Wives, Obey Your Husbands
1Wives, in the same way defer to your husbands like slaves submit to their masters. [1] This humble behavior could win over some unbelieving husbands. Those husbands might never have been convinced by words, but they could be convinced without words—by seeing how you live. 2Your good and godly life will capture their respect.3Don’t obsess over how good you look dressed up in your fancy braided hairdos, gold jewelry, and stylish clothes. 4Dress up on the inside. Let God see a precious heart of never-ending beauty and a spirit gentle and soft-spoken.
5Women devoted to God lived like this long ago. They dressed up inside by deferring to their husbands. 6Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him “master.” You are Sarah’s daughters if you aren’t afraid to do what you know is right.
Everyone, Show Some Understanding
7Now, as for you husbands, honor your wives and show some understanding. The ladies aren’t as strong as you, but they’re part of you. The two of you are living as one couple, and each of you has inherited the gift of eternal life. Do what I said, so your prayers get to where they’re going.8Everyone, listen up. Get your heads together and stay united. Show your fellow believers some understanding, love, compassion, and humility. 9Don’t retaliate when someone insults you or does you wrong in some other way. Instead, reward them with kindness. That’s what God asks of you. In return, he’s reserving some extra kindness for you. 10Our Bible says this:
“Anyone who wants to have a wonderful life,
which they love living,
needs to follow this advice:
Keep your tongue out of sin’s business
Keep your lips from lying.
Do something good, instead.
Look for peace. Chase it till you catch it.
12The Lord’s eyes are always on his good people.
His ears are tuned to their frequency.
But people who live to sin
aren’t doing what God wants to see or hear.” [2]
Defend Your Faith When Asked about It
13If you spend time doing good things for others, who’s going to hurt you for that? 14But even if you suffer for doing good, consider yourself blessed. Don’t be afraid of folks making threats. 15Stay devoted to Christ, who’s the boss of your life.When people ask why you are so hopeful, be ready to tell them. Defend your hope. 16Do it gently and respectfully. Live your life with a clear conscience. Then people who bad-mouth you for the good you do as a Christian will one day be ashamed of themselves.
When it hurts us to do good
17If God wants you to do something good and you end up suffering because of it, that’s better than suffering for doing something bad. 18Christ suffered for doing good. He was righteous, and he suffered for the unrighteous—for us. He suffered for our sins once and for all. He did this to bring you to God. He got killed for it. But he rose from the dead, through the Spirit’s power.Jesus, heaven’s boss
19Then he went to spirits in prison and preached to them. [3] 20These were the spirits who ignored God who patiently waited on them while Noah built the boat. The water lifted that boat and carried eight people [4] safely through the Flood. 21Water saves you too. Baptism doesn’t save you by washing dirt off your body. It represents a clean conscience—which is what you get when you’re honest to God. [5]You owe all of this to the resurrected Jesus Christ. 22Jesus is in heaven now, ruling at God’s right hand. All angels, spirit authorities, and powers of every kind answer to him.
