3:1-7 SUBMISSION IN THE HOME
3:8-12 PRINCIPLES OF GODLY LIVING
‘Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew — evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.’
3:1-7 Submission in the home
Having written about submission as a citizen and as a slave (or employee) Peter now addresses the topic of submission in the home. He first speaks to wives (3:1-6) and then to husbands (3:7). For advice by the apostle Paul to husbands and wives see Eph 5:22-25; Col 3:18-19.
[1] The word homoíōs – likewise, in the same way – links back to what has gone before (2:13), where submission is to be ‘for the Lord’s sake.’ As also v.7.
hupotássō ‘be subordinate to’ is the same word as in 2:13,18 but this does not mean that women are to submissively allow themselves to be treated like slaves; wives do not have the same relation to husbands as slaves have to masters. It is a military word that has to do with the arranging of troops under a commander of superior rank. The present participle of the verb is used as an imperative.
‘to your own husbands’ This is also at verse 5.
‘if any obey not the word’ Several of the Christian women had pagan husbands.
‘word’ is used twice in this verse – ‘the word (the gospel message) and ‘without a word’ (without saying anything).
The motive for submission was evangelistic; that the unbelieving husbands might be won over ‘without a word’ by observing the ‘way of life’ of the wives. The Christian life is a powerful witness.
‘won’ kerdaínō to win over, gain, make a profit (Jas 4:13). This word occurs five times in 1 Cor 9:19-22, seemingly it was used by missionaries as a buzzword for convert or save.
[2] ‘behold’ take note of, see 2:12
‘chaste’ pure – This is wider than sexual purity; see Phil 4:8; 1 Tim 5:22; Tit 2:5; Jas 3:17; 1 Jn 3:3.
‘in fear’ reverent – This was to be their attitude towards their husbands, or perhaps God, as in 1:17.
[3] The character of a Christian woman is more important than her outward appearance (cp. Isa 3:18-24).
[4] ‘hidden man of the heart’ i.e. inner personality.
‘of’- The genitive is either:
a) possessive i.e. the person who lives in the heart,
or:
b) appositional i.e. the heart – the unseen person
Peter is speaking here of true beauty which is internal:
- it is hidden
- it will not fade away
- it is precious to God
A gentle and quiet spirit is imperishable. The idea is that of self-control. A woman is not expected to live in silence or to have no personality. Both gentleness and quietness are precious in God’s sight (see 1 Sam 16:7).
[5-6] Peter now turns to the Old Testament and says that the holy women of old (possibly Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah) were more interested in interior than exterior adornment. These women were ‘holy’ in that they were called and set apart by God. They ‘trusted in God’ i.e. by faith they expected that God would fulfil his promises (Heb 11:13). In v.6 Peter moves from the general to the particular and cites the case of Sarah, someone who was highly respected as the ‘mother’ of the Jews (Isa 51:2). She is held up as an example of submission because she called her husband ‘lord’. The reference must be to Gen 18:12 where she refers to him as her ‘lord’ but does not call him that directly.
Peter says that these formerly pagan women he addresses are Sarah’s spiritual daughters (like her they are strangers and pilgrims) if:
a) They do what is right i.e. defer to their husbands
b) Let nothing terrify them.
Peter turns from the reference to Sarah and addresses the everyday situation of the Christian women of Asia Minor. Even if treated badly by pagan husbands or neighbours they are to be courageous and controlled in their response to difficult situations.
[7] This verse contains Peter’s advice to Christian husbands, the reference to prayers tells us that the men being addressed are Christians. The advice is shorter than that to women because many of the Christian women were married to pagan husbands. As in 3:1, verse 7 begins with ‘likewise.’ This is not saying that Christian husbands are to be subject to their pagan wives but the word ‘likewise’ connects the sections back either to the general statement in the previous chapter that all human creatures are to be respected (2:13), or perhaps to ‘with all respect’ (2:18).
‘dwell with [them] according to knowledge’ There is no article but it is clear that the reference is to ‘your wives.’
‘knowledge’ here means ‘insight’ as in 1 Cor 8:1-13. Peter lists three motives for this:
1) ‘giving honour to the female as the weaker vessel’
‘the female’ – an adjective used with a neuter single to form a noun – a generic single i.e. the female sex. The weakness in view here is physical, not spiritual. ‘vessel’ i.e. the body (1 Thess 4:4). The Christian husband is to realise that men and women have been created differently and that he is to treat his wife with courtesy and respect. This verse would also address the topic of intimidation or physical abuse of a Christian wife by her husband, should such a situation ever arise.
2) ‘since you are joint-heirs of the grace of life’
At that time women were also weaker in terms of social standing and influence but here Peter makes it clear that Christian husbands and wives have the same spiritual standing and are therefore equal partners in the service of the Lord.
‘of life’ This is an epexegetic genitive which provides further explanation. This grace consists of life.
3) ‘that your prayers be not hindered’ It is necessary to have a right relationship with others in order to have a right relationship with God (Mt 5:23-26; 18:19-35; 1 Cor 11:17-22). ‘hindered’ – cut off or struck out. It is here taken for granted that Christians pray.
Some Bible verses on the topic of hindered prayer:
‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.’ Psa 66:18
‘Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.’ Pro 21:13
‘He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.’ Pro 28:19
‘But your iniquities have separated between you and — your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.’ Isa 59:2
‘Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?’
Ezek 14:3
‘But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.’ Mk 11:26
3: 8-12 PRINCIPLES OF GODLY LIVING
[8-12] In these verse Peter gives a general exhortation as to how Christians ought to behave towards one another. Verse 8 contains five adjectives advocating the following characteristics:
1) UNITY
2) SYMPATHY
3) BROTHERLY LOVE
4) COMPASSION
5 HUMILITY
Verse 9 emphasizes that Christians should not retaliate but return good for evil. They should have this attitude towards each other and also towards their persecutors outside the church. If they do this they will ‘inherit a blessing’ in a metaphorical sense, for a literal example see Heb 12:17. The thought is similar to that in Mt 5:38-48; Rom 12:14, 17; 1 Cor 4:12; and 1 Thess 5;15.
In verses 10-12 Peter encourages the Christians by quoting from Psalm 34, which he has already cited in 2:3. Here the quotation confirms that the Lord blesses those who do good. The quotation ends with the words: ‘For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.’ God will deal with the wicked, the Christian’s responsibility is to react to opposition and abuse by seeking and pursuing peace. This leads Peter to once again take up the topic of suffering already mentioned in 1:6; 2:19–24 and 3:9.
1 PETER 3:18-22 THE SPIRITS IN PRISON
1 PETER 4:1-6 THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THE DEAD
1 PETER 4:7-19 LIVING WITH ‘THE END’ IN VIEW
Written Exposition 
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