The Way We Grow Continued

Peter then reverted back to his list of practical actions they would need to take to grow into what God was making of them.

Practical Growth Continued (1-9)

Peter explained the relationship between a husband and wife: 

• Wives were to honor the leadership of their husbands, and Peter went to lengths to mention even the husbands who might not act according to the word (1); they were to respect them (2). Women were not to concentrate on their outward appearance (3) but were to work on the inner person to develop the imperishable beauty of gentleness and a quiet demeanor (4). Peter then took a moment to give some commentary on how wives should endure by learning from other women's faith, who adorned themselves inwardly (5), especially mentioning the honor and respect Sarah had for Abraham (6).

• Peter next turned his attention to the husband and commissioned him not to be abusive but considerate, treating his wife as a treasure; he made it clear that husbands would inherit grace together with their wives, and if they wanted their prayers answered, they would need to be in harmony (7).

• Moving on from marriage, Peter mentioned that as a community, they were to be sympathetic, tender, and humble toward each other (8).

• Peter further explained that they were never to pay back hurt but were to return a blessing (9).

Spiritual Growth and Vengeance (10-17)

Peter then gave a commentary on not paying back hurts by quoting an Old Testament Scripture from Psalm 34 to show God's constant and ultimate desire was for us never to seek revenge.

It is clear that those who sought revenge would not find peace, have their prayers answered, or experience God's presence (10-12).

Peter gave this assurance: if people were zealous for good, no one could harm them (13). Even if they suffered for being good, a blessing awaited that far surpassed any trouble (14). Instead of thinking about how to pay someone back, they were to plan a response or defense for their hope and give that in the place of vengeance. But even in defense, they were to give with gentleness and respect (15).

The whole redeeming goal of Christ was touching people’s hearts when ashamed of how they had mistreated the innocent; when ashamed, one’s heart can open to God in a special way. This is where those exiles were to follow Jesus’ example and suffer mistreatment, so those who were mistreating them could be put to shame and hopefully find the humility to turn to Christ (16-17).

Jesus’ Example of Not Paying Back (18-22)

Peter ran back to Christ’s example and noted that Jesus suffered for the good and the bad with the purpose of making it possible for them to come alive in their spirits. This is another way of saying we are freed from a lust-dominated life to be alive to God (18).

Peter then mentioned something here in the text that has led to over a dozen interpretations. I will use the one that seems most contextually apparent. Peter said, “He (Jesus) went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison …” (19). Peter further defined to whom Jesus went to preach—those who did not obey in the days of Noah, particularly during the time the ark was being built (20). Eight people did listen, however, and were brought safely through the water. When we put this passage in Peter together with Ephesians 4:8-9, we see the picture a bit more clearly. Paul wrote in the Ephesians passage that Jesus descended into the lower regions and then ascended, but when He did, He was leading with Him a “host of captives.” Peter recognized that the eight people saved in the ark were among the host of captives Jesus led out of the lower part of the earth. (Matthew confirmed that some of those led out of the lower part of the earth were raised and went into Jerusalem [Matthew 27:52-53].)

Peter’s point was that the flood and the ark served as a metaphor for baptism. Instead of Jesus’ being preached to “spirits in prison,” so those who had formerly believed could be set free, Jesus’ gospel was now being preached to them so they could be set free from lust, which led to sin, which led to death. Instead of ark and water saving them, baptism became the act of faith revealing to their consciences that they were now trusting their lives to Jesus, who raised them to life on the other side of baptism (21). This new life and the new age associated with it were hidden in Christ, and He was seated at God’s right hand with all in the heavens subjected to Him (22).