1 Peter 3:1-7
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1 Peter 3:1-7 Wives and Husbands
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Summary of passage
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Text and Translation
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Original Context & Exegesis
A. Passage Boundaries (why are these verses grouped together in this chapter or pericope?)
B. Exegesis of passage as a whole (or verse-by-verse, if helpful).
3:1 Wives are told to submit to their own husbands, not to all men as some would teach.
3:3 Some have used this passage to condemn all jewelry. I'm not sure about this, but this could also be the reason the Amish don't braid their hair -- at least I've never seen one with braided hair. Even somewhat more mainstream Christians, such as the Holiness movement, condemn jewelry. However, a careful look at the structure of the sentence reveals that if this does condemn the wearing of any jewelry, it also condemns the wearing of any clothing! No one in his or her right mind would teach that. Rather, what it means is that women are not to put all of their efforts into decorating the outside, but to work towards inner beauty more. It seems to me a similar thing to when Paul said "bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things" (1 Tim 4:8a) It’s not that bodily exercise or outward adornment profit nothing or are inherently bad things, just that they are not to be a primary focus.
3: 4-6 The most attractive clothing a woman can wear according to this passage is "a meek and quiet spirit". This is how the holy women of old were adorned, we're told, 2:25 Isaiah 53:6 is now quoted with some modifications. Instead of "have gone astray" in the past perfect tense (happened in the past and continuing still) it's "were going astray" in past tense followed by that wonderful word "but", showing that not only is it a past tense phrase, it is also a thing of the past. Glory to God! We who WERE going astray have been returned to the Great Shepherd never to stray again, specifically Sarah. I've always wondered why two different men tried to take Sarah from Abraham, one when she was about 90 years old. Some have said that she didn't age like other women do and thus didn't look like 90, and although I suppose that's possible, would it have been as much of a miracle for a 90 year old to have a child if she looked 25? I think it was this meek and quiet spirit that drew these men to her. She was something so different from the women of their culture and so beautiful because of her inner character. We've all seen women who will never grace the cover of a fashion magazine but are beautiful because of who they are, and we've all known some who could be on the magazine but are repulsive because of their character. I'd much rather be married to the first. (and am, although I think she's pretty enough for the magazine cover, too.)
3:7 This verse is a sermon all by itself, but I'll try. 1. The husband must behave towards his wife "in an understanding way" being considerate of her needs, desires, fears, etc. He must do his best to meet those needs and desires, putting them above his own. He must act in a way that serves to allay her fears without belittling them. He must always show himself trustworthy so that she can count on him and trust him when he's not with her. 2. The husband must "honor" her. a. "as the weaker vessel" -- not of less value, but weaker physically, requiring gentleness and physical restraint. A crystal wineglass is obviously weaker than a clay pot, but no one would say that it's of less value. I believe that "the weaker vessel" imparts more value and greater care to the woman. b. "as being joint-heirs" -- men and women are (listen closely) EQUAL in value and inheritance in the kingdom of God. This verse proves the ignorance of those who would say that the goal of Christianity is to demote and subjugate women as inferior. While they are given a different task set than men, they are joint-heirs of eternal life through the grace of God. Also interesting to note, I rarely hear those who decry Christianity's treatment of women speaking out against Islam, which truly does denigrate and mistreat women. The voice of the devil rarely speaks against his own. 3. "that your prayers be not hindered" -- whether this means that God will not readily answer the prayers of someone who is mistreating his wife or that this is one of many sins that can hinder our communion with God or that a lack of closeness to our mate will make it difficult to cultivate closeness to Christ as marriage is a type of our relationship to Him, the great Bridegroom, is not clear. However, what is clear is that, one way or another, your prayers will be hindered by not honoring your wife as you should.
C. Literary Features--What genre is it? What literary devices (e.g, metaphor) does it use?
D. Connections to the rest of book—what purpose does this pericope serve in the bigger picture of the book?
E. Connections to the rest of Scripture--How is it referenced or alluded to elsewhere?
Jesus Christ: The Redemptive-Historical Context
A. Where is Christ and the Gospel present in this passage?
B. How does this passage point to Christ or depend on Christ? How does Christ fulfill this passage? How was it fulfilled already? How will it be fulfilled?
C. What does this passage tell us about God’s plan of redemption in Christ?
Current Context
A. What does this tell us about ourselves, our world, and the human condition?
B. What are some modern parallels to the original situation?
C. What is the call/command/invitation of this passage?
D. How does Christ & the Gospel in this passage enable us to see, think, and live differently?
Links/References/Bibliography
A. Representative sermons on the passage
B. Examples and Illustrations
C. Commentaries on this book
D. Articles on this book or passage
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