How wives ought to order themselves toward their husbands and in their apparel. The duty of men toward their wives. He exhorts them all to unite and to love, and patiently to suffer trouble. Of baptism.
3 Likewise let the wives be subject to their husbands, so that even those who do not believe in the word may without the word be won by the conduct of the wives, 2 when they see your pure living coupled with fear.
3 Your adornment should not be outward, with broided hair and hanging on of gold, or in putting on gorgeous apparel, 4 but let the hid man of the heart be incorrupt, with a meek and quiet spirit – which spirit is before God a thing much set by. 5 For after this manner in the old time did the holy women who trusted in God attire themselves, and were obedient to their husbands, 6 even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him Lord – whose daughters you are as long as you do well, not being afraid of every shadow.
7 Likewise, ye men, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the wife as to the weaker vessel, and as to those who are heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers be not hindered.
8 In conclusion, be ye all of one mind, suffer with one another, love as brethren, be tender-hearted. Be mild and courteous – 9 not rendering evil for evil, nor rebuke for rebuke, but contrariwise bless, remembering that you are called to this, even so that you may be heirs of blessing. 10 If anyone longs after life and loves to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. 11 Let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
13 Moreover, who is it that will harm you if you follow that which is good? 14 Notwithstanding, happy are you if you suffer for righteousness’ sake. Yea, and fear not, though men seem terrible to you, neither be troubled, 15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you – and that with meekness and fear, 16 having a good conscience, so that when they backbite you as evildoers, they may be ashamed, seeing they have falsely accused your good living in Christ.
17 It is better (if the will of God be so) that you suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God; and was killed as concerning the flesh, but was quickened to life in the Spirit. 19 In which Spirit he also went and preached to the spirits who were in prison, 20 who were in time past disobedient, when the longsuffering of God abode exceeding patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, that is to say, eight souls, were saved by water. 21 This signifies the baptism that now saves us – not the removal of soil from the flesh, but in that a good conscience consents to God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is on the right hand of God, and has gone into heaven, angels, power, and might subdued to him.