Self-interpreting Bible

« back to list of books

« back to list of chapters

1 Peter 3

1The apostle teacheth the duty of wives and husbands; 8exhorting all men to unity and love, and to return good for evil: 14to suffer boldly for righteousness' sake, and to give a reason of their hope with meekness and fear; taking especial care to suffer, as Christ did, for welldoing, and not for evildoing. 19The preaching of Christ by his Spirit to the old world. 21After what manner Christian baptism saveth us.


1 LIKEWISE, aye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, bthey also may without the word be won by the c*conversation of the wives;

2 While they behold dyour chaste *conversation coupled with fear.

3 eWhose 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 flet 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 gFor *after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, hbeing in subjection unto their own husbands:

6 iEven as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: jwhose 1daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and kare not afraid with any *amazement.

7 lLikewise, 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; mthat your prayers be not hindered.

8 Finally, nbe ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, 2love as brethren, be *pitiful, be courteous:

9 oNot rendering evil for evil, or *railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that pye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For qhe 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 r*eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and *ensue it.

12 sFor the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is t3against them that do evil.

13 uAnd who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 vBut and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, whappy are ye: and xbe not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But ysanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always zto give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and 4fear:

16 aHaving a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that bfalsely accuse your good c*conversation in Christ.

17 dFor it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18 For eChrist also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, fbeing put to death gin the flesh, but *quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and hpreached unto the spirits in iprison;

20 jWhich *sometime were disobedient, kwhen once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, lwherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 mThe like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of na good conscience toward God,) oby the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

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