Explanation: In 1 Peter 3, Peter has advice for wives, husbands, and other interpersonal relationships. He commands wives to be in subjection to their husbands, adorned, not outwardly, but inwardly, by a spirit of holiness, fear of God, meekness, and peacefulness. Thereby, they may win an unbelieving husband to the Lord. Women of old, like Sarah, behaved in this way; Sarah even called Abraham lord (1-6).
     Husbands also should dwell with their wives in accord with knowledge (wisdom, understanding), giving her honor, and treating her as a co-heir of eternal life. Otherwise their prayers will be hindered (7).
     Everyone should be of one mind, having compassion, love, tender-heartedness, courtesy, not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling. Instead, they should bless one another because that is what we are called to. Do not speak in an evil or a deceitful manner. Repudiate evil, do good, seek peace, and chase after it, because the Lord's eyes are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil (8-12).
     No one will harm you if you do what is good. But, if you are persecuted for righteousness sake, then you are blessed, and you need not be afraid of or troubled by their terror. You should always be ready to tell others why you have the hope that is in you. You should have a good conscience before God, so that those who speak evil of you might be ashamed. It is better to suffer for well doing than for evil doing (13-17).
     Christ is our example. He suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit. By the Spirit, [and perhaps through the preaching of Noah] Christ preached to the people of Noah's day, whose spirits are now in prison. But only 8 of these people were saved. They entered the ark, and floated above the flood, thereby being saved by the water which destroyed everyone else. We also are saved, figuratively, by water, namely the water of baptism, not by the washing of the flesh which is done by baptism, but by the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Christ who cleanses our conscience the way water cleanses the flesh. The waters of baptism testify to this spiritual cleansing. And Christ, who sits enthroned in heaven, angels, authorities, and powers being subject to him, ratifies this cleansing of the soul (18-22). ]
     [Sermons: William Still 1. William Still 2. Various. ]
     [Illustration: Today's image depicts Christ enthroned, which is also mentioned at the end of today's chapter. His enthronement seals the benefits which he won for us. Those benefits aid us in the life of love and obedience which Peter calls us to in today's chapter. ]

     ¹⁸ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: ¹⁹ By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; ²⁰ Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. ²¹ The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: ²² Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

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