righteousness and try to influence their contemporaries for the gospel in spite of the suffering that may come to them. All who identify with them and their Savior will be saved from the coming judgment, just as in Noah’s day.
  37. 1 Peter 3:20 tn This reflects a Greek participle, literally “having been disobedient formerly,” that refers to the “spirits” in v. 19. Many translations take this as adjectival describing the spirits (“who had once been disobedient”; cf. NASB, NIV, NKJV, NLT, NRSV, TEV), but the grammatical construction strongly favors an adverbial interpretation describing the time of the preaching, as reflected above.
  38. 1 Peter 3:20 tn Grk “the patience of God waited.”
  39. 1 Peter 3:20 tn Grk “in which,” referring to the ark; the referent (the ark) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  40. 1 Peter 3:21 tn Grk “which also, [as] an antitype, now saves you, [that is] baptism.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  41. 1 Peter 3:21 tn Grk “the removal of the dirt of the flesh,” where flesh refers to the physical make-up of the body with no moral connotations.
  42. 1 Peter 3:21 tn Or “response”; “answer.”
  43. 1 Peter 3:22 tn Grk “who is at the right hand…having gone into heaven.”
  44. 1 Peter 3:22 tn Grk “angels…having been subjected to him.”

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(A) to your own husbands(B) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(C) without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(D) Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(E) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(F) For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(G) used to adorn themselves.(H) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(I) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Husbands,(J) in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(K) be sympathetic, love one another,(L) be compassionate and humble.(M) Do not repay evil with evil(N) or insult with insult.(O) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(P) because to this(Q) you were called(R) so that you may inherit a blessing.(S) 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a](T)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(U) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(V) “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c](W) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(X) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(Y) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(Z) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(AA) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(AB) to suffer for doing good(AC) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(AD) for sins,(AE) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(AF) He was put to death in the body(AG) but made alive in the Spirit.(AH) 19 After being made alive,[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(AI) 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(AJ) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(AK) In it only a few people, eight in all,(AL) were saved(AM) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(AN) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(AO) toward God.[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AP) 22 who has gone into heaven(AQ) and is at God’s right hand(AR)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
  2. 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
  3. 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
  4. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  5. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience

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;

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

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

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:

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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:

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

妻子与丈夫

同样,你们做妻子的,要服从自己的丈夫。这样,即使有不肯信从这话语的丈夫,他们也会被感化[a]过来,不是因着妻子的话语,而是因着妻子的品行, 因为看见了你们怀有敬畏之心的贞洁品行。 你们的美丽之处不应该是外在的,如编头发、戴金饰、穿华服, 而应该是心里面内在的人,带着不朽坏的品性[b],出于谦和、安静的灵;这在神面前是极其贵重的。 实际上,从前盼望神的那些圣洁妇女,也是这样装饰自己,服从自己丈夫的; 就像撒拉顺从亚伯拉罕,称他为主那样;当你们行善而不怕任何惊扰的时候,就成为撒拉的儿女了。

同样,你们做丈夫的,要按情理与妻子同住,将女性当做比较软弱的器皿而尊重她们,也当做是生命之恩的共同继承人。这样,你们的祷告就不会受拦阻。

不要作恶

总而言之,你们大家都要心思一致,互相同情,相爱如弟兄,心存怜悯,满有谦卑[c] 不要以恶报恶,以辱骂还辱骂,反要祝福,因为[d]你们是为此蒙召的,好使你们继承祝福。

10 要知道,“那愿意爱惜生命、
愿意见到好日子的人,
要停止舌头出恶言,
不让嘴唇说诡诈的话;
11 要远离邪恶,要行美善,
要寻求和睦,要竭力追求;
12 因为主的眼睛看顾义人,
主的耳朵垂听他们的祈祷;
但主的脸却敌对作恶的人。”[e]

为义受苦

13 如果你们是为美善而热心[f]的人,谁会伤害你们呢? 14 然而,即使你们为义受苦,也是蒙福的。不要怕他们所惧怕的[g],也不要惊慌不安,[h] 15 只要你们心里尊主基督[i]为圣,无论谁要你们对你们里面的盼望做个交代,你们都要随时预备好答复他; 16 不过要以温柔、敬畏的心答复,并且持守无愧的良心,以致谁诋毁你们在基督里的良好品行,谁就要在你们受到诽谤的事上蒙羞。 17 要知道,即使神的旨意要你们因行善而受苦,也比因作恶而受苦更好,

18 因为基督也曾一次为了赎罪而受苦[j]
就是义的代替不义的,
为要把你们[k]带到神的面前。
照着肉身说,基督固然被处死了;
但照着灵说,他却得以复活了。

19 藉着灵,他也曾去传道给那些被监禁的灵魂, 20 就是从前在挪亚建造方舟的那些日子里,在神耐心等待的时候那些不肯信从的灵魂。当时进入方舟,藉着水获救的人很少,只有八个人[l] 21 这水所象征的洗礼,如今也藉着耶稣基督的复活拯救你们[m],不是清除肉体的污秽,而是向神恳求[n]无愧的良心。 22 耶稣基督已经升天,就在神的右边,天使们、掌权的、有势力的,都服从了他。

Footnotes

  1. 彼得前书 3:1 被感化——原文直译“被赢得”。
  2. 彼得前书 3:4 品性——辅助词语。
  3. 彼得前书 3:8 满有谦卑——有古抄本作“待人友善”。
  4. 彼得前书 3:9 有古抄本附“你们知道”。
  5. 彼得前书 3:12 《诗篇》34:12-16。
  6. 彼得前书 3:13 为美善而热心——有古抄本作“效法美善”。
  7. 彼得前书 3:14 他们所惧怕的——或译作“他们的恐吓”。
  8. 彼得前书 3:14 《以赛亚书》8:12。
  9. 彼得前书 3:15 基督——有古抄本作“——神”。
  10. 彼得前书 3:18 为了赎罪而受苦——有古抄本作“为了赎我们的罪而死”或“为我们的罪孽死了”或“为你们的罪孽死了”。
  11. 彼得前书 3:18 你们——有古抄本作“我们”。
  12. 彼得前书 3:20 人——原文直译“灵魂”。
  13. 彼得前书 3:21 你们——有古抄本作“我们”。
  14. 彼得前书 3:21 恳求——或译作“宣誓”。