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Note:  This article is a study through this passage of scripture using the SIDL model.  If you are unfamiliar with this, please read this summary, or this more in-depth walk through to understand what's being done here.

 

1st Peter 3:8-22  The Student 1st Peter 3:8-22  The Interpreter The Harrowing of Hell 1st Peter 3:8-22  The Disciple 1st Peter 3:8-22  The Lover

 

1st Peter 3:8-22  The Student

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Peter's previous instructions have been directed at those relationships where the Christians of Asia Minor really felt they had no power: Citizen to government, slave to master, wife to husband. But now, he takes the same principles and applies them to everyone, regardless of the relationship they find themselves in.

 

(3:8-9) "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble..." The NIV translation seems to limit these instructions to relationships within the church, "with one another." But that's not really fair to the text. The tone of the Greek is more like "all of you live in harmony in all the relationships you have." So, while these instructions certainly ought to characterize the relationships of Christians with each other, they also are the goal for Christians' relationships with others around them--even those who aren't Christian. 

 

This is a continuation of Peter's instruction to "live such good lives among the pagans." First, he counsels harmony. This can also be translated as being "of one mind." The idea here was for Peter's readers to live in agreement with the people around them as much as possible. Next, he counsels sympathy, compassionate understanding. He tells them to live as brothers with the people around them, and to do so with care and humility.

 

Then Peter realistically notes that while they are trying to have good relationships with others, not everyone around them will treat them the same way. (3:9) "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing..." Here Peter is speaking again from the perspective of the cruciform life, a life built around the model of the cross of Jesus. Even in situations where others attack or are hurtful, Peter tells his churches that they are to respond with all the grace and forgiveness they can.

 

He roots this in a promise from the book of Psalms. (3:10-12, the Psalms quote is from Psalms 34:12-16) This passage promises that those who don't speak deception, and who seek peace, will see "good days." Additionally, the Lord hears the prayers of these people, while standing opposed to those who do evil.

 

(3:13-16) Again, Peter reminds his readers of one of the pragmatic benefits of choosing to live this way. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it's much more likely to secure good treatment from those around them. But Peter is not naive. He knows that some trouble, some persecution, will come no matter how nice and friendly Christians are.

 

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed." He gives three instructions, should these Christians face persecution for their faith. First, "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." Peter reminds the Christians that they have no reason to fear. Their God is fully capable of taking care of them, and even if they should be required to make the ultimate sacrifice, their future is assured. There is no reason to be afraid.

 

Second, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have." Even in times of difficulty, the Christian can be an influence if they are prepared to clearly articulate what they believe. This must be done in a way that is not only truthful in content, but aligns with the spirit of Jesus in process. Thus, "...do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." Even in giving an answer, the Christian is to keep a respectful and gentle tone, recognizing that not only is the truth of their words being judged, but the integrity of their actions.

 

This is all wrapped up with the statement (3:17) "It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." If it comes down to persecution, facing it is a better option than cutting corners, living below the line, or even fighting back. This leads into a long digression that starts with Jesus' own response to persecution.

 

(3:18-22) First, Peter reminds his readers that Jesus did in fact die as a righteous person, for the unrighteous. Perhaps he is pointing this out as an example. At the very least Christians can seek to bless and serve the people who torment them. Jesus' motivation for this was to "bring you to God." That same mindset ought to guide Christians. Not, "How can I defend myself and secure what I need?" but, "How can I influence this person who is causing me difficulty so that they might be brought to God?"

 

Then Peter gives a strange illustration, pointing out that Jesus was brought to life through the Spirit, and that he "went and preached to the spirits in prison." This very strange passage is the basis of the ancient doctrine of the harrowing of hell. But Peter is far from clear in what he means by this. The most honest commentator on this verse is Martin Luther, who wrote, "A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means."^[1]

 

 

1st Peter 3:8-22  The Interpreter

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Godly relationships with the world.

It's already been pointed out that the NIV translated 3:8 (NIV, NASB) in a way that makes it sound like Peter's instructions are about how to get along with other Christians. "...live in harmony with one another..." And this is in fact the most common interpretation of the passage. It seems like it's a popular interpretation not because the text supports it well, but because it's the easiest to apply. It makes sense that Peter would tell his churches to live in harmony with each other as Christians. It echoes other teachings in the New testament, and aligns with our view that the church (rightly so) ought to be a community where people make every effort to live at peace with one another.

 

There are a couple of problems with this interpretation. First, the Greek doesn't limit it there.  The literal reading is, "but now at the end (to de telos), all of you be of one mind (pantes homophrones), sympathetic (sumpathes), loving as brothers (philadelphoi), compassionate (eusplagchnoi), kind (philophrones)..." To tidy that up, it could read, "Finally, all of you be unified in being sympathetic, compassionate and kind, loving as brothers." Now certainly the NIV is right in suggesting that Christians ought to live this way toward one another. But it doesn't seem that the text limits this behavior to Christians.

 

The second problem in the text is that Peter so far has not been addressing the relationship of Christians with each other. He has explicitly been talking about how Christians relate to the people in the world (pagans, Peter calls them). Some commentators suggest that in 3:8, he switches to address relationships within the church, but then switches back in 3:9 to addressing relationships outside the church. But this just seem like unnecessary complication that the text doesn't warrant.

 

It seems to me that Peter is instructing these Christians to live toward the people around them with the same kind of love, compassion and care that they treat each other with, and this is made all the more radical from the clear sense of the text that those pagans Peter is referring to are in the process of mistreating the Christians in question.

 

Now on the surface this seems fine. Treat the people in your life who aren't Christians well, with respect, compassion, and humility. The problem of application comes with the idea of "living in harmony." How, one might ask, are Christians to live in harmony with people who disagree with them on fundamental issues? How could we live in harmony with people who don't believe in the divinity of Jesus? How could we live in harmony with people who don't believe that certain behaviors are sin?

 

It seems to me that the answer to this lies in Romans 12:18. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." As far as it depends on you. The New Testament standard for Christians seems very clearly to be love. (period.) That includes the people around us who don't believe as we do, even on core theological or lifestyle issues. This doesn't mean to compromise our beliefs. It doesn't require that we not speak up. In fact Peter has already told us that we must "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."(3:15) What it does mean is that in every case where it is possible we will live in harmony with the people around us, and in those times when belief and lifestyle are challenged, we will respond, but our response will be gentle, compassionate, humble, and filled with love.

 

The Harrowing of Hell

This is an ancient doctrine that made its way into the Apostle's Creed. A more detailed discussion is available here. Basically the doctrine, sketched out in the second and third century, was that Jesus, during the three days of death, entered hell and released the righteous prisoners held there since Old Testament times. During the middle ages this idea was significantly developed and added to including Jesus' defeating the devil, leading Adam and Even and other patriarchs to heaven, and was a very popular subject of religious art, especially in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

 

Another passage from Peter, I Peter 4:6 as well as two others (II Corinthians 2:14 & Ephesians 4:8-10) are used to buttress this idea, but the context of these three verses makes it very doubtful that the authors had anything of this sort in mind.

 

Given the very little we have to go on, it seems most honest to say that we don't really know exactly what Peter was talking about in this verse, other than the clear sense of Jesus having complete and total authority, even over death. To Peter's audience who were facing the potential of persecution for their faith, this idea alone was probably very comforting.

 

 

 

1st Peter 3:8-22  The Disciple

Note: The Disciple role looks at the passage for what it says about how to live, and can only be done with a personal application. As I look at this passage, some of what I reflect on may be subjectively directed at me--since I'm looking at the issue of how to live my life. Hopefully much of this is transferable to you, but please remember that this is an example of one follower of Jesus applying this passage to his own life. --Marc Schelske

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Am I living in harmony with my Christian family? Am I sympathetic, compassionate and humble in my relationships with other Christians? Do I give them the benefit of the doubt, and choose to bless instead of retaliate when things don't go the way I want?

 

Am I living this same way toward the people in my life who are not Christians? Do I see these people as ultimately loved by Christ and thus deserving of my love too? Do I relate to them with humility and graciousness? Even the ones who misunderstand me or take advantage of me? What about the ones who stand opposed to me? Am I willing to bless and serve even those, simply because Jesus wants to work through me to reach them as well?

 

Do I keep my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech? When I am in conversations do I exaggerate? Do I pad the truth to put myself in a better light? Do I lie to keep from having to engage conversations that are uncomfortable to me?

 

Do I seek peace and pursue it? Am I someone who actively pursues reconciliation? In my closest relationships? In my work relationships? In those moments of passing where I've slighted someone I don't even know? As a follower of Jesus I am called to seek peace and bring it about, whenever I am able.

 

Am I prepared to give an answer for the hope I have in Christ? Have I sorted out a way, natural to me, to explain my belief in Jesus? Have I thought through how to share my personal spiritual story when it seems appropriate? Am I willing to engage in real conversations, or do I shy away from them because of what people might think of me?

 

When I interact with people who don't believe as I do, do I respond to them with gentleness and respect? Do I live up to my calling to pass on the agape love of God in these situations, or do I cut corners and speak the truth, but without love? Do people I know who aren't Christian consider me to be a thoughtful, gentle, and respectful person? If not, why not?

 

 

 

1st Peter 3:8-22  The Lover

Note: The Lover role looks at the passage for what God is saying to the reader directly, and like the Disciple role, can only be done from a personal perspective. In this role, the reader is listening and responding to what God is saying about Himself, about the reader and about the relationship between them. As such, I will just reflect on my own experience in this area. Remember that this is only the example of one follower of Jesus trying to her God's voice in the passage. --Marc Schelske

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Dear Father in heaven, Sometimes the culture around me seems overwhelming. It seems like so few people have any respect for You and Your ways. More and more it seems like the world sees Christianity as a joke, a backward and superstitious crutch. Sometimes this makes me feel insecure. It's those times I need Your reminder that my reputation is in Your hands, and that nothing I could undergo as a result of my faith can separate me from You and Your future for me.

 

When I am tempted to strike back with argumentative words, gentle me and empower me to be respectful and gracious. When I am tempted to ignore and separate myself from those people because of my own discomfort, remind me that You want to reach them through me, and that You are able to make me stand, even in the fire. Give me the spirit of Jesus, to love the people who don't know You and to do so in a way that speaks clearly of who you are all the while offering grace, acceptance and forgiveness.

 

Don't let me compromise what I know to be true. Don't let me cut corners in my integrity. Don't let me act out of pride. Help me to bless and serve without distinction, so that people around me who don't know You will be compelled to learn about You, and will open the door to the transformation You offer them. I choose to be an avenue of Your grace.  In Jesus' name, Amen.