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 Peter  3:13-­‐22  –  Responding  to  Suffering  in  a  Godly  Way  

 
Scripture  focus:    1  Peter  3:13-­‐22  

Key  verse:    “But  sanctify  the  Lord  God  in  your  hearts,  and  always  be  ready  to  give  a  defense  to  everyone  
who  asks  you  a  reason  for  the  hope  that  is  in  you,  with  meekness  and  fear;  (vs  15)”  

Theme:    Suffering  and  trials  will  come.  Believer  should  not  be  surprised.  God  provides  encouragement  in  
the  midst  of  trials  

Outline:  

1. Suffering  for  righteousness’s  sake  (13-­‐17)  

a. Doing  good  is  a  safe  place  (generally)  (13)  
b. Some  will  suffer  “for  righteousness’  sake”  (14)  
c. Preparing  for  suffering  (15)  
d. The  persecutor’s  shame  (16)  
e. Even  suffering  is  “the  will  of  God”  (17)    
2. The  example  of  our  Savior  (18-­‐22)  
a. His  vicarious  (substitutionary)  sacrifice  (18)  
b. Spirits  in  prison  (19-­‐20)  
c. How  is  baptism  “an  antitype  which  now  saves  us”?  (21)  
d. Our  resurrected  Savior  –  “at  the  right  hand  of  God”  (22)  

Detail:  

1. Suffering  for  righteousness’s  sake  (13-­‐17)  

a. Doing  good  is  a  safe  place  (generally)  (13)  
i. Text:  “And  who  is  he  who  will  harm  you  if  you  become  followers  of  what  is  
good?”  
ii. Comments:  
1. Unnatural  to  suffer  for  doing  good;  and  Christians  are  to  be  “do-­‐
gooders”  
2. του  αγαθου  μιμηται:  
a. μιμητής  –  imitators  (cf  English  “mimic”)  
i. 1  Cor  11:1,  “Imitate  me,  just  as  I  also  imitate  Christ.”  
ii. Eph  5:1,  “Therefore  be  imitators  of  God  as  dear  
children.”  
b. ἀγαθός  –  good  /  Petrine  usage  
i. 1  Peter  2:18,  “Servants,  be  submissive  to  your  masters  
with  all  fear,  not  only  to  the  good  and  gentle,  but  also  
to  the  harsh.”  
ii. 1  Peter  3:10,  11,  13,  16,  21  
3. will  harm  you:      κακόω,  to  oppress,  afflict,  harm,  maltreat  
a. Related  to  “evil”  =κακός  as  in  
b. 1  Peter  3:9,10,11,12  (5  times!)  

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 1  Peter  3:13-­‐22  –  Responding  to  Suffering  in  a  Godly  Way  
 
b. Some  will  suffer  “for  righteousness’  sake”  (14)  
i. Text:  “But  even  if  you  should  suffer  for  righteousness’  sake,  you  are  blessed.  
“And  do  not  be  afraid  of  their  threats,  nor  be  troubled.””  
ii. Comments:    RBP:  “we  have  joined  an  elite  class  of  saints  when  we  are  
persecuted  for  doing  good”  
1. John  15:18-­‐21,  ““If  the  world  hates  you,  you  know  that  it  hated  Me  
before  it  hated  you.  19  If  you  were  of  the  world,  the  world  would  love  its  
own.  Yet  because  you  are  not  of  the  world,  but  I  chose  you  out  of  the  
world,  therefore  the  world  hates  you.  20  Remember  the  word  that  I  said  
to  you,  ‘A  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  master.’  If  they  persecuted  Me,  
they  will  also  persecute  you.  If  they  kept  My  word,  they  will  keep  yours  
also.  21  But  all  these  things  they  will  do  to  you  for  My  name’s  sake,  
because  they  do  not  know  Him  who  sent  Me.”  
2. Matthew  5:10-­‐12,  “Blessed  are  those  who  are  persecuted  for  
righteousness’  sake,    For  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  11  “Blessed  are  
you  when  they  revile  and  persecute  you,  and  say  all  kinds  of  evil  against  
you  falsely  for  My  sake.  12  Rejoice  and  be  exceedingly  glad,  for  great  is  
your  reward  in  heaven,  for  so  they  persecuted  the  prophets  who  were  
before  you.  
3. Not  to:  
a. Be  paralyzed  with  fear  
b. Think  it  strange  
c. Think  that  God  has  abandoned  is  
d. Lose  confidence  in  the  Lord  
e. Reminder  from  vs  12,  “For  the  eyes  of  the  LORD  are  on  the  
righteous”  
c. Preparing  for  suffering  (15)  
i. Text:  “But  sanctify  the  Lord  God  in  your  hearts,  and  always  be  ready  to  give  a  
defense  to  everyone  who  asks  you  a  reason  for  the  hope  that  is  in  you,  with  
meekness  and  fear;”  
ii. sanctify  the  Lord  God  in  your  hearts.  Greek  imperative:  
1. Verb  is  “set  apart”  (ἁγιάζω)  
2. When  the  Lord  sanctifies  us,  He  makes  us  holy  (1  Peter  1:2,  2:9)  
a. Hebrews  10:14,  “For  by  one  offering  He  has  perfected  forever  
those  who  are  being  sanctified.”  
b. Hebrews  13:12,  “Therefore  Jesus  also,  that  He  might  sanctify  
the  people  with  His  own  blood,  suffered  outside  the  gate.”  
c. Jude  1:1,  “To  those  who  are  called,  sanctified  by  God  the  Father,  
and  preserved  in  Jesus  Christ”  
3. When  we  “sanctify”  the  Lord,  we  set  Him  apart  as  holy  
4. The  personal  enthronement  of  Christ  as  Lord  (cf  Rom  12:1,2)  
iii. Ready  to  give  a  defense:  

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 1  Peter  3:13-­‐22  –  Responding  to  Suffering  in  a  Godly  Way  
 
1. Defense  /  Answer  (KJV)  =  ἀπολογία  (cf  English  “apologetics”)  
2. To  whom:    “to  everyone  who  asks  you  a  reason”  
3. What  are  they  asking?  “the  hope  that  is  in  you”  
a. Hope:  ἐλπίς  
b. Previously  in  1  Peter:  
i. 1:3,  “Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  
Christ,  who  according  to  His  abundant  mercy  has  
begotten  us  again  to  a  living  hope  through  the  
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead”  
ii. 1:21,  “who  through  Him  believe  in  God,  who  raised  Him  
from  the  dead  and  gave  Him  glory,  so  that  your  faith  
and  hope  are  in  God”  
4. Comments:  
a. A  good  book  on  apologetics:  Evidence  that  Demands  a  Verdict,  
Josh  McDowell  
b. Presumes  one  has  the  hope  within  himself  
5. How:    “with  meekness  and  fear”  
d. The  persecutor’s  shame  (16)  
i. Text:  “having  a  good  conscience,  that  when  they  defame  you  as  evildoers,  those  
who  revile  your  good  conduct  in  Christ  may  be  ashamed.”  
ii. “clear  conscience”:  Not  to  purposefully  put  oneself  in  harms  way  by  misconduct,  
law  breaking  or  an  abrasive  manner  
iii. A  turning  of  the  tables  on  the  persecutor:  
1. Christian  has  a  clear  conscience  
2. Persecutor  is  ashamed  
3. And  even  this  is  an  advantage  to  the  gospel.  Examples:  
a. Matthew  27,  the  centurion:  “Truly  this  was  the  Son  of  God!”  
b. 2nd  thief  on  the  cross  (Mark  15:32,  “Even  those  who  were  
crucified  with  Him  reviled  Him”)  
e. Even  suffering  is  “the  will  of  God”  (17)    
i. Text:  “For  it  is  better,  if  it  is  the  will  of  God,  to  suffer  for  doing  good  than  for  
doing  evil”  
ii. Discuss:  How  could  suffering  be  the  will  of  a  good  God?  
iii. Discuss  what  are  the  purposes  of  suffering?  
1. Romans  5:3,4  
2. Purifying  effect:  1  Peter  1:7  
3. Furtherance  of  the  Gospel    

   

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 1  Peter  3:13-­‐22  –  Responding  to  Suffering  in  a  Godly  Way  
 
2. The  example  of  our  Savior  (18-­‐22)  
a. His  vicarious  (substitutionary)  sacrifice  (18)  
i. Text:  “For  Christ  also  suffered  once  for  sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  He  
might  bring  us  to  God,  being  put  to  death  in  the  flesh  but  made  alive  by  the  
Spirit”  
ii. Comments:    
1. A  classical  text  on  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  our  Savior  
2. What  He  did:    “suffered  once  for  sin”  
a. Πάσχω  (paschō)  Aorist  Active  Indicative    
i. 1  Peter  2:21,  “For  to  this  you  were  called,  because  
Christ  also  suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example,  that  
you  should  follow  His  steps”  
ii. 1  Peter4:1,  “Therefore,  since  Christ  suffered  for  us  in  
the  flesh,  arm  yourselves  also  with  the  same  mind,  for  
he  who  has  suffered  in  the  flesh  has  ceased  from  sin”  
iii. Hebrews  13:12,  “Therefore  Jesus  also,  that  He  might  
sanctify  the  people  with  His  own  blood,  suffered  
outside  the  gate.”  
b. Also  translated  His  “passion”  (Acts  1:3)  
c. A  closely  related  word  =  πάσχα  (Passover.  Cf  “paschal  lamb”)  
3. For  whom  did  He  suffer?  
a. Not  for  His  own  sins!  
b. On  behalf  of  sinners  
c. “the  just  for  the  unjust”  
4. Note  the  singular  sacrifice:    “once”  
a. In  contrast  to  the  High  Priest:  Hebrews  9:7,  “But  into  the  second  
part  the  high  priest  went  alone  once  a  year,  not  without  blood,  
which  he  offered  for  himself  and  for  the  people’s  sins  
committed  in  ignorance;”  
i. Every  year  
ii. For  his  own  sins  and  the  sins  of  the  people  
b. Hebrews  9:28,  “so  Christ  was  offered  once  to  bear  the  sins  of  
many”  
5. The  purpose  of  His  suffering:  
a. “that  He  might  bring  us  to  God”  
b. Not  a  mere  hypothetical  atonement!  
c. Something  was  accomplished  by  Christ  on  the  cross!  
d. He  bought  the  souls  of  those  He  purposed  to  save  
e. Cf  our  discussion  of  “redeem”  in  Galatians  3:13,  4:5  
(ἐξαγοράζω)  
6. What  happened  to  Christ’s  crucified  body?  
a. ζῳοποιέω  (KJV:  “quickened”  /  NKJV  =”  made  alive  by  the  Spirit”  

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b. John  5:21,  “For  as  the  Father  raises  the  dead  and  gives  life  to  
them,  even  so  the  Son  gives  life  to  whom  He  will.”  
c. Romans  8:11,  “But  if  the  Spirit  of  Him  who  raised  Jesus  from  the  
dead  dwells  in  you,  He  who  raised  Christ  from  the  dead  will  also  
give  life  to  your  mortal  bodies  through  His  Spirit  who  dwells  in  
you.”  
d. 1  Cor  15:45,  “And  so  it  is  written,  “The  first  man  Adam  became  
a  living  being.”  The  last  Adam  became  a  life-­‐giving  spirit.”  
b. Spirits  in  prison  (19-­‐20)  
i. Text:  “by  whom  also  He  went  and  preached  to  the  spirits  in  prison,  20  who  
formerly  were  disobedient,  when  once  the  Divine  longsuffering  waited  in  the  
days  of  Noah,  while  the  ark  was  being  prepared,  in  which  a  few,  that  is,  eight  
souls,  were  saved  through  water.”  
ii. Comment:  There  is  much  debate  about  the  identity  of  these  spirits.  The  Greek  
term  pneuma  (“spirit”),  in  either  singular  or  plural,  can  mean  either  human  
spirits  or  angels,  depending  on  the  context  (cf.  Num.  16:22;  27:16;  Acts  7:59;  
Heb.  12:23;  etc.).  Among  the  three  most  common  interpretations,  the  first  two  
fit  best  with  the  rest  of  Scripture  and  with  historic  orthodox  Christian  doctrine.    
iii. Three  views  (later  2  are  orthodox!):  
1.  2nd  chance  of  salvation:  This  interpretation,  however,  is  in  direct  
contradiction  with  other  Scripture  (cf.  Luke  16:26;  Heb.  9:27)  and  with  
the  rest  of  1  Peter  and  therefore  must  be  rejected  on  biblical  and  
theological  grounds  
2. The  spirits  are  the  fallen  angels  who  were  cast  into  hell  to  await  the  final  
judgment.  Reasons  supporting  this  view  include:    
a. Some  interpreters  say  that  the  “sons  of  God”  in  Gen.  6:2–4  are  
angels  (see  note  on  Gen.  6:1–2)  who  sinned  by  cohabiting  with  
human  women  “when  God's  patience  waited  in  the  days  of  
Noah”  (1  Pet.  3:20).  
b.  Almost  without  exception  in  the  NT,  “spirits”  (plural)  refers  to  
supernatural  beings  rather  than  people  (e.g.,  Matt.  8:16;  10:1;  
Mark  1:27;  5:13;  6:7;  Luke  4:36;  6:18;  7:21;  8:2;  10:20;  11:26;  
Acts  5:16;  8:7;  19:12,  13;  1  Tim.  4:1;  1  John  4:1;  Rev.  16:13–14;  
cf.  Heb.  1:7).  
c.  The  word  “prison”  is  not  used  elsewhere  in  Scripture  as  a  place  
of  punishment  after  death  for  human  beings,  while  it  is  used  for  
Satan  (Rev.  20:7)  and  other  fallen  angels  (2  Pet.  2:4;  Jude  6).  In  
this  case  the  message  that  Christ  proclaimed  is  almost  certainly  
one  of  triumph,  after  having  been  “put  to  death  in  the  flesh  but  
made  alive  in  the  spirit”  (1  Pet.  3:18).    
3. “spirits”  (Gk.  pneumasin,  plural)  as  referring  to  the  unsaved  (human  
spirits)  of  Noah's  day.  Christ,  “in  the  spirit”  (1  Pet.  3:18),  proclaimed  the  

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gospel  “in  the  days  of  Noah”  (v.  20)  through  Noah.  The  unbelievers  who  
heard  Christ's  preaching  “did  not  obey  …  in  the  days  of  Noah”  (v.  20)  
and  are  now  suffering  judgment  (they  are  “spirits  in  prison,”  v.  19).  
Several  reasons  support  this  view:  (a)  Peter  calls  Noah  a  “herald  of  
righteousness”  (2  Pet.  2:5),  where  “herald”  represents  Greek  kēryx,  
“preacher,”  which  corresponds  to  the  noun  kēryssō,  “proclaim,”  in  1  
Pet.  3:19.  (b)  Peter  says  the  “Spirit  of  Christ”  was  speaking  through  the  
OT  prophets  (1:11);  thus  Christ  could  have  been  speaking  through  Noah  
as  an  OT  prophet.  (c)  The  context  indicates  that  Christ  was  preaching  
through  Noah,  who  was  in  a  persecuted  minority,  and  God  saved  Noah,  
which  is  similar  to  the  situation  in  Peter's  time:  Christ  is  now  preaching  
the  gospel  through  Peter  and  his  readers  (v.  15)  to  a  persecuted  
minority,  and  God  will  save  them.  
iv. RBP  material:  (Wilber  Welch)  
1. In  His  resurrected  body  (into  which  His  spirit  had  returned)  
2. Christ  went  into  the  prison  house  of  condemned  spirits  (lost  people  of  
all  history  and  specifically  those  preceding  Noah)  
3. There  He  announced  these  things:  
a. God  dealt  justly  with  sin  by  giving  up  His  own  Son  
b. The  wicked  designs  of  the  wicked  one  thwarted  
c. Their  eternal  punishment  has  been  made  secure  because  Christ  
holds  the  keys  of  death  and  hell  
d. Not  a  proclamation  of  the  gospel.  Not  a  second  chance  
v. My  own  view  is  that  Christ  was  preached  through  Noah.  Noah  is  the  example  of  
perseverance  in  the  environment  of  the  reviling  of  wicked  men.  Seems  to  fit  the  
context!      
c. How  is  baptism  “an  antitype  which  now  saves  us”?  (21)  
i. Text:  “There  is  also  an  antitype  which  now  saves  us—baptism  (not  the  removal  
of  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  but  the  answer  of  a  good  conscience  toward  God),  
through  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ,”  
ii. Comments:  
1. A  comparison  is  drawn  between  salvation  in  the  ark  and  baptism.    
2. In  both  instances,  believers  are  saved  through  the  waters  of  judgment,  
since  baptism  portrays  salvation  through  judgment.    
3. The  mere  mechanical  act  of  baptism  does  not  save:  
a. For  Peter  explicitly  says,  “not  as  a  removal  of  dirt  from  the  
body,”  meaning  that  the  passing  of  water  over  the  body  does  
not  cleanse  anyone.  Baptism  saves  you  because  it  represents  
inward  faith,  as  evidenced  by  one's  appeal  to  God  for  the  
forgiveness  of  one's  sins  (for  a  good  conscience).    
b. Furthermore,  baptism  “saves”  only  insofar  as  it  is  grounded  in  
the  death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ.  

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 1  Peter  3:13-­‐22  –  Responding  to  Suffering  in  a  Godly  Way  
 
c.  Baptism  is  a  visual  representation  of  the  fact  that  Christians  are  
clothed  with  Christ  (cf.  Gal.  3:27),  and  in  union  with  Christ  they  
share  his  victory  over  sin.    
d. Though  Christians  have  disagreed  about  the  proper  mode  of  
water  baptism  beginning  in  the  early  history  of  the  church,  
Christians  have  generally  agreed  (irrespective  of  
denominational  differences)  that  water  baptism  is  an  outward  
sign  of  the  inward  reality  of  regeneration,  which  is  the  result  of  
the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  (cf.  John  3:5,  8;  Titus  3:5),  and  which  
may  be  received  only  by  grace  through  faith  (see  Eph.  2:8).  
d. Our  resurrected  Savior  –  “at  the  right  hand  of  God”  (22)  
i. Text:  “who  has  gone  into  heaven  and  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  angels  and  
authorities  and  powers  having  been  made  subject  to  Him.”  
ii. Where  is  Christ  now?  In  “heaven”  
iii. What  is  His  position?  “at  the  right  hand  of  God”    
1. Parallels:  
a. Matt  22:44,  “The  LORD  said  to  my  Lord,  “  Sit  at  My  right  hand  
Till  I  make  Your  enemies  Your  footstool”’  
b. Matthew  26:64,  “Jesus  said  to  him,  “It  is  as  you  said.  
Nevertheless,  I  say  to  you,  hereafter  you  will  see  the  Son  of  Man  
sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Power,  and  coming  on  the  clouds  
of  heaven.”  
c. Acts  2:33,  “Therefore  being  exalted  to  the  right  hand  of  God,  
and  having  received  from  the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy  
Spirit,  He  poured  out  this  which  you  now  see  and  hear.”  
d. Romans  8:34,  “Who  is  he  who  condemns?  It  is  Christ  who  died,  
and  furthermore  is  also  risen,  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  
God,  who  also  makes  intercession  for  us”  
e. Ephesians  1:20,  “which  He  worked  in  Christ  when  He  raised  Him  
from  the  dead  and  seated  Him  at  His  right  hand  in  the  heavenly  
places,”  
f. Revelation  5:1,  “And  I  saw  in  the  right  hand  of  Him  who  sat  on  
the  throne  a  scroll  written  inside  and  on  the  back,  sealed  with  
seven  seals”  
2. What  does  this  mean?  
a. Position  of  victory  
b. Position  of  authority  
c. Position  of  intersession    

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