1 Peter 3 - A Subversive Faith

1 Peter 3 (CSB)

Tips for studying Scripture (Hermeneutics):

Scripture is a unified story about God.

Peter does this masterfully, giving essentials to living a christian ethic, he anchors it and filters it through Jesus and the old testament.

use scripture to interpret scripture

Know the genre, audience and if it’s being descriptive or prescriptive.

descriptive, look for principles

prescriptive look for context (who, intent, culture, universal or specific etc) so you know what we adhere to

i’ll never understand that…not your first time through. use resources and others further along to aid you, but you gotta start somewhere

The Bible is not written to you, but it is for you.

For you to know God

It’s good for you….2 Timothy 3:16–17 — All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

A Subversive Faith is a lifestyle that cultivates a counter-cultural reform producing a christ-centered abundant life.

illus: river brought life to community. pollution destroyed life. young people decided to go into the stream and make it better.

end of chapter 2 through chapter 4, Peter subverts many societal norms - household slaves. wives. husbands. disadvantaged. God is always about purifying whats been polluted and protecting those who are vulnerable.

Household codes were the operating normalities of a household, which was more like a family-owned business than your household in 2025. Think more Yellowstone Ranch than Southern cotton plantation.

Last year we taught through the book of Colossians, and I did a sermon all about these roles and taught about husbands and wives being a gift to each other and the essential needs Paul says we can meet for each other, ultimately disarming the unhealthy power dynamics.

illus: Cherish your wife. Celebrate your husband

Peter was giving instructions for Godly living…he was subverting the cultural ills.

God seems to always work within complicated humanity. The very scriptures that were misunderstood to enforce slavery, Misogyny, greed, genocide and many other ills through history, were also used to course correct and subvert those ills.

God specializes in bringing redemption to unrighteous realities.

Elements of a Subversive Faith in this chapter.

1 Peter 3 contains subversive elements that challenge cultural norms and unjust systems without resorting to rebellion. Instead of direct confrontation, Peter encourages faithful living that undermines societal evils from within. Here are key subversive themes:

1. Submission as a Form of Strength (1 Peter 3:1-6)

“Wives, be submissive to your own husbands…” (v. 1)

This was radical because Peter was addressing Christian women married to non-believing husbands. Instead of rebellion, they were to win them over through godly conduct (v. 2).

let your honor and submission to your unbelieving husband be more persuasive approach than the feminist perversions of culture. Submission is not being a doormat. Biblical submission is not permission for abuse. Biblical submission is “YIELDING TO ANOTHER OF EQUAL VALUE”.

prioritize inner beauty more than outward materialism…let your character be more compelling than wealth

Subversion: Instead of challenging patriarchal norms head-on, Peter instructs a quiet, Christlike strength that could ultimately change hearts and transform family structures.

Wives are now commanded to be submissive in the same way, for the ancient world classed women and slaves together as ‘inferior beings’. Christianity gave dignity to the status of both, and Peter stresses the spiritual equality of man and wife as heirs together.

2. Gentle Power Over Oppression (1 Peter 3:7)

“Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way…” (v. 7)

This subtly undermines the cultural norm where husbands ruled harshly. Peter calls for honor, respect, and equality (“heirs with you of the grace of life”), which was countercultural in the Roman world.

Paul interestingly exhorts married couples to mutual submission, where the wife’s submissiveness is to be matched by the husband’s self-giving love (Eph. 5:21–28).

“weaker partner”…one more helpless. Speaks to having less rights, power, and physical strength in their culture. Husbands should cherish their wife.

Subversion: Christian men were to reject abusive power dynamics, modeling Christlike leadership that reshaped societal expectations.

3. Blessing Instead of Retaliation (1 Peter 3:9)

“Do not repay evil for evil… but bless” (v. 9)

The world expects revenge, but Peter calls for blessing enemies, mirroring Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:44.

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 3

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless.

we don’ t have to pedal hatred in order to create good.

Peter recalls Psalm 34 , quoted to anchor them into a radiant faith they have stepped into, especially in the face of suffering. This is our hope. Jesus the suffering servant, the anchor for our soul.

Subversion: Instead of seeking vengeance against persecution, Christians were to respond with love, which disarmed and convicted oppressors.

Peter now leaves the field of special relationships and concludes this section with a summary of the attitudes Christians should demonstrate to one another, in both their actions and reactions. This is contained in the one word blessing (9), the calling down of God’s gracious power and love on all people, even on those who wish or do us harm. To behave like this is encouraged by knowing that Christians themselves will ultimately inherit God’s blessing. This was promised in Ps. 34:12–16 which is quoted here. Christians are called to walk the way of blamelessness and uprightness, actively pursuing peace with all, just like the people of faith in the OT. They have the same motivation because God watches over and blesses such behaviour, but sets himself against evil-doers

Jesus is the model of subversive faith.

Jesus is the King who delivers (saves) us.

through submitting His life. Jesus through the Holy Spirit saves (delivers) us. Baptism is an embodied action within our loyalty to Jesus. Baptism is our public announcement that we are surrendering and submitting to Jesus as LORD and KING

1 Peter 3:21 “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (see rom. 10:9 - confess)

Baptism is not a transaction. Baptism is a declaration of allegiance to Jesus the saving King.

Baptism is a part of the saving work we walk out.

Peter brings up Jesus’ suffering and our hope through death as a way of reminder and comfort of the resurrection to come!

God always is giving us tangible reminders of our covenant with Him.

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Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

The message was about our call to live Subversive Faith. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you?

Read 1 Peter 3. What does this passage reveal about Jesus?

What should we do with texts in Scripture that seem cause a negative emotional reaction within us?

What does it mean to prioritize inner beauty over outward appearances in your life and friendships?

What specific steps can we take to practice blessing rather than retaliation in our lives? In what other ways can we actively embody a subversive faith in our daily interactions with others?

What do you think Peter means by calling for 'gentle power' in relationships, especially regarding husbands and wives?

Read Psalm 34. What do you observe in this passage? How does it correlate to a life of faith in Jesus?

How can we apply the principle of fearless hope in the face of challenges or persecution at school or in our community?