1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word, 2seeing your pure behavior in fear. 3Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing, 4but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. 5For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. 6So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.
7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
8Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, 9not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
“He who would love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11Let him turn away from evil and do good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears open to their prayer;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, 16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil. 18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
The book of First Peter is an extended counseling session proffered to suffering Christians (1:6, 7) by the Apostle Peter, who personally endured suffering for Christ's sake (Matt 26:75; Luke 22:62; cf. John 21:18). The entire book is summarized by Peter in 1 Peter 5:10, 11. 1 Peter 5:10,11 articulates God's purpose for suffering is fourfold: mend, stabilize, strengthen, and settle, in sum, conform us to the image of Christ (2:21). Christ suffered (2:21-24); therefore, we, as His followers, must suffer as well (2:21). Peter logically posits, however, that if we are going to suffer, we should suffer for doing good (2:20; 4:14-16), rather than evil (3:17; cf. 4:14). Suffering as a Christian glorifies God (4:16). Peter opens his lens to view the full scope of Christian suffering to include slander (3:9), defamation (3:16), false accusation (4:14), relation to government (2:13), domestic differences (3:1-7), social ostracism (4:4), and Satanic opposition (5:9).
Like a thread running throughout the tapestry of the Book, sanctification (that is the setting apart of the believer from sin unto God) during, in, and even by suffering is urged by Peter. He begins the Book with the description of the believers as “elect … through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience …” (1:2). The sense of the term “sanctification” is likely dual, both a positional setting apart unto God through justification through a one-time act of God, as well as a practical ongoing growth process effected over time by the Holy Spirit (1:2). Peter's manifold exhortation for sanctification in suffering includes encouragement to rejoice (1.6-8), reiteration of the categorical imperative of the Pentateuch, "be ye holy for I am holy" (1:15, 16), counsel to consume the Word (2:2) and abstain from fleshly lusts (2:11), as well as a plea for unity, soberness, and prayer (3:8; 4:8; 5:9). Although Peter never discounts the severity of their suffering (cf. 1:6), Peter implies that present suffering should be compared and contrasted with future glory (1:7; 4:13; 5:4; 5:6). Eternal glory (5:9, 10) gives virtual insignificance to temporary suffering (5:9). Accordingly, Peter offers sage counsel in the interim before a believer's glorification (1.7; 5:1, 10, 11) - in the mean time, in the here and now, "let them who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (4:19).