World English Bible · Under Rome
1 Peter 3
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In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don't the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word, seeing your pure behavior in fear. Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing, but from the hidden person of , in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet , which is very precious in sight. For this is how in the past the women who in also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. So , calling him , whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror. You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving to the woman as to the weaker , as also being joint of the of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you be like-minded, , loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead , knowing that you were called to this, that you may a . For, "He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his from evil and his from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of are on , and his ears open to their ; but is against those who do evil." Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? But even if you should suffer for ' sake, you are . "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled." But in your . Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the that is in you, with humility and fear, having a . Thus, while you are spoken against as , they may be disappointed who your good way of life in Christ. For it is better, if it is will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil. Because Christ also suffered for once, for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to , being put to in , but made alive in , in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, who before were when waited patiently in the days of while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight , were through water. This is a symbol of , which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of , but the answer of a toward —through the of , who is at of , having gone into , and and powers being made subject to him.
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The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.