1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:1-22

Teacher’ s Notes for FIRST PETER Chapter THREE 1. Give an inspired example of one following in the footsteps of Jesus. (Verses 1-6). Wives, following the dictates of God’ s word, are one very good example of Christians following Christ a. Notice the word “ ” in verse one. This ties the thought of the wives submission to their husbands to the thought in chapter one of servants submitting to their masters. This was Peter’ s way of introducing his thoughts of following in the steps of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-20). And notice that their submission was “ to the good and gentile as well as to the harsh” (1 Peter 1:18) b. Likewise, wives are to set the proper example of life before their husbands. Of course the same can be said of the husbands: Christian husbands must set the proper example before their wives. c. What does Peter say the result of such behavior may be? Without a word the husband may be won. 2. How is it possible for one to be saved apart from the Word? Here is where one needs to look at the original Greek language for answers. One of the best Greek scholars of our brotherhood in the past century, in my opinion, has been brother Guy N. Woods. a. He says the following in his commentary on First Peter: That, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of the wives;” In some instances both the husband and wife would obey the gospel; in others, only the wife; and it is the latter with which the apostle deals here. “ The word” in the phrase, “ if any obey not the word,” is the gospel (Romans 1:16). “ Obey not” is translated from a term which denotes a degree of antagonism in addition to disobedience, plus an element of stubbornness. It means, literally, not to al-low one’ s self to be persuaded. The text, as it runs in our translation, (Brother Woods used the American Standard Version of 1901 C.R.R.) makes the apostle assert that such men may “ without the word” be gained, i.e., they may be led to the word of truth without the word of truth! Such an idea is contradictory and does not correctly represent what the apostle actually said. The Greek article does not appear before the noun “ word,” in the phrase, “ may without the word be gained…” Here, “ word” does not refer, as it does in the former phrase, to the word of truth-the gospel. Instead, it refers to the exhortations, the persuasions of the wives.

These husbands had heard the gospel and were familiar with its demands. They had thus been stubborn, rebellious, disobedient. Peter admonished the wives of such men to desist from further importunity, lest such should descend to nagging; and instead, by godly conduct and discreet behavior to encourage them to do that which they al-ready understood to be their duty. Properly translated, the passage reads: “ If any obey not the word, they may without a word (from the wife) be gained by her godly behavior.” This is an instance where silent eloquence is more effective than vigorous and vehement debate. “ Be gained” is a significant and important statement. Every soul saved is a gain to the Lord, to the church, and to itself. “ Behavior” sums up the conduct of the wives addressed.” (Gospel Advocate Commentary, page 87.) 3. Does Peter command a Christian wife to always, without question, submit to her husband? NOT! Give a reason for your answer. I know women even today who believe this to be so. And some will place their own soul, and the souls of their children in jeopardy by so doing. a. For instance, Hebrews 10:25 is a direct command to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together with our fellow Christians to encourage one another to love and good works. Yet, many Christian wives will ignore this command when their husband wishes to do other things. b. Although spouses are not mentioned, I am convinced they would be implied when Jesus listed those of our immediate family, and said to place them before Him renders one unworthy of being His disciple (cf. Matthew 10:36-38; Luke 14:26-27). c. One must place God and His kingdom (church) first, before any human being or any activity, (Matthew 6:33). d. At one congregation where we worked there was a mother of three small children whose husband did not believe. He had heard the truth many times as those of whom Peter speaks had heard, but refused to accept it. Instead, this man came to the point of giving her an ultimatum: “ Stop attending services of the church of Christ or leave!” She came to our house to speak with me and Lois. Not to ask permission for anything.

Not to ask for Scriptures telling her what to do. She knew what she had to do in order to remain faithful and true to Christ. She came to us to say goodbye. She was taking her children and returning to her home town where she could continue living for Christ. She placed her Savior ahead of her earthly family just as Jesus said to do. 4. Give 2 things in this passage that must be present in order for a man to be saved apart from the word. (Verse 2). (1). The wife’ s Christian example. (2) The husbands fear (respect) for God. a. We have said enough for now about the wife’ s love and respect for God and the way she is to present herself, but no one, including the husband of this text, can receive the free gift of God without their own deep respect for Him and His inspired word. “ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). “For by grace you have been saved, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Thus the fear and respect of verse two must be that of the one being won to Christ. 5. What is very valuable in God’ s sight? (Verse 4). A gentle and quite spirit. a. This spirit is the result of having that fear (deep respect) for the word of God. i. One who has this gentle and quite spirit has allowed the mind of Christ to be in them (Philippians 2:5). It is the same as those whom Jesus, in Matthew 5:3 said, “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And Matthew 5:5 where it is said, “ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” ii. What all that is saying is, they are following His steps (1 Peter 2:21). 6. How does verse six compare to Galatians 3:29? Galatians 3:29 reads, “ And if you are Christ’ s, then you are Abraham’ s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” a. Paul is speaking of the promise God gave to Abraham that through his seed all families of the earth would be blessed. The seed of that promise is Christ (cf. Galatians 3:16). Therefore, those who have entered Christ through baptism (Galatians 3:26-27) are the spiritual seed or children of Abraham (verse 29). b. Peter draws the same conclusion by looking at Christian women as the daughters of Sarah, Abraham’ s wife. 7. “ likewise, DWELL with them with , giving HONOR to the WIFE, as to the WEAKER VESSEL, and as being heirs of the GRACE of LIFE, that your PRAYERS may not be .” (1 Peter 3:7). a. In what way is the wife usually weaker than the husband? She is weaker physically! In fact, I have observed that most women are stronger spiritually than their husbands. I am convinced that this is the primary cause of there being so many Christian women whose husbands seldom, if ever, attend services. b. But notice that word “ .” Peter is hear addressing Christian husbands in the same light as those wives of verses 1-6 whose husbands had been won by the Christian character of the wife. i. There is no double-standard with God. As Christian women are to be obedient to their husbands, even so the Christian husband is to be understanding towards his wife because both are heirs of God’ s grace of life. ii. What does Peter mean by prayers being hindered? Does he mean God might not listen to them? The man whom Jesus healed of blindness said, “ God does not hear sinners” (John 9:31). And Solomon said, “ One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverb 28:9). You are heirs together-joint heirs-equal because “ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). All of those are physical relation-ships. In Christ we are spiritual brothers and sisters in God’ s family. iii. When I read, “ that your prayers may not be hindered,” I think of an old poem titled, “ THE PRAYER” Said farmer Jones, in a whining tone, To his good old neighbor Gray; “ I’ ve worn my knees through to the bone; - But it ain’ t no use to pray. I’ ve prayed to the Lord a thousand times To make my corn grow; And why yours beats it so and climbs, I’ d give the world to know.” Said farmer Gray to his neighbor Jones, In his easy, quiet way: “ When prayers get mixed with lazy bones, They don’ t make farming pay. Your weeds, I see, are strong and tall, In spite of all your prayers; You can pray for corn till the heavens fall If you don’ t dig up the tares. So, while I’ m praying I use my hoe, And do my level best, To keep down the weeds along each row; And the Lord, He does the rest. It’ s well to pray, both night and morn, As every farmer knows; But the place to pray, for thrifty corn Is right between the rows. You must use your hands while praying, though, If an answer you would get; For prayer-worn knees and a rusty hoe Never raised a big crop yet. An’ so I believe, my good old friend, If you mean to win the day; From sowing clean to the harvest end You must hoe as well as pray.” iv. When one’ s conduct does not follow the teachings of Christ his prayers are hindered. They become ineffective. 8. How does Peter say one may see good days? (Verse 10). Actually this begins back in verse 8. a. Notice what all this entails: Ψ Be of one mind (verse 8). Is this not what Jesus prayed for in John 17:21? “ That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” And the inspired apostle Paul wrote, “ Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Ψ Have compassion for one another (verse 8). Ψ Love as brothers (verse 8). Ψ Be tenderhearted (verse 8). Ψ Be courteous (verse 8). Ψ Do not return evil for evil (verse 9). Ψ Or reviling for reviling (verse 9). Ψ But return blessing for those evil treatments (verse 9). This is what guarantees you the inheritance mentioned in chapter one, verses three and four. It is also part of that which aids you in loving life and having good days instead of dreading getting up in the mornings to face an-other bad day. Ψ Refrain your tongue from evil (verse 10). Ψ Refrain your lips from speaking deceit (verse 10). Ψ Turn away from evil and do good (verse 11). Ψ Seek and pursue (or follow after) peace (verse 11). b. Twelve things are mentioned. Where have we heard all of this before? Look back at question # 14 and 1 Peter 2:21-24. Review the questions asked there concerning following in His steps. c. What is going to take place when you do follow in the steps of Jesus in these twelve things? “ All along on the road to the soul’ s true abode” what is happening? “ There’ s an all-seeing eye watching you!” i. Look at verse twelve again. The eyes of the Lord are going to be on you! d. But what about those who do not follow Jesus? The face of the Lord is against them. So we should not be troubled in mind or afraid of threats made by evil people, but rather, “ fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell” . (cf. Matthew 10:28). 9. What are we to always be ready to do? (Verse 15). Give an answer to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that you have in Christ Jesus. This is how you sanctify the Lord God in your heart. a. What does the word “ ” mean? From our English dictionary we find the following: 1. To set apart as holy or for holy purposes; consecrate. 2. To purify or make holy. 3. To render sacred or inviolable, as a vow. (Funk & Wagnall’ s Standard Desk Dictionary, Vol. 2 page 590). # 3 would best fit our question since we are speaking of sanctifying, or rendering sacred or inviolable our God in our hearts. b. The following is from THE BIBLE , page 2681-2682 which I find very interesting. This is a very small portion of some five pages covering “ sanctification.”

The root is found in the Old Testament in the Hebrew verb KADHASH, in the New Testament Greek verb HAGIDZO. The noun “ sanctification” (hagiasmos) does not occur in the Old Testament and is found only 10 times in the New Testament, but the roots noted above appear in a group of important words which are of very frequent occurrence. These words are “ holy,” “ hallow,” “ hallowed,” “ holiness,” “ consecrate,” “ saint,” “ sanctify,” “ sanctification.” It must be born in mind that these words are all from the same root, and that therefore no one of them can be treated adequately without reference to the others. All have undergone a certain development. c. So, set the Lord God apart as holy and unassailable (inviolable in Funk & Wagnall’ s), and study your Bible until you can tell others why the church of Christ teaches and practices as they do in religion. 10. How can suffering for doing good be better than suffering for doing evil? (Verse 17). Again, it is following in the footsteps of Jesus (verse 18; chapter 2:21-24). a. This entire letter is about following Jesus, and suffering as He suffered. 11. Is Peter saying that Jesus went to, and preached to dead people who are awaiting judgment? And Explain your answer. (Verse 19). Of course Peter is not saying this, or even hinting at it! Those who have died have sealed their eternal destiny. a. The writer of the book of Hebrews has emphatically stated, “ It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). b. Who are the spirits in prison, and when did Jesus go and preach to them? To determine this let us first look at the word “ preached.” It is from the Greek word “ ” and means “ to herald abroad, to proclaim.” It is a general term de-noting a public proclamation or announcement. (Guy N. Woods, Commentary on First Peter, page 101). i. Notice that what was preached is not mentioned by Peter; he simply says it was to “ spirits in prison.” Brother Woods explains that these were called “ spirits” because they were in a disembodied state when Peter wrote. … It should be noted that Peter does not declare that these who were the object of this preaching were in a disembodied state when the preaching was done. ii. The period in which such lived in the flesh, and the time when this preaching was done is clearly stated in verse twenty. Notice the following: Ψ They were formerly disobedient. Ψ They lived in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. Ψ It was during this time that Jesus preached to them. c. Isaiah gives a very good description of how Christ speaks to those in prison. i. Let us take a little side-trip and see how Jesus could have spoken to those in Noah’ s time.

Isaiah 42:1-9 : “ Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth jus-tice to the Gentiles. …2) He will not cry out, not raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. …3) A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoking flax He will not quench; … 4) He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice upon the earth; And the coastlines shall wait for His law.” … 5) THUS SAYS GOD THE LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: …6) I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles. … 7) To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. …8) I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to an-other, nor My praise to carved images. …9) Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” ii. Notice Isaiah says the Servant Messiah would not fail or be discouraged (verse 4). He will be “ the light of the world” (cf. John 8:12) and that light would never go out. The coastlines (the King James will say the isles) shall wait for His law.

1. In verses 5-9 Isaiah emphasized that this law (this message) is from God Him-self and not from man.
2. In verse 6 the Servant is addressed. He will be given as a covenant to the people to be a light to the Gentiles. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. Since no human being (other than Christ Himself) is capable of living above sin, he, then, cannot keep a direct covenant with the perfect God of heaven. Our covenant with God, then, must be Christ Himself! By meeting God’ s requirements of faith in Christ through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:24-27) we can remain in covenant relationship with God.
3. In verse 7 Isaiah mentions the spiritual enlightenment that will come through the Savior (cf. John 8:32; John 14:6; Ephesians 4:8-10). Those in prison are the ones in the bondage of sin (cf. Hebrews 2:14-17). d. Seeing this from Isaiah, let us now apply it to our lesson in 1 Peter 3:19-20. i. Those who lived in the days of Noah were disobedient to God. So much so that “ every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5 b). They were prisoners in the bondage of sin (Isaiah 42:7). For some 120 years, “ while the ark was being prepared” (1 Peter 3:20), Jesus preached to them. Noah, a preacher of righteousness, was His spokesman who did the actual preaching, but his message was from God. ii. Going back to 1 Peter 1:11, the Spirit of Christ was in Noah as He was in all of God’ s spokesmen through the ages, therefore, as Peter further says in 2 Peter 2:5, God “ did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.” iii. All through the ages, when a man spoke to the people, speaking only that which was or is from God’ s Holy Word, using their voice, Jesus was and is preaching to the people. iv. That is still true today! You may hear my voice forming the words, but as long as I speak directly from God’ s inspired Word, it is the Lord speaking to you through me. Cf. 1 Peter 4:11).
4. What does baptism do for us? (Verse 21). It saves us! a. It is interesting how far man will go to have his own way in religion. Some years ago a lady who was converted to Christ gave me her books from her former religion. i. One of those books was a commentary by The Rev. Jerry Falwell. At 1 Peter 3:21 where the inspired apostle of Jesus Christ said, “ baptism doeth also now save us,” Mr. Falwell’ s comment was, “ Technically that is a false statement.” He then went into a discussion on how baptism has nothing to do with salvation. In order to “ hang-onto” his teaching of faith only, Jerry Falwell had the audacity to say the inspired apostle of Jesus Christ is making a false statement; in this he called God’ s inspired writer a liar. ii. Turning in the same commentary by Mr. Falwell to Acts 22:16 where Saul of Tarsus was told, “And now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the lord,” this man left the entire verse out completely. iii. Who then should we believe when it comes to having a good conscience toward God? NEXT !!!
5. Can one have a good conscience toward God while refusing baptism? No! Baptism, Peter says, is the answer of a good conscience toward God. a. How could one have a good conscience toward God while refusing to do that which God has commanded? It is an impossibility!
6. Who is subject to Christ? (Verse 22). Angels and authorities and powers. Angels are heavenly beings, authorities and powers would cover every aspect of human activities. This is precisely the limit of Christ’ s authority for He said, “ All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).