Don’t Render Evil for Evil: 1 Peter 3

Read 1 Peter Chapter 3

Introduction: 1 Peter 3 focuses on the topics of righteous living, peaceable relationships, and enduring suffering for the sake of goodness. The Apostle Peter emphasizes the importance of behaving in a way that reflects our faith in Christ. He addresses wives and husbands, urging them to fulfill their roles with respect and understanding, and he calls all believers to live harmoniously, show compassion, and be humble. The chapter also tackles the subject of suffering for doing good and compares this to Christ’s own suffering. Peter encourages believers to always be ready to explain their hope in Christ with gentleness and respect, highlighting the importance of a clear conscience and baptism as a symbol of salvation.

I. Conduct for Wives and Husbands (1 Peter 3:1-7)
Peter advises wives to be submissive to their husbands and to exemplify pure and respectful behavior. Husbands are instructed to live with their wives considerately, giving honor to them.
Cross References:

• Ephesians 5:22-33 explains the relationship between husbands and wives as a reflection of Christ and the church.
• Colossians 3:18-19 also instructs wives to submit and husbands to love their wives, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect.
• Proverbs 31:10-31 celebrates the virtues of a wise and faithful woman, which supports the idea of a wife’s pure and respectful behavior.

II. Call to Peaceable Living (1 Peter 3:8-12)
Believers are encouraged to be like-minded, sympathetic, and humble. They should repay evil with blessing and seek peace. The Lord’s favor is upon the righteous who control their speech and turn away from evil.
Cross References:

• Psalm 34:12-16, which Peter quotes, emphasizes loving life and seeing good days by turning from evil and seeking peace.
• Romans 12:17-21 encourages believers to live peacefully with everyone and not to repay evil for evil.
• Hebrews 12:14 instructs us to strive for peace with everyone and to live a holy life.

III. Suffering for Doing Good (1 Peter 3:13-17)
Even if believers suffer for doing what is right, they are blessed. Peter encourages readers not to fear and to always be prepared to defend their hope in Christ with gentleness and respect.
Cross References:

• Matthew 5:10-12 reassures those who are persecuted for righteousness with the promise of the kingdom of heaven.
• Acts 5:41-42 shows the apostles rejoicing in suffering for Jesus’ name, which aligns with the idea of being blessed in suffering.
• 2 Timothy 1:7-8 advises believers not to be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord or of his prisoners but to share in suffering for the gospel.

IV. Christ’s Example (1 Peter 3:18-22)
Christ suffered for sins to bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. His suffering is an example for believers. Baptism, which symbolizes the saving power of Jesus’ resurrection, now saves us through the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.
Cross References:

• Isaiah 53:5-6 prophesied the suffering servant who would bear our iniquities, pointing to Christ’s redemptive suffering.
• Romans 6:4-5 discusses baptism as a symbol of our death and resurrection with Christ, which connects with Peter’s teachings on baptism.
• Hebrews 9:13-14 speaks of how the blood of Christ cleanses our consciences, similar to the clear conscience mentioned by Peter.

Conclusion: In 1 Peter 3, the Apostle sets forth guidance for personal conduct within marriage, the broader community of believers, and in the face of unjust suffering. Wives and husbands are urged to conduct themselves with respect and understanding, reflecting Christ’s relationship with the church. All believers are called to live harmoniously, pursue peace, and repay evil with blessings. The chapter culminates with the example of Christ’s suffering, which leads to salvation—a path we symbolically follow through baptism. This message of endurance, righteousness, and the hope of salvation is meant to inspire us to live out our faith with conviction and grace, no matter the difficulties we face.