This morning’s reading is the end of a long passage which begins in chapter 2.
1 Peter 2 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Christians will always be living as foreigners and exiles, strangers in the world as it is rebelling against God. Chapter 1 encouraged Christians to live holy lives. Be holy, because God is holy. Be holy because we have been redeemed at such a high price – the death of the sinless Son of God. Be holy because we have been born again to live a new life and given the living hope of an amazing inheritance of sharing God’s glory forever. Building our lives on Christ the cornerstone we are being built into the new spiritual temple, as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. Chapter 2 goes on to spell out what living a holy life will look like as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus the suffering Saviour who gave his life to redeem us. We will abstain from sinful desires which wage war against our souls. And we will live good lives, full of good deeds which will lead other people to give glory to God. Christians will submit to the governing authorities. We will submit to others however badly they treat us and we will even endure unjust suffering, because we are following Jesus who set us an example to live this way.
So today in chapter 3, the apostle continues his instructions on how Christians should live following their suffering Saviour, and he comes next to talk about family life.
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
Some people think that this instruction is controversial, “wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your husbands.” Firstly, “submit to your husbands” shouldn’t be understood to mean subservience or blind obedience. The New Revised Standard Version and the New Living Translations say, “accept the authority of your husbands.” The New International Readers Version says “follow the lead of your husband”. The Message reads, “be good wives to your husbands.” We could read it, “be willing to serve your husbands.”
But please pay attention to that phrase, “in the same way.” Peter is looking back at the previous verses, at the example set by Jesus the suffering Saviour. Jesus sets an example for all Christians that we should not fight against suffering but endure it, even if the suffering is unjust and undeserved. The innocent suffering of Jesus brings us salvation, and we are called to follow in his steps. In 1 Peter 2: 18 Peter has just said that slaves should accept the authority of your masters with all deference (same word hypotasso). In that context, the instruction for wives to submit comes because this is an example of the kind of good deeds which will cause other people to give glory to God. Peter says that is an expression of purity and reverence. … if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
Peter develops his teaching for wives in a few sentences which still seem particularly relevant in today’s world.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
More than ever, very many people seem to think that outward appearance is the most important thing in life. Film and television and social media tell us that good looks, designer clothes and expensive jewellery are the only things that matter. Young people grow up aspiring to the lifestyle of the influencers on Instagram. The role models for young women are not successful businesswomen or scientists or politicians, nor loving mothers, but instead women who are just beautiful or rich or usually both. So these words are important.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
And Peter gives a reason why he thinks Christian wives should behave this way.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
Some people think that those words belong in the past, to patriarchal societies when all cultures expected women to be subordinate to men. I disagree. There is nothing in this passage which suggests that it is not God’s word for every age in every place.
All cultures in those days considered women to be inferior to men. In fact the New Testament stands out because it gives women far greater respect than the world around did. Peter instructs wives to be willing to serve their husbands but he includes an equivalent command for husbands.
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Husbands and wives, all men and women, are jointly heirs of the new life God is giving equally to all who believe and follow Jesus. So husbands should be considerate of their wives, treating them with understanding. Husbands should treat their wives with respect, giving them honour.
Message “The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals.
This is how Christians should follow in the footsteps of Jesus the suffering Saviour in family life. He sums up what he is saying like this.
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
This is how Christians should live. Be like minded – in other words have unity of spirit. Be of one mind, as we read in Acts 4:32 that the first Christians were one in heart and mind. Be sympathetic. Love one another as brothers and sisters. Be compassionate and tender-hearted. And be humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.
When we are hurt it is so easy to strike out and so tempting to seek for revenge. When we are insulted it is so tempting to fling insults back. But Peter says we should never retaliate. Christians should only ever pay others back with a blessing.
On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Peter explains this by quoting from Psalm 34 verses 12 to 16.
10 For,
‘Whoever would love life and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’

This is what it means to live holy lives. This is how Christians should behave, even when they are insulted or oppressed or persecuted. This is what it should look like if we are following Peter’s instructions in chapter 2, abstaining from sinful desires and living good lives. This is the kind of holy living which will cause other people to see our good deeds and give glory to God. This is the witness of Christians to the world around us. Peter sums up this challenge in these words.
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience …
15 … in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Dedicate yourselves to Christ as Lord of your life. Be completely devoted to Christ. When you are doing that, you will live as Jesus lived in holiness and service. And then the people around you will notice and give glory to God for your good deeds. They will see the difference Jesus makes in your life. More than that, they will want to know for themselves why you trust in Jesus. And we will want to be ready to tell them why!
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Be prepared to answer the kind of questions people have about our Christian faith. Some people might think it is unspiritual to think through the kind of answers we might want to give in advance. However, the word ‘answer’ here means more than just an “off the cuff” reply. The word translated answer, apologia, includes the idea of making a legal defence before a court. The word embraces not only the testimony a witness might give in court but also the arguments a lawyer might present in their opening and closing statements. We need to be ready to “give an answer” for the hope we have in Christ. As in any situation where we have something very important we need to say, it is entirely appropriate to give thought in advance to the words we will use. If we have prepared ourselves, then we will be able to talk about Jesus more confidently and wisely, boldly and effectively.
You may remember that this was the subject of my second book, Prepared To Give An Answer. In it I talked about being ambassadors for Christ. I looked at the reasons why we don’t and why we should talk about Jesus. And I offered some answers to the questions not-yet-Christians often ask out Jesus and the Christian faith.
1. What is salvation?
2. What is the point of life?
3. How can we have a relationship with God?
4. How should we respond to the Good News?
5. Didn’t He used to be dead?
6. What makes you believe that God exists?
7. Just how did God make the world?
8. Can we trust the New Testament?
9. Is Jesus the only way to God?
10. How can we believe in God in a world so full
of suffering?
11. What happens when we die?

“Prepared To Give An Answer”. If you haven’t got that book, especially if you are watching from a distance on Zoom, or Facebook, or YouTube, just get in touch by email or Messenger and I will be very happy to deliver or send a copy to you completely free.
Christians should be prepared to give an answer – to explain why we believe in Jesus. We may need to unpack some aspect of the Christian faith. Sometimes we may want to share a verse from the Bible or a story about Jesus. That is why it is a good thing for us to know by heart some Bible verses and to be able to retell some Bible stories. On other occasions, the best thing may be to talk about some of our experiences of God: answer to prayer; ways God has helped us; the difference Jesus makes to our lives; the hope or joy or peace Jesus gives us. It will help us to think through beforehand which true life stories we want to be ready to share. We have put some of those stories in our little book of testimonies, More of the Difference Jesus Makes. Sometimes a good thing to do would be to give our friends a copy of this book. We just need to be prepared to give our answers
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6)
Taking every opportunity. Peter reminds us that the way in which we talk about Jesus is always very important.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Gently, courteously and respectfully. We should never be preaching at people. “Evangelism is only one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” But is appropriate and indeed spiritual to prepare our answers. To think and pray in advance about what we might say, as a witness would prepare our testimony and answers to questions we expect to be asked.
When Christians are following in the footsteps of Jesus our suffering Saviour, when we are living as Jesus lived as 1 Peter teaches us, then people will notice the difference Jesus makes. Then, every Christian needs to be making the very best of every opportunity to talk about Jesus. We need to be prepared to give an answer!