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1 Peter 3:8 and the Other Verses of 1 Peter 3

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note: The heart refers to the mind.

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.

While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.

Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2026 would occur during September or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in March or April, respectively. Also, if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in February, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of August 12th, 2026, at 12:25 P.M. – August 16th, 2026, at 1:49 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset. The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon. The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The verse of the day for September 13th is 1 Peter 3:8. The title of that book is pronounced “First Peter.” The title of the book 1 Peter is also known as “The First Epistle of Peter” and “The First Letter of Peter.” In addition, for the names of the books of the Bible, instead of using the Arabic numeral 1, one can use the Roman numeral for 1; that Roman numeral is I. With the Roman numeral, the book and chapter would be written as I Peter 3.

The book 1 Peter was a letter written by the apostle Peter to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in some provinces of the Roman Empire. The capital city of the Roman Empire was the city Rome. The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital. The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C. Rome eventually became a kingdom. That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom. Then Rome became a republic. That republic is known as the Roman Republic. After that, Rome became an empire. That empire is known as the Roman Empire. The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.

For broad geographical context, below is a link to a map of the apostle Paulʼs journey to Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire. Absent from the map is any content showing any of the apostle Peterʼs journeys. The capital city Rome is located in grid coordinate A1. Jerusalem is also on the map. Jerusalem is located in grid coordinate F4. At the time that the apostle Peter wrote 1 Peter, Jerusalem was under the control of the Roman Empire. At that time, Jerusalem was within the Roman province of Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh]. The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa. The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e. Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah. The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights]. The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/jp4.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/jp4.jpg

Listed below are the Roman provinces where the believers to whom Peter wrote 1 Peter were located. Regarding those Roman provinces, the Roman province Asia refers to the western end of Asia Minor rather than the continent.

Roman Province	Pronunciation

Pontus	[PAHN-tuhs]

Galatia	[guh-LAY-shuh or guh-LAY-shee-uh]

Cappadocia	[kap-UH-doh-shuh or kap-UH-doh-shee-uh]

Asia	[AY-zhuh]

Bithynia	[bih-THIN-ee-uh]

Those Roman provinces were in different areas of what is now Turkey. Below is a link to a map showing those Roman provinces.

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/60Pe1-1.jpg

For reference, below is a link to a map that shows the seven churches of Revelation. The key for that map is located in grid coordinates B3 and C3. The seven churches of Revelation are located in grid coordinate B2. A list of those seven churches, sorted in order of mention in Revelation 2–3, is located in grid coordinate D1.

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/nt2.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt2.jpg

Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to 1 Peter 3.

Note: In notes for 1 Peter 3, the Church Age, the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the Millennium are referenced. With regard to the Church Age, the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the Millennium, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.

Dispensation	Start	Ending or Interruption

Age of the Gentiles	Adam	The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Age of Israel	Exodus	The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost.

Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel)	First Advent of Christ	The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ.

Church Age	Day of Pentecost	The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church.

Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed)	Rapture	The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ.

Millennium	Second Advent	The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.

Eternal State	Great White Throne Judgment	The Eternal State will be never-ending.

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.

Note: Regarding verses 1 and 2 of 1 Peter 3, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ must obey God the Father. The will of God the Father is revealed in the Word of God. In that regard, if submitting to someone would result in disobeying the Word of God, the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should choose to submit to God the Father instead of submitting to the person.

1 Peter 3:1

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the Word—and some of them are indeed disobedient to the Word—they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives

Note: A wife being submissive to her husband must be done within the context of being submissive to God the Father. The will of God the Father is revealed in the Word of God. In that regard, if there is a conflict between the will of a husband and the will of God the Father, the Christian woman must obey God the Father instead of the husband. Regarding the word translated as submissive in the above translation of 1 Peter 3:1, below is a link with related content.

https://www.BLBClassic.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5293&t=NASB95

In Koine Greek, there are four classes of conditions. In the translation of this verse, the type of if is called a first-class condition. The first-class condition in this verse involves the Koine Greek conjunction εἴ [pronounced AY and transliterated as ei] followed by a Koine Greek verb in the indicative mood. That Koine Greek verb is ἀπειθοῦσιν [pronounced ah-pay-THOO-seen and transliterated as apeithousin]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ἀπειθέω [pronounced ah-pay-THEH-oh and transliterated as apeitheō]. In this verse, the inflected form apeithousin is translated with the word are and the word disobedient.

Peter uses wordplay in this verse. In that regard, he uses two instances of inflected forms of the Koine Greek noun λόγος [pronounced LAH-gahs and transliterated as logos] in this verse. The first instance of an inflected form of logos in this verse is Λόγῳ [pronounced LAH-goh and transliterated as Logō]. In this verse, the inflected form Logō is translated as “Word” with a capital W. In that regard, the usage of Word with a capital W in this verse refers to the Word of God. The second instance of an inflected form of logos in this verse is λόγου [pronounced LAH-goo and transliterated as logou]. In this verse, the inflected form logou is translated as “word” with a lowercase w. As used in this verse, the word word with a lowercase w refers to communication. Regarding the wordplay involving Word with a capital W and word with a lowercase w, Peter indicates that if a Christian womanʼs husband disobeys the Word of God, that Christian womanʼs behavior without any communication can result in her husband being won in the sense of him becoming a Christian who regularly obeys the Word of God. The content of the next verse indicates the type of behavior that is referenced in this verse.

1 Peter 3:2

as they observe your pure/modest behavior which is with respect

Note: The above translation of 1 Peter 3:2 contains the phrase which is in order to make clear that the phrase with respect refers to the person behaving in a pure/modest manner rather referring to the person observing the person behaving in a pure/modest manner. The pure/modest behavior which is with respect that is referenced in this verse contrasts with the communication referenced in the previous verse. For example, pure/modest behavior contrasts with forms of communication such as those which involve nagging, insulting, being condescending, or any other forms of disrespect. Indeed, the content of the previous verse and this verse indicates that without any communication whatsoever, a Christian womanʼs pure/modest behavior which is with respect can give that Christian womanʼs husband an opportunity or opportunities to notice the positive effects of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior and then regularly obeying the Word of God. Such an opportunity or opportunities to notice those positive effects can result in that husband becoming a Christian who regularly obeys the Word of God.

Absent from verses 1 and 2 is anything indicating refraining from sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Instead, the content of verses 1 and 2 involves the winning of the husband without words. In that regard, the winning involves the wifeʼs observable behavior that gives the husband an opportunity or opportunities to recognize that the gospel and the rest of the Word of God are true.

Regarding the foregoing, a right thing must be done in a right way. Below is a list of right and wrong things.

A right thing done in a wrong way is wrong.

A wrong thing done in a right way is wrong.

A wrong thing done in a wrong way is wrong.

A right thing done in a right way is right.

1 Peter 3:3

Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair and wearing gold jewelry or putting on dresses,

1 Peter 3:4

but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

Note: The heart refers to the mind. The word spirit in this verse refers to a human spirit, which is a believerʼs essence that involves thinking of Bible doctrine—in other words, thinking that involves the Word of God. An unbeliever lacks a human spirit. In contrast with a human spirit, a soul is a personʼs essence that involves thinking in general. Each unbeliever has a body and soul; therefore, unbelievers are dichotomous [digh-KAHT-uh-muhs]. Each believer has a body, soul, and human spirit; therefore, believers are trichotomous [trigh-KAHT-uh-muhs].

1 Peter 3:5

Indeed, in this way in former times, the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,

1 Peter 3:6

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord/sir; you have become her children when you are doing what is right and are not being frightened by any fear.

Note: The phrase you have become her children is metaphorical. Christian women who behave appropriately follow the example of such behavior that Sarah exhibited. In that sense, such Christian women become the children of Sarah.

1 Peter 3:7

You husbands, in the same way, live with, in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, the wife, and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Note: Rather than indicating that women are weaker than men, the content of 1 Peter 3:7 indicates that each husband must live with his wife as though the husband is living with someone weaker. In that regard, it is worth noting that in 1 Peter 3:7, the phrase as with precedes the phrase a weaker vessel. Peopleʼs personalities vary. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should recognize that fact; consequently, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should try to be understanding regarding othersʼ differences. While some husbands might lack the ability to fully comprehend the differences between the husband and his wife, each husband should live with his wife as though the wife is weaker, such that the husband can focus on being sympathetic even while lacking complete comprehension regarding his wifeʼs personality.

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit,

Note: Peter wrote this verse elliptically, omitting a verb.

1 Peter 3:9

not returning evil for evil nor railing/reviling for railing/reviling but contrariwise / on the contrary, blessing, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Note: The term railing refers to complaining or expressing criticisms in language that is bitter, harsh, abusive, or insolent [insolent means showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect, being audaciously rude or disrespectful, being insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct]. The term reviling refers to criticizing using abusive and contemptuous language. In this verse, the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “railing” or “reviling” is λοιδορίαν [pronounced loi-dah-REE-ahn and transliterated as loidorian]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word λοιδορία [pronounced loi-dah-REE-ah and transliterated as loidoria].

The Koine Greek adverb that is translated as “contrariwise” or “on the contrary” in this verse is τοὐναντίον [pronounced too-nahn-TEE-ahn and transliterated as tounantion]. The term contrariwise as used in translating the adverb tounantion in this verse means “in the opposite way.” The term on the contrary as used in translating the adverb tounantion in this verse also means “in the opposite way.”

The Koine Greek verb that is translated as “blessing” in this verse is εὐλογοῦντες [pronounced yoo-lah-GOON-tess and transliterated as eulogountes]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word εὐλογέω [pronounced yoo-lah-GEH-oh and transliterated as eulogeō]. The verb eulogeō can have a connotation involving communicating a blessing or involving the action of blessing. Regarding the use of an inflected form of eulogeō in this verse, the context of the content of the surrounding verses involves both communicating and activity other than communicating. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the use of an inflected form of eulogeō in this verse refers to what one does, whether communicating or doing something other than communicating. In that regard, a person can bless by means of that personʼs communications, and a person can bless by means of that personʼs actions. Regarding the foregoing, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should be beneficent in both word and deed, even when mistreated. In that regard, when a believer is mistreated, that believer should behave with benignity—in other words, with kindness and tolerance towards others.

Also, a way that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ can bless those who mistreat that believer is by praying for those who are unbelievers to have opportunities to make a decision about being interested in hearing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life—and for those who are believers who are not at the point of the sin unto death to have opportunities to make decisions about being interested in studying and obeying the Word of God. Then the believer who has received the persecution can pray that the unbelievers who are interested in hearing the gospel—and those who become interested in hearing it—will hear the gospel and that God the Holy Spirit will make the gospel clear to those unbelievers. The believer who has received the persecution can pray that the believers who are interested in studying and obeying the Word of God—and the believers who become interested in studying and obeying the Word of God—will get the Word taught properly and learn God the Fatherʼs plan for their lives.

The sin unto death involves an early physical death. For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone. The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity. The topic of the sin unto death is covered in 1 John 5:16. Rather than the content of 1 John 5:16 referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, the content of 1 John 5:16 refers to sinning in general that results in a believerʼs physical death occurring earlier than it would have had that believer regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.

If a believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity. A believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist. Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers. Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism. Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.

The amount of unconfessed post-salvation sins that results in the sin unto death can vary. It is even possible that a single sin on a single occasion is so bad that the believer committing that sin experiences the sin unto death. Based on the content of the Bible, it is logical to conclude that such a sin would be something egregious—in other words, something very bad.

The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “blessing” in this verse is εὐλογίαν [pronounced yoo-lah-GEE-ahn and transliterated as eulogian]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word εὐλογία [pronounced yoo-lah-GEE-ah and transliterated as eulogia]. The noun eulogia is derived from the verb eulogeō. The English word eulogy is derived from the noun eulogia. The use of the noun eulogia refers to eternal rewards. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ will receive eternal rewards for being beneficent when that believer is mistreated.

The content of 1 Peter 3:9 is repeated below for reference.

1 Peter 3:9

not returning evil for evil nor railing/reviling for railing/reviling but contrariwise / on the contrary, blessing, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:10

Indeed, “THE ONE WHO WANTS TO DELIGHT IN LIFE, TO EXHIBIT BENEVOLENCE/GOODWILL AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

1 Peter 3:11

“HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

1 Peter 3:12

“INDEED, THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

Note: The content in all capital letters in 1 Peter 3:10–12 references Psalm 34:12–16. The word EYES in 1 Peter 3:12 is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm]. An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the Trinity. The anthropomorphism involving the word EYES calls attention to the omniscience [all-knowingness] of God the Father. In the context of the content of 1 Peter 3:12 and the surrounding verses, the phrase THE RIGHTEOUS in 1 Peter 3:12 refers to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who are obeying the Word of God.

The word EARS in 1 Peter 3:12 is also an anthropomorphism. The anthropomorphism involving the word EARS in the phrase HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER calls attention to God the Fatherʼs love of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. All prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father. The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.

In 1 Peter 3:12, the phrase THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL involves an anthropomorphism. That anthropomorphism calls attention to the justice of God the Father. The reference to the justice of God the Father in that phrase involves God the Father directing wrath towards evil people.

1 Peter 3:13

Then who is the one who will harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

Note: Anyone who tries to harm a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is insignificant compared to God the Father. In the translation of this verse, the type of if is called a third-class condition. A third-class condition involves a usage of the word if to refer to what is possible or to what is hypothetical. As used in this verse, the word if refers to the possibility that recipients of this epistle would be zealous for what is good. The third-class condition in this verse involves the Koine Greek conjunction ἐὰν [pronounced eh-AHN and transliterated as ean] followed by a Koine Greek verb in the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive mood is used to express what is other than 100% certain. The conjunction ἐὰν is an inflected form of the root word ἐάν [pronounced eh-AHN and transliterated as ean]. The verb in the subjunctive mood is γένησθε [pronounced GEH-nay-stheh and transliterated as genēsthe]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word γίνομαι [pronounced GEE-nah-migh and transliterated as ginomai].

1 Peter 3:14

Nevertheless, even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness—and I wish it were true that you suffer for the sake of righteousness, but it is not true that you suffer for the sake of righteousness—you are blessed/happy, AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR TERROR/FEAR AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED.

Note: The content in all capital letters in 1 Peter 3:14 references Isaiah 8:12. The phrase THEIR TERROR/FEAR in 1 Peter 3:14 refers to the terror/fear that people try to cause others to have. In the translation of 1 Peter 3:14, the type of if is part of what is called a fourth-class condition. The fourth-class-condition part in this verse involves the Koine Greek conjunction εἰ [pronounced AY and transliterated as ei] followed by a Koine Greek verb in the optative mood. The optative mood is used to express a wish. A complete fourth-class condition involves a form of the Koine Greek conjunction ei with a Koine Greek verb in the optative mood and also a form of the Koine Greek conjunction αν [pronounced AHN and transliterated as an] with a Koine Greek verb in the optative mood. The fourth-class condition is used to express a possibility that is less probable than a possibility that is expressed with a third-class condition. In that regard, the possibility expressed by a fourth-class condition is a remote possibility. While a fourth-class condition is used to express a remote possibility, the content of 1 Peter 3:14 only involves part of a fourth-class condition; therefore, something other than a remote possibility is being expressed in this verse.

The use of the Koine Greek conjunction ei followed by a Koine Greek verb in the optative mood in 1 Peter 3:14 expresses a wish that something that is not true were actually true. That Koine Greek verb in the optative mood is πάσχοιτε [pronounced PAH-skhoi-teh and transliterated as paschoite]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word πάσχω [pronounced PAH-skhoh and transliterated as paschō]. As used in this verse, the inflected form paschoite can be translated as “suffer.” In that regard, Peter expresses the wish that the recipients of this epistle were experiencing suffering for the sake of righteousness, but Peter knew that some or all of the recipients of this epistle were suffering for a reason or reasons other than the sake of righteousness. By using that grammatical construction involving the Koine Greek conjunction ei followed by a Koine Greek verb in the optative mood, Peter called to the attention of the recipients of this epistle that the suffering of some or all of them was not for the sake of righteousness. In that regard, Peter was indicating that some or all of the recipients were not regularly obeying the Word of God and that that lack of obeying the Word of God was the reason for their suffering.

Peter indicated that if the recipients of this epistle were to suffer for the sake of righteousness—in other words, for obeying the Word of God—then they would be blessed/happy. In that regard, Peter wrote part of 1 Peter 3:14 elliptically, omitting a verb. The Koine Greek adjective that is translated as “blessed” or “happy” in this verse is μακάριοι [pronounced mah-KAH-ree-oi and transliterated as makarioi]. That adjective is an inflected form of the root word μακάριος [pronounced mah-KAH-ree-ahss and transliterated as makarios]. It is possible that Peter uses makarioi to refer to believers who suffer for the sake of righteousness being blessed or to believers who suffer for the sake of righteousness being happy—or to both.

Regarding not fearing, Peter uses a play on words in this verse. That wordplay involves Peter using a Koine Greek verb and the Koine Greek noun from which that verb is derived. In that regard, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “FEAR” in the phrase DO NOT FEAR is φοβηθῆτε [pronounced fah-bay-THAY-teh and transliterated as phobēthēte]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word φοβέω [pronounced fah-BEH-oh and transliterated as phobeō]. The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “TERROR” or “FEAR” in the phrase THEIR TERROR/FEAR is φόβον [pronounced FAH-bahn and transliterated as phobon]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word φόβος [pronounced FAH-bahs and transliterated as phobos]. The verb phobeō is derived from the noun phobos. As mentioned further above, the phrase THEIR TERROR/FEAR in 1 Peter 3:14 refers to the terror/fear that people try to cause others to have. In that regard, Peter is indicating that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from succumbing to the temptation to fear when anyone tries to make that believer experience terror/fear.

Peter also indicated that when anyone tries to make a believer experience terror/fear, that believer should refrain from succumbing to the temptation to worry. In that regard, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “TROUBLED” in the phrase DO NOT BE TROUBLED is ταραχθῆτε [pronounced tah-rahkh-THAY-teh and transliterated as tarachthēte]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ταράσσω [pronounced tah-RAHS-soh and transliterated as tarassō]. In the context of the content of this verse, refraining from being troubled refers to refraining from worrying.

Note: Inside the square brackets below, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.

1 Peter 3:15

Moreover, sanctify [i.e., set apart] Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready for an ἀπολογίαν [ah-pah-lah-GEE-ahn / apologian] / explanation / answer / defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope / absolute confidence that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence,

Note: The heart refers to the mind. The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “explanation / answer / defense” in this verse is ἀπολογίαν [pronounced ah-pah-lah-GEE-ahn and transliterated as apologian]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἀπολογία [pronounced ah-pah-lah-GEE-ah and transliterated as apologia]. In the context of this verse, the noun apologian refers to a believer giving an explanation / answer / defense related to that believerʼs hope / absolute confidence that involves the Lord Jesus Christ.

With regard to a believer giving an explanation / answer / defense related to that believerʼs hope / absolute confidence, the content of this verse indicates that the person who is the focus of that believerʼs hope / absolute confidence must be the Lord Jesus Christ rather than some other human being. In that regard, the phrase sanctify [i.e., set apart] Christ as Lord in your hearts refers to being focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. Such focus can be referred to as occupation with Christ. In that regard, the hope / absolute confidence of a believer should be by means of the thinking of that believer being occupied with Christ rather than being occupied with someone else. Regarding a believer refraining from having that believerʼs thinking being occupied with someone else, a believer should refrain from putting that believerʼs trust in someone other than the Lord Jesus Christ. That topic is covered in Jeremiah 17:5–8. In that regard, below is content related to Jeremiah 17:5–8.

Jeremiah 17:5

Thus has said Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and has made flesh his strength/arm and whose heart turns away from Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note: In Jeremiah 17:5, the noun arm is a metaphorical reference to strength. Not only does Jeremiah 17:5 apply to refraining from trusting in the strength of other human beings, but it also applies to refraining from trusting in oneʼs own strength. Also, the heart refers to the mind.

Jeremiah 17:6

“He has been like a bush in the desert and does not see when prosperity comes but has lived in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt and not inhabited.

Note: The use of the perfect tense to refer to the future is done for rhetorical effect. The same applies to the use of the present tense in this verse.

Jeremiah 17:7

“Blessed is the man who trusts in Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One and whose trust has been Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One,

Jeremiah 17:8

and he has been like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream and does not fear when the heat comes, but its leaves have been green, and it is not anxious in a year of drought nor ceases to yield fruit.

Note: The perfect tense is used for rhetorical effect in this verse, as in verse 6. The same applies to the use of the present tense in this verse.

Also regarding a believer refraining from putting that believerʼs trust in someone other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the content of Joshua 24:15 is relevant. In that regard, below is content related to Joshua 24:15. Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Moses died, is the person speaking in Joshua 24:15. He is speaking to the Israelites.

Joshua 24:15

“If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.”

Note: The Hebrew word translated gods with a lowercase g in Joshua 24:15 is אֱלֹהִים [pronounced el-oh-HEEM and can be transliterated in this context as 'elohiym]. Depending on the context, אֱלֹהִים could refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Godhead [i.e., the Trinity]. When referring to the Godhead, אֱלֹהִים is transliterated as 'Elohiym with a capital E. The usage of 'elohiym in Joshua 24:15 refers to false gods. Also, a believer refraining from putting that believerʼs trust in 'elohiym is applicable to angels and to humans. Regarding the application of the term 'elohiym to humans, sometimes some people treat a human as a god by believing that that human is the only person who can solve problems. A person who believes that a human other than the Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who can solve problems is walking by sight instead of by faith. In that regard, walking refers to living oneʼs life. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are supposed to walk by faith rather than sight. That topic is covered in 2 Corinthians 5:7. In that regard, when the choices of humans all involve humans who exhibit behavior that content in the Bible indicates is inappropriate, a believer should be like Joshua and choose none of those humans. Instead, a believer should trust in God the Fatherʼs plan being fulfilled without the agency of any of those humans who exhibit behavior that content in the Bible indicates is inappropriate. Trusting in God the Fatherʼs plan being fulfilled without the agency of any of those humans who exhibit behavior that content in the Bible indicates is inappropriate is an expression of faith in the Trinity that is reflective of the content of Jeremiah 17:5–8 and Joshua 24:15.

Some of the people who put their trust in someone other than the Lord Jesus Christ then give explanations about / give answers for / defend the person in whom they put their trust. A believer should refrain from doing such explaining / answering / defending. Instead, a believer should give an explanation / answer / defense related to that believerʼs hope / absolute confidence that involves the Lord Jesus Christ.

The content of 1 Peter 3:15 calls attention to the importance of a believer being ready to share the gospel with people who are unbelievers and of a believer being ready to share with believers in the Lord Jesus Christ the value of confessing/acknowledging oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins to God the Father and of studying and obeying the Word of God. Regarding confessing/acknowledging oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins to God the Father, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.

When giving an explanation / answer / defense related to that believerʼs hope / absolute confidence that involves the Lord Jesus Christ, that believer should do that explaining / answering / defending with gentleness. Also, that believer should do that explaining / answering / defending with reverence toward the Lord Jesus Christ. In that regard, when a believer gives an explanation / answer / defense related to that believerʼs hope / absolute confidence that involves the Lord Jesus Christ, that believer should behave in a respectful manner. If a believer refrains from behaving in a respectful manner when that believer is explaining / answering / defending regarding that believerʼs hope / absolute confidence that involves the Lord Jesus Christ, then that believer is reflecting negatively on the Lord Jesus Christ. Reflecting negatively on the Lord Jesus Christ is irreverent towards the Lord Jesus Christ—in other words, it is disrespectful towards the Lord Jesus Christ.

The content of 1 Peter 3:15 is repeated below for reference.

1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 3:16

having a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

1 Peter 3:17

Indeed, it is better, if the will of God wills it—and I wish it were true that the will of God wills it, but the will of God does not will it—that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

Note: As with verse 14, in the translation of 1 Peter 3:17, the type of if is part of what is called a fourth-class condition. The fourth-class-condition part in verse 17 involves the Koine Greek conjunction εἰ [pronounced AY and transliterated as ei] followed by a Koine Greek verb in the optative mood. The use of the Koine Greek conjunction ei followed by a Koine Greek verb in the optative mood in 1 Peter 3:17 expresses a wish that something that is not true were actually true. In that regard, Peter expressed the wish that it was the will of God the Father that the recipients of this epistle were suffering for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong, but Peter knew that it was not the will of God the Father that the recipients of this epistle were suffering for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. Peter recognized that God the Father permitted the recipients of this epistle to use their volition (free will) to do what is wrong. While indicating his recognition that God the Father permitted the recipients of this epistle to use their volition to do what is wrong, Peter indicates that it would be better for them if the will of God the Father was for them to suffer for doing what is right. In that regard, Peter indicates that it is better for a believer to suffer as a result of doing what is right than it is to suffer as a result of doing what is wrong. The implication of that is that a believer should do what is right.

That Koine Greek verb in the optative mood in this verse is θέλοι [pronounced THEH-loi and transliterated as theloi]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word θέλω [pronounced THEH-loh and transliterated as thelō]. As used in this verse, the inflected form theloi can be translated as “wills.” In this verse, the inflected form theloi is involved in a play on words with a Koine Greek noun. Regarding that wordplay, that noun is derived from the verb theloi. That noun, which is translated as “will” in the phrase the will of God, is θέλημα [pronounced THEH-lay-mah and transliterated as thelēma]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word θέλημα [pronounced THEH-lay-mah and transliterated as thelēma].

1 Peter 3:18

Concerning that, Christ also suffered for sins once for all / died for sins once for all, righteous/just for unrighteous/unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Note: In this verse, the word Spirit refers to God the Holy Spirit. Some Koine Greek manuscripts have the verb suffered in this verse, and some Koine Greek manuscripts have the verb died in this verse. Regardless of which of those verbs was in the original manuscript, other verses in the Bible indicate that the Lord Jesus Christ being judged for the sins of humanity involved the Lord suffering and involved the Lord dying. This verse calls attention to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity once; therefore, it is unnecessary for Him to be judged for the sins of humanity again and again. Also, this verse calls attention to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of all humanity. His being judged for all is known as unlimited atonement. Some people erroneously believe in limited atonement, which is the false notion that the Lord was only judged for those who believe in Him as the Savior.

1 Peter 3:19

by means of Whom also He went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison,

1 Peter 3:20

who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were brought safely through water [i.e., the Great Flood].

Note: The disobedient spirits mentioned in 1 Peter 3:19–20 are the fallen angels who mated with human women in order to produce the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis 6. The Nephilim mentioned in Genesis 6 were half angel and half human. In Numbers 13, the Nephilim mentioned are people who are likened to the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis 6.

The location of the prison mentioned in 1 Peter 3:19 is a compartment of Hades [HAY-deez]. The word Hades comes from Greek. A synonym for the word Hades is the word Sheol [SHEE-ohl]. The word Sheol comes from Hebrew. Sheol/Hades is somewhere under the surface of the earth in a location that is inaccessible to those humans who have not yet experienced physical death. Sheol/Hades is different from the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the place of judgment for the fallen angels and those who have had the mental capacity to make a decision about whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior but never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. For each person who at some time in that personʼs life has the mental capacity to make a decision about whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, the age of that person when that person first had the mental capacity to make a decision about whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior can be referred to as the age of accountability of that person. The age of accountability varies for each individual person.

Content in 2 Samuel 12:23 indicates that a person who dies before that person has reached the age of accountability receives eternal life. The content of that verse references King David recognizing that when David died, he would be with his son who had died as a baby. Below is content related to 2 Samuel 12:22–23.

Note: In the below content of 2 Samuel 12:22, the pronoun he refers to David.

2 Samuel 12:22

Then he says, “While the child was still alive, I have fasted, and I weep, for I have said, ‘Who knows? Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has been gracious to me, and the child has lived.’

Note: The uses of a present tense in the verb says and the verb weep reference what has occurred in the past. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.

2 Samuel 12:23

“However, now he has died; why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back again? I am going to him, but he does not return to me.”

Note: David indicated that he recognized that he would later be with his son who had died as a baby. In that regard, David indicated that he recognized that the means by which David would be with that deceased son involved David going to be with that deceased son when David would die rather than that deceased son coming back to be with David before David died. David is eternally saved; therefore, the content of this verse indicates that Davidʼs son who had died as a baby is also eternally saved.

Unspecified in the Bible is the location of the Lake of Fire. Sheol/Hades can also be referred to as the netherworld. Also, the phrase the netherworld can alternatively be spelled as the nether world. The word nether means “located down or below.”

Before the Lord Jesus Christʼs resurrection and ascension to Heaven, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ resided in a pleasant compartment of Hades called Paradise and also called Abrahamʼs Bosom. After the Lord was resurrected and He ascended to Heaven, the believers who were in Abrahamʼs Bosom were transferred to Heaven. Now that the Lord has been resurrected and has ascended to Heaven, deceased believers go to Heaven rather than going to Abrahamʼs Bosom. Unspecified in the Bible are details about how believers were transferred to Abrahamʼs Bosom other than the content of Luke 16:22 mentioning angels carrying the poverty-stricken believer named Lazarus to Abrahamʼs Bosom. Also, unspecified in the Bible are details about how believers were transferred from Abrahamʼs Bosom to Heaven or how believers are transferred to Heaven.

Deceased unbelievers resided and still reside in a compartment of Hades called Torments. They will reside there until the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers, which will occur after the Lordʼs 1,000-year Millennial reign on the earth. Another compartment of Hades is Tartarus, which is where those fallen angels who mated with human females—as mentioned in Genesis 6—are currently incarcerated.

Paradise / Abrahamʼs Bosom is referenced in Luke 16:19–22. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.

Luke 16:19–22

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. Also, a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores and longing to be fed with the things which were falling from the rich manʼs table. Nevertheless, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abrahamʼs bosom, and the rich man also died and was buried.”

Torments is referenced in Luke 16:23–26. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.

Luke 16:23–26

“In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and sees* Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue because I am in agony in this flame.’ Nevertheless, Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things and likewise Lazarus bad things. Nevertheless, now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. Also, in all these things, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’”

*Note: The word sees is in the Greek historical present tense.

Tartarus and the context of the judgment of the angels who mated with human females are referenced in 2 Peter 2:4–5.

2 Peter 2:4–5

Indeed, if God did not spare—and He indeed did not spare—angels when they sinned but cast them into Tartarus and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment, and did not spare the ancient world but preserved Noah, a preacher [or herald] of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Note: In 2 Peter 2:4, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek verb that is translated as “cast them into Tartarus” is ταρταρώσας [pronounced tar-tah-ROH-sahs and transliterated as tartarōsas]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ταρταρόω [pronounced tar-tah-RAH-oh and transliterated as tartaroō]. The verb tartaroō is derived from the Greek noun Τάρταρος [pronounced TAHR-tah-rahs and transliterated as Tartaros], which can be translated as “Tartarus.” The English noun Tartarus is also derived from the Greek noun Tartaros.

Regarding terminology, when people use the word hell, they might be referring to Hades/Sheol, and they might be referring to the Lake of Fire. Also, it is possible that some people are unaware that Hades and the Lake of Fire are different locations. There are zero indications in the Bible that Satan has a headquarters located in Hades or in the Lake of Fire.

The Lake of Fire is mentioned in Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14; and Revelation 20:15. The content of Revelation 19:20 indicates that the man who is the king of the West during the Tribulation and the man who is the false prophet during the Tribulation will be cast into the Lake of Fire. The king of the West is also known as the Antichrist with a capital A, the beast, and the first beast. The false prophet is also known as the second beast. The false prophet will be supporting the Antichrist. Content related to the king of the West being referred to as the first beast is in Revelation 13:1–12. The content of Revelation 13:11–18 references the false prophet. The content of Revelation 20:10 indicates that Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire after he leads the Gog and Magog Rebellion / Gog and Magog Revolution at he end of the Millennium. In that regard, the content of Revelation 20:1–7 references the Millennium, and the content of Revelation 20:8–9 references the Gog and Magog Rebellion / Gog and Magog Revolution. The content of Revelation 20:10 also references the king of the West and the false prophet being in the Lake of Fire when Satan is cast into there. The content of Revelation 20:14 references death and Hades being cast into the Lake of Fire, which refers to the death that involves being in Hades being replaced by the death that involves being in the Lake of Fire. The content of Revelation 20:15 references unbelievers being cast into the Lake of Fire.

The content of 1 Peter 3:19–20 is repeated below for reference.

1 Peter 3:19

by means of Whom also He went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison,

1 Peter 3:20

1 Peter 3:21

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh but the pledge of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Note: In the phrase baptism now saves you in 1 Peter 3:21, the word baptism refers to God the Holy Spirit baptizing believers into union with the Lord Jesus Christ rather than referring to water baptism. At the moment of salvation for a Church Age believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into union with Christ—in other words, God the Holy Spirit makes the believer associated with the Lord. This association with the Lord Jesus Christ is a guarantee of eternal security, which means that the salvation of a believer can never be lost.

1 Peter 3:22

Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into Heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Note: In 1 Peter 3:22, the word Heaven refers to the Third Heaven, which is where the throne room of God the Father is located. Below is a summary of the different usages for the word heaven.

• The first heaven (also known as [aka] first heavens): the atmosphere of earth

• The second heaven (aka second heavens): outer space

• The Third Heaven (aka Third Heavens or simply as Heaven): the location of the throne room of God the Father

Also, the reference to a hand in 1 Peter 3:22 is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm]. An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the Trinity. The right-hand side of a ruler is a place of honor. The Lord Jesus Christ sitting down at the right hand of God the Father is referred to as the session of the Lord Jesus Christ. Regarding that usage of the English noun session, the English noun session is derived from the Latin noun sessiō [SEHS-see-oh]. The Latin noun sessiō can be used to refer to an act of sitting or to a seat.

Sincerely,

John