This chapter embraces the following subjects: I. The duty of wives, 1 Peter 3:1. Particularly: (a)That their conduct should be such as would be adapted to lead their unbelieving husbands to embrace a religion whose happy influence was seen in the pure conduct of their wives, 1 Peter 3:1. * In re... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE, YE WIVES, BE IN SUBJECTION TO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS - On the duty here enjoined, see the 1 Corinthians 11:3 notes, and Ephesians 5:22 note. THAT, IF ANY OBEY NOT THE WORD - The word of God; the gospel. That is, if any wives have husbands who are not true Christians. This would be likely to occ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THEY BEHOLD YOUR CHASTE CONVERSATION - Your pure conduct. The word chaste here (ἁγνὴν hagnēn) refer’s to purity of conduct in all respects, and not merely to chastity properly so called. It includes that, but it also embraces much more. The conduct of the wife is to be in all respects pure;... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE ADORNING - Whose ornament. The apostle refers here to a propensity which exists in the heart of woman to seek that which would be esteemed ornamental, or that which will appear well in the sight of others, and commend us to them. The desire of this is laid deep in human nature and therefore, w... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LET IT BE THE HIDDEN MAN OF THE HEART - This expression is substantially the same as that of Paul in Romans 7:22, “the inward man.” See the notes at that place. The word “hidden” here means that which is concealed; that which is not made apparent by the dress, or by ornament. It lies within, per... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AFTER THIS MANNER, IN THE OLD TIME - The allusion here is particularly to the times of the patriarchs, and the object of the apostle is to state another reason why they should seek that kind of ornament which he had been commending. The reason is, that this characterized the pious and honored fe... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS SARA OBEYED ABRAHAM - Sarah was one of the most distinguished of the wives of the patriarchs, and her case is referred to as furnishing one of the best illustrations of the duty to which the apostle refers. Nothing is said, in the brief records of her life, of any passion for outward adornin... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE, YE HUSBANDS - On the general duty of husbands, see the notes at Ephesians 5:25 ff. DWELL WITH THEM - That is, “Let your manner of living with them be that which is immediately specified.” ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE - In accordance with an intelligent view of the nature of the relation; or, a... [ Continue Reading ]
FINALLY - As the last direction, or as general counsel in reference to your conduct in all the relations of life. The apostle had specified most of the important relations which Christians sustain, 1 Peter 2:13; 1 Peter 3:1; and he now gives a general direction in regard to their conduct in all thos... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT RENDERING EVIL FOR EVIL - See the Matthew 5:39, Matthew 5:44 notes; Romans 12:17 note. OR RAILING FOR RAILING - See the notes at 1 Timothy 6:4. Compare Mark 15:29; Luke 23:39. BUT CONTRARIWISE BLESSING - In a spirit contrary to this. See the notes at Matthew 5:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT WILL LOVE LIFE - Greek, “He willing, (θέλων thelōn,) or that wills to love life.” It implies that there is some positive desire to live; some active wish that life should be prolonged. This whole passage 1 Peter 3:10 is taken, with some slight variations, from Psalms 34:12. In the Psal... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIM ESCHEW EVIL - Let him avoid all evil. Compare Job 1:1. AND DO GOOD - In any and every way; by endeavoring to promote the happiness of all. Compare the notes at Galatians 6:10. LET HIM SEEK PEACE, AND ENSUE IT - Follow it; that is, practice it. See the Matthew 5:9 note; Romans 12:18 note. T... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE OVER THE RIGHTEOUS - That is, he is their Protector. His eyes are indeed on all people, but the language here is that which describes continual guardianship and care. AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR PRAYERS - He hears their prayers. As he is a hearer of prayer, they ar... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHO IS HE THAT WILL HARM YOU, IF YE BE FOLLOWERS OF THAT WHICH IS GOOD? - This question is meant to imply, that as a general thing they need apprehend no evil if they lead an upright and benevolent life. The idea is, that God would in general protect them, though the next verse shows that the ap... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AND IF YE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS” SAKE - Implying that though, in general, a holy character would constitute safety, yet that there was a possibility that they might suffer persecution. Compare the Matthew 5:10 note; 2 Timothy 3:12 note. HAPPY ARE YE - Perhaps alluding to what the Saviour says... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS - In Isaiah Isaiah 8:13 this is, “sanctify the Lord of hosts himself;” that is, in that connection, regard him as your Protector, and be afraid of him, and not of what man can do. The sense in the passage before us is, “In your hearts, or in the affections of... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING A GOOD CONSCIENCE - That is, a conscience that does not accuse you of having done wrong. Whatever may be the accusations of your enemies, so live that you may be at all times conscious of uprightness. Whatever you suffer, see that you do not suffer the pangs inflicted by a guilty conscience,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS BETTER, IF THE WILL OF GOD BE SO - That is, if God sees it to be necessary for your good that you should suffer, it is better that you should suffer for doing well than for crime. God often sees it to be necessary that his people should suffer. There are effects to be accomplished by affli... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CHRIST ALSO HATH ONCE SUFFERED FOR SINS - Compare the notes at 1 Peter 2:21. The design of the apostle in the reference to the sufferings of Christ, is evidently to remind them that he suffered as an innocent being, and not for any wrong-doing, and to encourage and comfort them in their sufferin... [ Continue Reading ]
BY WHICH - Evidently by the Spirit referred to in the previous verse - ἐν ᾧ en hō - the divine nature of the Son of God; that by which he was “quickened” again, after he had been put to death; the Son of God regarded as a Divine Being, or in that same nature which afterward became incarnate, an... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SOMETIME WERE DISOBEDIENT - Which were “once,” or “formerly,” (ποτε pote,) disobedient or rebellious. The language here does not imply that they had ceased to be disobedient, or that they had become obedient at the time when the apostle wrote; but the object is to direct the attention to a for... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIKE FIGURE WHEREUNTO, EVEN BAPTISM, DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US - There are some various readings here in the Greek text, but the sense is not essentially varied. Some have proposed to read (ῷ hō) to which instead of (ὅ ho) which, so as to make the sense “the antitype to which baptism now also s... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS GONE INTO HEAVEN - See the notes at Acts 1:9. AND IS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD - See the notes at Mark 16:19. ANGELS AND AUTHORITIES AND POWERS BEING MADE SUBJECT UNTO HIM - See the notes at Ephesians 1:20. The reason why the apostle here adverts to the fact that the Lord Jesus is raised up t... [ Continue Reading ]