Our Defense
1 Peter 3:13–22
Many of the letters in the New Testament follow a common pattern. The first part of the letter sets forth the doctrine, and the second half provides discipleship content.
Be Ready (13–17)
The answer to the rhetorical question, “Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?” requires a negative answer. No one.
Peter reminded his readers that even if they are persecuted or suffer for righteousness, a Christian is blessed by God. He commanded them, “Do not fear.”
Better than fear is preparation. Peter used several commands to emphasize the importance of readiness. First, honor Christ the Lord as holy. Second, honor Christ as Lord by being ready to defend the Christian faith to anyone curious enough to ask questions about the hope of Christians living in a world with little or no hope.
Why is it important for believers to explain the reason for their faith? One reason is that people today still need the hope that Jesus provides.
Peter reminded followers of Christ that we need to engage people with the gospel with gentleness, reverence and a clear mind.
Further, Christians need to live a holy life so that no one can disparage our good conduct with accusations that stick. If we suffer, it should be for the cause of good rather than the cause of evil.
Be Assured (18–20)
The persecution of Christians should not surprise us. Christ suffered for our sins — “the righteous for the unrighteous” — for the purpose of bringing sinful humans into a relationship with God. Jesus died for your sins and for my sins.
Notice the incredible description and the rationale of His death. Jesus — one who never sinned — suffered for sins once for all.
His death was the end of any sacrificial offering for forgiveness. Jesus died, but He also was resurrected or made alive by the Spirit.
Humans executed Jesus, but the Holy Spirit made Jesus alive. This is the gospel of Christ!
This passage is one of the most difficult in the New Testament. There are many interpretations of verses 19 and 20, but scholars generally set forth two major views.
One view suggests the spirits are the souls of people that perished in the flood. In essence, this line of thinking says they had an opportunity after death to believe.
However, the word translated “proclamation” here does not mean “evangelism,” so it is more likely this means Jesus pronounced judgment on these “spirits in prison.”
The second, and most common, view understands the spirits as fallen angels (also see Jude 6).
Show Others (21–22)
These verses also present challenges in interpretation. Baptism does not save anyone, although baptism is viewed as an act of obedience and a public declaration of the decision to follow Christ.
Baptism is symbolic of the gospel — Christ’s death, burial and resurrection — and a testimony to one’s repentance and faith.
Baptism is also a symbol of the spiritual cleansing of sin, and so Peter speaks of it as giving a clear conscience before God.
First Peter 3:15 is one of the foundational biblical texts for apologetics (the defense of the Christian faith against secularism, cults and other world religions). How can we defend our faith and encourage those who need hope?
By Mark Rathel
Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida
