1 Peter 3:1-7: Wives and Husbands

I. Base Text: 1 Peter 3:1-7

II. Understanding the Text
   A. Background
      1. 1 Peter 1: great encouragement based in rebirth through 
         resurrection and hope of salvation; value of salvation; 
         imperatives to holiness, love
      2. 1 Peter 2: sustained by God's message; Christians as Temple, 
         spiritual Israel; honorable conduct before all people; call 
         to suffer for doing right, as Christ has set forth as an 
         example
   B. Wives to Husbands (1 Peter 3:1-2)
      1. Peter begins with "likewise"
         a. Reference refers mostly to 1 Peter 2:20 and discussion 
            following
         b. Endurance of sorrow while suffering unjustly
         c. Christ as example of that for us
         d. Therefore, what follows related to message of unjust 
            suffering from vv. 20ff
      2. Wives subject to own husbands
         a. Peter turns to speak to wives and their relationship to 
            their husbands
         b. Christ the model: suffer even when doing good
         c. cf. Ephesians 5:22-33
      3. The goal: winning husbands to the Word without words
      4. Based in respectful and pure conduct of the wife
   C. Adornment (1 Peter 3:3-6)
      1. Peter then turns to the way that women are to clothe and 
         adorn themselves
      2. Adornment should not be external-- braiding of hair, gold 
         jewelry, fancy clothing
      3. Expectation that adornment internal-- "hidden person" of 
         heart
      4. The imperishable beauty-- gentle and quiet spirit, precious 
         in God's sight
      5. Peter then appeals to past examples-- women who adorned 
         themselves with submission to husbands
      6. Specific example: Sarah in Genesis 18:12 calling Abraham 
         "lord"
      7. Indicates respect, level of subjection
      8. Christian women to be "daughters of Sarah" by doing good, 
         not afraid of earthly frights
   D. Husbands (1 Peter 3:7)
      1. "Likewise" perhaps also refers back to 1 Peter 2:20ff 
         (cf. Ephesians 5:22-33) and/or just indicates a transition 
         from women to men
      2. Expectation of living with women in an understanding way
      3. To demonstrate honor as to a weaker vessel
      4. Note wording: as, not saying that a woman is a weak person
      5. Weaker vessel-- compare plastic or wood or stone to fine 
         china
      6. Women are to be treated with honor and to be prized
      7. Fellow-heirs of life, not worth less or inferior to men
      8. If this is not done, prayers are hindered!
   E. Thus we see exhortations to husbands and wives

III. Applications
   A. Wives and Submission
      1. Peter encourages the same attitude as Paul does in 
         Ephesians 5:23-33
      2. Wives should submit to their husband just as we are subject 
         to Christ
      3. Furthermore, it will be their conduct that will win over 
         their husbands, believers or unbelievers
      4. Easy for wives to encourage, nag, criticize, etc. verbally to
         husbands
      5. Exhortation here to allow conduct to win over husbands, a 
         demonstration of the Christian life!
      6. Expectations set forth in verses 4-6: submission as women's 
         adornment
      7. Calling husband "lord"-- a challenge indeed!
   B. Women and Clothing and Adornment
      1. Question always brought up: can women have braids, jewelry, 
         etc.?
      2. NASB adds "merely" to external in verse 3-- a justified 
         addition
      3. Women expected to wear apparel-- we would not use this verse
         to justify women having no clothing whatsoever!
      4. Peter's point is quite similar to Paul's in 
         1 Timothy 2:9-10-- modesty
      5. Flashy clothing or jewelry or hairstyles not consistent with 
         modesty
      6. Modesty not just a matter of covering certain parts of the 
         body-- it is an attitude
      7. A desire to not stand out or draw attention to yourself
      8. Adornment should be more a matter of attitude and conduct 
         than external objects!
   C. Daughters of Sarah
      1. Women exhorted to be children of Sarah
      2. Not based in biology but based in conduct
      3. Doing good
      4. Not being afraid of terrors
      5. Peter understands natural inclinations and encourages women 
         to overcome them!
   D. Husbands
      1. Men not off the hook in 1 Peter 3!
      2. Paul speaks of loving wife as own body, as Christ does the 
         church (Ephesians 5:22-33)
      3. Peter focuses on attitude and "handling"
      4. Men must recognize that women have different strengths and 
         cannot be treated as "roughly" as men can be treated
      5. True physically indeed, but most certainly also mentally and 
         emotionally
      6. Men must honor women for who they are, recognizing that they 
         have equal standing before God
      7. Otherwise, prayer is hindered-- God will not accept the 
         prayers of the hypocrite!

IV. Conclusion
   A. Peter has turned to address wives and husbands
   B. Expectation that wives will conduct themselves with humility, 
      respect, and gentleness, using their deeds more than words to 
      win over their husbands, adorning themselves more with the 
      proper attitude and actions than external objects
   C. Expectation that husbands will live in an understanding way with
      wives, honor them as fellow-heirs of life
   D. Let us all seek to reflect love, humility, and respect, and 
      serve our Lord!
   E. Invitation/songbook