Day 225 – Tuesday, November 11, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

1 Peter 3

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Submission to Husbands

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 

(1 Peter 3:1–6, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter offers his take on the marital relationship as it pertains to submission or order in the home.
• While it is possible to see this patriarchal statement that wives should submit to their husbands as offensive, it is more about order than submission. While I do not believe that this is meant to create a servitude or “slavery” situation, it does set the household in order. If a man serves God and is a benevolent leader, then his family should submit to that leadership.
• However, in this case, Peter takes it a step further and says that a wife should submit even if the husband in not a believer. Why? Because her attitude and example may lead him to faith in Jesus Christ.
• Peter then calls for women to dress modestly and in humility. He calls for women to let their inward beauty shine through. Peter cites the example of Sarah “obeying” Abraham, and calling himself “lord.”
• This sounds quite archaic to some, but there is value in this. When a spouse, male or female, respects and honors his or her spouse, it creates an atmosphere of mutual admiration and joy. Pull this principle from this passage. Don’t let the language or the culture that produced it cause you to lose the real message.

A Word to Husbands

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 

(1 Peter 3:7, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter, like Paul, addresses the need for husbands to do their part in fostering a healthy marital relationship as well.
• He calls on husbands to use understanding and to honor their wives, not to rule or abuse them. He calls the wife the “weaker vessel.” This is not suggesting that women are somehow fragile in every way, but rather speaks to their value. I often use the analogy of a family’s fine china that is kept in a special cabinet on display. For many older, especially southern families, this is one of the most valuable things in their home.
• Men, treat your wives as if they are valuable to you, not like a common servant. If you hear this advice and do it, your prayers will not be hindered.

Called to Blessing

⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹ not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For

“He who would love life

And see good days,

Let him refrain his tongue from evil,

And his lips from speaking deceit.

¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good;

Let him seek peace and pursue it.

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 

(1 Peter 3:8–12, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter then moves into a broader teaching, suggesting that everyone should endeavor to live in unity, with the same doctrine and practices:
  • Compassion
  • Brotherly love
  • Tenderness
  • Courtesy
  • No Vengeance
  • Blessing other
• All these things come to the one who controls his tongue (speech), turns from evil, seeks peace.
• The gaze of God is upon those who live according to His will. He hears their prayers and fights their enemies.

Suffering for Right and Wrong

¹³ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 

(1 Peter 3:13–17, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter basically asks the question here: What is the risk associated with doing good?
• In Peter’s logic, even if you do suffer for doing good, the blessing of doing good is still there. Do not fear the consequences that may come. They are outweighed by the good.
• It is better to suffer for doing good that for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹ by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ²¹ There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 

(1 Peter 3:18–22, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter concludes this chapter with a comparison of our suffering versus that of Christ. He suffered a cruel, undeserved death in our place.

• He preached in hell and won many, sort of like the 8 that were saved from the flood by the work of Noah.
• We are baptized after salvation as a sign, a symbol of our resurrection through Christ.
• He is in heaven, making great intercession for us at all times. What a blessing, What a Savior!

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.