1 Peter 3:2

1Pe 3:2. Ἐν φόβῳ, in fear) This is to be referred to ἁγνήν, chaste; not to ἀναστροφὴν, conversation. Fear is something general, commended by the apostle to all Christians, but especially commended to women, that their conversation be chaste.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Pe_3:2. ἐποπτεύσαντες τὴν ἐν φόβῳ ἁγνὴν ἀναστροφὴν ὑμῶν] for ἐποπτ., cf. chap. 1Pe_2:12. The participial clause here serves as a further explanation of the preceding διὰ κ.τ.λ.

ἁγνός: chaste, in the full extent of the word, not only in contradistinction to πορνεία proper, but to whatsoever violates the moral relation of the subjection of the wife to her husband. This ἁγνεία is determined by ἐν φόβῳ (not equal to, in timore Dei conservato: Glossa interl.; Grotius too, Bengel, Jachmann, Weiss, Fronmüller, etc., understand by φόβος here the fear of God), as connected in the closest possible way with the shrinking from every violation of duty towards the husband;[168] cf. chap. 1Pe_2:18.

[168] Schott unwarrantably maintains that in this interpretation it is not ἀναστροφή which is more precisely defined by the homogeneous adjectival expression ἐν φόβῳ ἁγνή, but ἁγνὴ ἀναστρ. by ἐν φόβῳ.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Pe 3:2 . ἐποπτεύσαντες , having contemplated ; see on 1Pe 2:12 . τὴν … ὑμῶν . ἐν φόβῳ , cf. 1Pe 1:17 and Eph 5:21 . ὑποτασσόμενοι ἀλλήλοις ἐν φόβῳ Χριστοῦ · αἱ γυναῖκες : as no object is expressed, τοῦ θεοῦ must be supplied. ἁγνήν not merely chaste but pure, cf. 1Pe 1:22 and 1Pe 3:4 .

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

behold--on narrowly looking into it, literally, "having closely observed."

chaste--pure, spotless, free from all impurity.

fear--reverential, towards your husbands. Scrupulously pure, as opposed to the noisy, ambitious character of worldly women.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 2. Chaste conversation - with fear.] While they see that ye join modesty, chastity, and the purest manners, to the fear of God. Or perhaps fear, φοβος, is taken, as in Eph 5:33, for the reverence due to the husband.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2 While they behold For minds, however alienated from the true faith, are subdued, when they see the good conduct of believers; for as they understood not the doctrine of Christ, they form an estimate of it by our life. It cannot, then, be but that they will commend Christianity, which teaches purity and fear.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(2) While they behold . . .—The same curious word as in 1Pe_2:12, and the tense, which is ill-represented by “while they behold,” sets us at the moment of the triumph of the wife’s conduct, literally; having kept, or when they have kept an eye on your chaste conversation. The husband is jealously on the watch to see what his wife does who has embraced these foolish notions; at last he breaks down. Jesus must be the Messiah, or his wife could not have been so chaste! The adjective “chaste” is here to be taken in a large sense; it is the same which enters into the verb translated “purify” in 1Pe_1:22, and it is implied that the “fear” (i.e., of the husband; comp. Note on 1Pe_2:18) has been an incentive to this sweet virtue; “your life so immaculate in fear,” or even almost “so timidly pure.” Leighton says, “It is a delicate, timorous grace, afraid of the least air, or shadow of anything that hath but a resemblance of wronging it, in carriage or speech, or apparel, as follows in the third and fourth verses.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2. while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear] On the verb “behold” see note on chap. 1Pe_2:12. The word “coupled” is not in the Greek, and the true meaning of the word is that the “chaste conduct” of the women who are addressed must have its ground and sphere of action in the reverential awe which is the right feeling of a wife towards her husband.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

While they behold your chaste conversation,.... Cheerful subjection, strong affection, and inviolable attachment to them, and strict regard to the honour of the marriage state, and to the preserving of the bed undefiled with lusts and adulteries:

coupled with fear; with reverence of their husbands, giving them due honour, and showing all proper respect; or with the fear of God, which being before their eyes, and upon their hearts, engages them to such an agreeable conversation.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Ver. 2. Whiles they behold] Curiously pry into. Carnal men watch the carriages of prolessors, and spend many thoughts about them.

Your chaste conversation] When Livia the empress was asked how had she got such a power over her husband that she could do anything with him? She answered, Multa modestia, By my much modesty. (Dio in Aug.) A prudent wife commands her husband by obeying.

Coupled with fear] Not slavish fear of blows, but reverent fear: 1. Of offending God, by using unlawful means to get their husband’s love, as by plaiting of the hair, &e. 2. Of offending their husbands by immodesty or frowardness.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

While they behold your chaste conversation - Your pure conduct. The word chaste here (ἁγνὴν hagnēn) refer’s to purity of conduct in all respects, and not merely to chastity properly so called. It includes that, but it also embraces much more. The conduct of the wife is to be in all respects pure; and this is to be the grand instrumentality in the conversion of her husband. A wife may be strictly chaste, and yet there may be many other things in her conduct and temper which would mar the beauty of her piety, and prevent any happy influence on the mind of her husband,

Coupled with fear - The word fear, in this place, may refer either to the fear of God, or to a proper respect and reverence for their husbands, Eph 5:33. The trait of character which is referred to is that of proper respect and reverence in all the relations which she sustained, as opposed to a trifling and frivolous mind. Leighton suggests that the word fear here relates particularly to the other duty enjoined - that of chaste conversation - “fearing the least stain of chastity, or the very appearance of anything not suiting with it. It is a delicate, timorous grace, afraid of the least air, or shadow of anything that hath but a resemblance of wronging it, in carriage, or speech, or apparel.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Chaste conversation; free from all manner of impurities, and any thing contrary to the marriage covenant.

Coupled with fear; such a fear or reverence of your husbands, whereby out of the fear of God, and conscience of his command, you give them all due respect, and do not willingly displease them. See Eph 5:1-33; subjection is required, Eph 5:22, and fear, Eph 5:33.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2. While they behold—Closely observe and scrutinize.

Chaste conversation—Modest, pure, and holy behaviour.

With fear—With a spirit of reverence toward their husbands. Such conduct would evince that the religion which induced and sweetened such a life must be divine.

2. Readiness for a suitable defence of their faith, 15, 16.

Be ready—For an account to men, while thus having supreme regard for Christ.

Always—No exception as to time.

An answer—An apology, in the old sense of a defence of what is true, with a refutation of objections. St.

Paul’s speech before Agrippa (Acts 26) is a masterly specimen.

Every… asketh—Honest inquirers should receive instruction; cavillers and revilers are entitled only to silence. Mat_7:6; Mat_27:12. But probably magistrates are especially meant.

A reason—An intelligent, rational account. The Romish response of “I believe because the Church believes,” is thus repudiated beforehand.

Of the hope—That is, of eternal glory, involving the basis of truth in fact and doctrine, upon which it rests. The answer thus became a defence of Christianity itself, seldom, indeed, with the learning and power of a St. Paul, a Justin Martyr, or a Tertullian, but always with intelligence and reason.

Meekness—With clearness and firmness, but (so the oldest MSS. read) with modesty in speech and bearing, and not with insolence or arrogance.

Fear—Due respect to the interrogator.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

While they behold (see note on 1Pe_2:12, where the same verb occurs) your chaste conversation coupled with fear; literally, your chaste behavior, in fear. Bengel and others understand the fear of God. Certainly the holy fear of God is the sphere in which true Christians must always live. But the close connection with the word "chaste (thbw aJgnhn ajnastrofhn uJmwn), and the parallel passage, Eph_5:33 (in the Greek), make it probable that the fear here inculcated isreverence for the husband an anxious avoidance of anything that might even seem to interfere with his conjugal rights and authority.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Joined with a loving fear of displeasing them.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

2. While they behold you chaste conversation. Your pure lives. Coupled with fear. The shrinking from doing anything that is wrong.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

2. ἐποπτεύσαντες, see note on 1Pe 2:12. The idea of seeing behind the scenes would aptly describe the husband’s opportunities of observing his wife’s character. But it may mean merely looking on at a spectacle.

ἐν φόβῳ might refer to the reverence of the wife for her husband, cf. Eph 5:33. More probably however it means the fear of God, as also in 1Pe 2:18 where slaves are to submit to their masters ἐν παντὶ φόβῳ, cf. 1Pe 1:17, 1Pe 3:15; Eph 5:21; Col 3:22; 2Co 5:11; 2Co 7:1.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2.] when they behold (lit. “having beheld:” the time of the ἐποπτεῦσαι is slightly antecedent to that of κερδηθήσονται, but not enough to justify the use of the past. part. in English. On the verb, see ref.) your chaste behaviour (ἁγνήν, in the largest sense, not with its proper reference only: modest and pure) coupled with fear (so the E. V., admirably: conducted, led, maintained, in a spirit of reverence to your husbands, cf. Eph 5:33, ἡ δὲ γυνὴ ἵνα φόβηται τὸν ἄνδρα. The connexion of words is τὴν ἐν φόβῳ | ἁγνὴν ἀναστροφήν, not, as Huther, τὴν | ἐν φόβῳ ἁγνὴν | ἀναστροφήν).

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

While they behold [εποπτευσαντες] . See on ch. 1Pe 2:12. Conversation. See on ch. 1Pe 1:15. Rev., behavior.

Coupled with fear [εν φοβω] . Lit., in fear.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.