1In the same way you women must accept the authority of your husbands, so that if there are any of them who disbelieve the Gospel they may be won over, without a word being said, 2by observing the chaste and reverent behaviour of their wives. 3Your beauty should reside, not in outward adornment—the braiding of the hair, or jewellery, or dress— 4but in the inmost centre of your being, with its imperishable ornament, a gentle, quiet spirit, which is of high value in the sight of God. 5Thus it was among God's people in days of old: the women who fixed their hopes on him adorned themselves by submission to their husbands. 6Such was Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him 'my master'. Her children you have now become, if you do good and show no fear.
7In the same way, you husbands must conduct your married life with understanding: pay honour to the woman's body, not only because it is weaker, but also because you share together in the grace of God which gives you life. Then your prayers will not be hindered.
8To sum up: be one in thought and feeling, all of you; be full of brotherly affection, kindly and humble-minded. 9Do not repay wrong with wrong, or abuse with abuse; on the contrary, retaliate with blessing, for a blessing is the inheritance to which you yourselves have been called.
13WHO IS GOlNG to do you wrong if you are devoted to what is good? 14 [ Is.8.12-13. ] And yet if you should suffer for your virtues, you may count yourselves happy. Have no fear of them: do not be perturbed, 15but hold the Lord Christ in reverence in your hearts. Be always ready with your defence whenever you are called to account for the hope that is in you, but make that defence with modesty and respect. 16Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are abused, those who malign your Christian conduct may be put to shame. 17It is better to suffer for well-doing, if such should be the will of God, than for doing wrong. 18For Christ also died for our sins once and for all. He, the just, suffered for the unjust, to bring us to God.
In the body he was put to death; in the spirit he was brought to life. 19And in the spirit he went and made his proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. 20They had refused obedience long ago, while God waited patiently in the days of Noah and the building of the ark, and in the ark a few persons, eight in all, were brought to safety through the water. 21This water prefigured the water of baptism through which you are now brought to safety. Baptism is not the washing away of bodily pollution, but the appeal made to God by a good conscience; and it brings salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who entered heaven after receiving the submission of angelic authorities and powers, and is now at the right hand of God.
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