1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:1

YE wives] Genesis 3:16. Ephesians 5:22. Colossians 3:18. Titus 2:5.

be in subsection] Or, subject your selves. See chap. 2. 5.

husbands] He speaks of unbelieving husbands, unto whom believing wives should be the more subject, that so, by their honest and chaste conversation, they might gain them unto the Lord; that is, be an occasion of gaining them. See Matthew 18:15. 1 Corinthians 9:19. For, such husbands seeing the good conversation of their wives, may be brought to have a liking and good opinion of the Gospel, and so to have a desire to it, and by the grace of God, to frame their life unto it.

be won] 1 Corinthians 7:16.

1 Peter 3:2

fear] Both of offending their husbands, and of offending God.

1 Peter 3:3

Whose adorning] 1 Timothy 2:9. Isaiah 3:16.

adorning] The apostle doth not here absolutely forbid women to adorn themselves; see Genesis 29:30. so it be without excesse and pride, and according to their places: but comparatively, that is, that they make not that outward adorning their chief ornament.

1 Peter 3:4

hidden] This is opposed to the outward decking of the body. Hereby is meant the new man, which according to God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse, Ephesians 4:24. See Romans 2:29. and Romans 7:22. 2 Corinthians 4:16.

in that] That is, which hidden man of the heart is manifested by a meek and quiet spirit, without hypocrisie.

the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit] Gr. in the sincerity of a meek and quiet, &c. See Ephesians 6:24. Titus 2:7.

1 Peter 3:5

being in subjection] See v. 1.

1 Peter 3:6

calling him lord] Genesis 18:12.

daughters] Gr. children.

and are] Because women are by nature fearfull, he giveth them to understand, that he requireth of them that subjection which is not wrung out of them by force and fear. Or, and are not afraid with any amazement arising out of an accusing conscience of doing evil.

1 Peter 3:7

husbands] Col. 3. 14. Here the apostle turns himself to believing husbands, shewing them how they should behave themselves to their believing wives.

according] That is, carry your selves wisely and discreetly towards them.

giving honour] That is, giving them due respect, taking care and providing for them, and bearing with them in their weaknesses.

weaker] It is usuall in the Scripture to compare man in generall unto a vessel: see 1 Samuel 21. 1 Thessalonians 4:4. 2 Corinthians 4:7. Hence the woman is here called weaker vessel, because generally she is weaker, both in the faculties of her soul, and the constitution of her body. And in that she is called here the weaker vessel, thereby is implied the reason wherefore husbands must so carry themselves as before, viz. because women are the weaker vessels. Weaker vessels, as those of glasse and earth, we use carefully and tenderly: and so husbands should carry themselves toward their wives.

and as being heirs together of] Some copies read, and as to heirs with you of, &c.

grace] That is, life eternall, which is through grace, Romans 6:23. 2 Timothy 1:9.

hindered] By brawling and chiding, arising out of your indiscreet carriage. And here, by prayers, understand all other duties belonging to the worship of God.

1 Peter 3:8

Finally] Here saint Peter cometh to common exhortation, and commendeth concord, and whatsoever things make thereunto.

one minde] Romans 12:16. and Romans 15:5. Philippians 3:16. 1 Corinthians 1:10.

love as brethren] Or, loving to the brethren.

1 Peter 3:9

Not rendring evil for evil] Proverbs 17:13. and Proverbs 20:22. Matth. 5. 39, 44. Rom. 12. 14, 17. 1 Thess. 5. 15.

knowing] Here is a reason given why they should not render evil for evil, viz. because of that great blessing of eternall life, whereunto they were called.

1 Peter 3:10

he that will love life] Psal. 34. 12, &c.

tongue from evil] Proverbs 4:24. and Proverbs 18:21.

1 Peter 3:11

eschew evil] Isaiah 1:16.

1 Peter 3:12

against] Gr. upon.

1 Peter 3:13

And who] Hereby is implied, that the honest conversation of the faithfull, doth oftentimes prevail with, and mollifie the hearts of cruell persecutours.

1 Peter 3:14

But and if ye suffer for righteousnesse sake] Matthew 5:10.

happie are ye] Matthew 10:28. James 1:12. 1 Peter 4:14.

be not afraid] Isaiah 8:12-13. He means that kinde of fear and trouble of minde wherewith wicked men fear in times of trouble, that is, with a fear without patience and trust in God, and such as is accompanied with consternation and amazement, so that they know not which way to turn themselves. See Isaiah 7:2. Matthew 2:3. John 14. 1. and 16. 1.

1 Peter 3:15

sanctifie] That is, glorifie God by your patient suffering, and faithfull trusting in him. Or, blesse God in your hearts, for that he hath accounted you worthy to suffer for righteousnesse sake. See Acts 5:41. 2 Corinthians 3:11. Phil. 1. 29. Col. 1. 24.

every man] That is, if Gods honour, and the good of those who ask require it; otherwise we must not cast pearls before swine: see Matthew 7:6.

fear] Or, reverence.

1 Peter 3:16

Having] Chap. 2. 12. See chap. 2. 19.

speak evil] See chap. 2. 12.

in Christ] That is, according to his doctrine.

1 Peter 3:17

better] That is, it is good to suffer for well-doing, and not for evil. See the like, Psalms 118:8. 1 Corinthians 7:9.

the will of God] Chap. 4. 19.

1 Peter 3:18

For] Here he again propounds the example of Christ, as chap. 2. 21.

once] Hebrews 7:27. For all, never to die or suffer again. See Romans 5:6. Hebrews 9:28.

the just for the unjust] Romans 5:6, &c.

bring] Reconcile us unto God. See Ephes. 2. 13, &c. Colossians 1:19, &c. 2 Corinthians 5:18.

being put to death] 2 Corinthians 13:4.

in the flesh] That is, according to his humane nature. See chap. 4. 1. Romans 1:3. 1 Timothy 3:16.

Spirit] By his divine nature. So Romans 1:4. 1 Timothy 3:16. Hebrews 9:14.

1 Peter 3:19

went] Not by any local motion, but by the manifestation and power of his Spirit. See chap. 4. 14. Genesis 6:3.

preached] That is, by the ministery of Noah, or some others, Ephesians 2:17.

spirits in] That is, now, when saint Peter wrote this epistle, though not so when they were preached unto.

1 Peter 3:20

disobedient] That is, unbelieving. See John 2:26. Acts 14:2. Romans 7:8. Hebrews 3:18.

by water] That is, through the means of water, which did bear up the ark.

1 Peter 3:21

The like] That is, answerable to which salvation by water.

not] There is no reason for this parenthesis.

answer] Herein saint Peter may seem to have respect unto that rite or ceremonie, which was used in the baptism of those who were of age. The person baptizing, asked the person to be baptized, Whether he believed; and he answered, I believe, &c. Hence, by the answer of a good conscience, we may understand that unfeigned faith whereof they made confession at their baptism, and whereby their consciences were purified, and whereby they received the remission of their sins, testified by Christs resurrection from the dead. Some understand, by the answer, &c. that covenant whereinto they entred at their baptism, the embracing whereof they testified by their unfeigned confession of their faith.

1 Peter 3:22

the right hand of God] Psalms 110:1. Hebrews 1:3.