trusting, submitting 4 (1 Peter 3:1-12)

1 Peter 3:1-12


Peter nows applies this principle of submission, which Jesus modeled for us and by which he saved and healed us, to wives and husbands.

"Likewise, wives be subject to your own husbands..." (3:1)

and

"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman..." (3:7)

His point is not, women, let your husbands beat you (!) and so you will be like Jesus. He never goes anywhere near there, though he could have. But he applies the principle, first and foremost, to winning over your unbelieving husband; don't seek to win him over by using your mouth in a disrespectful way. Be like Jesus, rather, in whose mouth no deceit was found (2:22), neither did he revile in return, nor did he threaten (2:23).

Women do tend to run circles, in general, around their men verbally in ways that can be threatening and disrespectful. The timeless principle regarding a woman's adornment is to make beautiful and pure one's heart with the "imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" (3:4). This begins with truly submitting to God, entrusting oneself to him who judges justly, and not trusting in force, intimidation, or threatening words to change someone.

Peter's reference to Sarah is very interesting. She was anything but a doormat! She is portrayed in Genesis as a strong woman, as a "force equal" to Abraham, or a "power corresponding" to him, which Dwight Pryor argues are better ways of translating the KJV "helpmate" of Genesis 2:18. But here he points out that she did submit to him and honored him.

In "The Politics of Jesus," John Howard Yoder takes one chapter to discuss the "household" laws of Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, and 1 Peter 3. One of his important points is that there was something empowering in the gospel message that caused women to break accepted cultural practice of submission and inequality of women. Why else would Paul or Peter even tell women to submit? There was no need to. For example, Jesus never addresses homosexuality in his ministry because it was a given in Jewish culture - you don't act that way. So with submission, it hardly needed to be brought up, unless there was something new in the equation.

Beautifully, he turns to men and says both "Likewise, husbands" and "live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman..." Men are also commanded to submit to their wives, to not relate out of force, intimidation, or threatening, but with understanding and honor - that is, taking a lower place (!). One can neither understand nor honor without in some sense "standing under" the other. Grace is equally available to both husbands and wives, if and as they follow in Jesus' steps (v. 21).

In verse 8 he writes
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called that you may receive a blessing."

In the family, in the fellowship, in the world, in all things - this is the way of life, the way to life, and the way of blessing.