EXPLORE THE TEXT
Wives are to submit to their husbands and live pure and reverent lives.
1 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands
so that, even if some disobey the word,
they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live
2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives.3 Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes,
4 but rather what is inside the heart-the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God’s sight.
5 For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands,
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.
You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.
Peter offered examples of the “pure, reverent lives” he encouraged in verse 2.
Primarily, he drew a contrast between wives who emphasized external appearance and those who focused on internal character.
Of course, Peter was not criticizing hair styles or jewelry, though even secular moralists in the first century encouraged similar modesty.
Instead, he was challenging women to avoid sacrificing their spiritual character at the expense of physical appearance.
Simply put, women should invest in what makes them more like Jesus.
Again, this is not a rule that applies only to females.
All believers are called to nurture their relationship with Jesus.
The key is remembering that God focuses on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7)
and expects His people to do the same.
This perspective leads to a gentle and quiet spirit, which defines a wife following Jesus.
list characteristics of a faithful wife.
The Greek wording (homois) does not suggest that wives submit to husbands as slaves submit to masters or citizens submit to government authorities (see 1 Pet. 2:13-20).
As he had with the earlier examples, Peter was getting ready to share how wives could reflect the glory of Christ.
This is the same root word used in 2:13,16, and 18.
Again, the emphasis is placed on the apparent lack of position or influence.
Common citizens had less power in their relationship with officials of the Empire.
Slaves had less power in a relationship with their masters.
And, in Peter’s day, wives had less power in their relationship with their husbands.
How, then, should a Christian woman relate to her unbelieving husband?
Voluntary submission.
By living out the gospel, women had the chance to see God move their husbands toward a shared faith.
A comprehensive biblical understanding teaches that the submission of wives to husbands reflects the church’s submission to Jesus (Eph. 5:22-24).
Thus, while Peter’s comments should be interpreted within the context of believers in Asia Minor, they also can be applied within the parameters of the entire biblical canon.
Peter contrasted talking with showing.
The apostle recognized an opportunity for the wives of unbelieving husbands to validate their faith through their behavior, an opportunity that living together makes particularly effective.
This is not to say that they should not speak of the gospel, but they needed to place special emphasis on living it out in close proximity with their husbands.
As with every evangelism opportunity believers face, our walk should validate our talk.
explain the rationale behind the wife voluntarily submitting to her husband.
Explain that this approach laid the foundation for the remainder of Peter’s teachings.
reflect on Peter’s use of Sarah’s relationship with Abraham.
Peter also had a word for husbands.
He began his instructions as he did with the wives, “in the same way.”