1 Peter 3:1

3:1-7 The wife must discharge her duty to her own husband, though he obey not the word. We daily see how narrowly evil men watch the ways and lives of professors of religion. Putting on of apparel is not forbidden, but vanity and costliness in ornament. Religious people should take care that all their behaviour answers to their profession. But how few know the right measure and bounds of those two necessaries of life, food and raiment! Unless poverty is our carver, and cuts us short, there is scarcely any one who does not desire something beyond what is good for us. Far more are beholden to the lowliness of their state, than the lowliness of their mind; and many will not be so bounded, but lavish their time and money upon trifles. The apostle directs Christian females to put on something not corruptible, that beautifies the soul, even the graces of God's Holy Spirit. A true Christian's chief care lies in right ordering his own spirit. This will do more to fix the affections, and excite the esteem of a husband, than studied ornaments or fashionable apparel, attended by a froward and quarrelsome temper. Christians ought to do their duty to one another, from a willing mind, and in obedience to the command of God. Wives should be subject to their husbands, not from dread and amazement, but from desire to do well, and please God. The husband's duty to the wife implies giving due respect unto her, and maintaining her authority, protecting her, and placing trust in her.

They are heirs together of all the blessings of this life and that which is to come, and should live peaceably one with another. Prayer sweetens their converse. And it is not enough that they pray with the family, but husband and wife together by themselves, and with their children. Those who are acquainted with prayer, find such unspeakable sweetness in it, that they will not be hindered therein. That you may pray much, live holily; and that you may live holily, be much in prayer.

Likewise, {1} ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; {2} that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (1) In the third place he sets forth the wives' duties to their husbands, commanding them to be obedient. (2) He speaks namely of those who had husbands who were not Christians, who ought so much the more be subject to their husbands, that by their honest and chaste conversation, they may win them to the Lord.

1 Peter 3:1-2 . Likewise — As I have exhorted servants to be in subjection to their masters, I in like manner say, Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands — In all things just and lawful; that if any (he speaks tenderly) obey not the word — Disbelieve and reject the gospel; they also may, without the word — Though they neglect or reject that means of grace; be won by the conversation — The good behaviour of the wives — That is, be gained over to Christ. “Here St. Peter wisely intimates to the women, that the silent, but powerful persuasion of a becoming behaviour, would be more effectual in winning their unbelieving husbands to embrace the gospel, than many arguments, proposed perhaps with heat, for the purpose of convincing them. For when the husbands found what a happy influence the gospel had in making their wives sweet-tempered and dutiful in every respect, they could not but entertain a good opinion of a religion which produced such excellent effects.” While, with admiration and increasing love, they daily behold your chaste and spotless conversation coupled with fear — With a dutiful, respectful, obliging conduct, and a care not to displease.

Likewise (ὁμοίως) Rev., in like manner; better, because likewise in popular speech has, wrongly, the sense of also. Peter means in like manner with servants (1 Peter 2:18). Be in subjection (ὑποτασσόμεναι) Lit., being in subjection, or submitting yourselves; the same word which is used of the submission of servants (1 Peter 2:18). Be won (κερδηθήσονται) Rev., be gained. The word used by Christ, Matthew 18:15 : "gained thy brother."

1 Peter 3:1 . Ὑποτασσόμενοι , subject ) In the progress of the discourse, by a change of construction which is full of character, the participle is put for the imperative: 1 Peter 3:7-8 .— καὶ εἴ τινες , even if any ) Peter speaks with mildness.— λόγῳ · λόγου , the word: word ) Used in a double sense by the figure[23] Antanaclasis: in the former place, the Gospel is signified; in the latter, discourse . The conversation itself breathes the force of the doctrine.— κερδηθήσωνται ) The future Subjunctive, of rare occurrence. So καυθήσωμαι , 1 Corinthians 13:3 ; ἐμβληθήσηται , Daniel 3:11 ; Daniel 6:7 . It is a more remote future, as in Latin, lucraturus eris, you will be about to gain . [23] ANTANACLASIS. See Append.

1 Peter 3:1-6 . Duty of wives ( Ephesians 5:21-24 ; Colossians 3:18 ; Titus 2:4 )—Submissiveness and true adornment.— τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν , your own husbands , the motive for submissiveness, Ephesians 5:22 ; Titus 2:4 . St. Peter assumes knowledge of the reason alleged by St. Paul (Eph. l.c. ; 1 Corinthians 9:3 ) after Genesis 3:16 , αὐτός σου κυριεύσει .— καὶ εἰ … λόγῳ , even if in some cases your husbands are disobedient to the word ( 1 Peter 2:8 ), i.e. , remain heathens in spite of the preaching of the Gospel. St. Paul found it necessary to impress upon the Corinthian Church that this incompatibility of religion did not justify dissolution of marriage ( 1 Corinthians 12:10 ff.).— ἄνευ λόγου , without word from their wives . Peter deliberately introduces λ . in its ordinary sense immediately after the technical τῷ λ .—an example of what the grammarians call antanaclasis and men a pun. In his provision for the present and future welfare of the heathen husbands whose wives come under his jurisdiction he echoes the natural aspiration of Jews and Greeks; so Ben Sira said, a silent woman is a gift of the Lord … a loud crying woman and a scold shall be sought out to drive away enemies ( Sir 26:14 ; Sir 26:27 ) and Sophocles, Silence is the proper ornament ( κόσμος ) for women (Ajax 293). St.

Paul forbids women to preach or even ask questions at church meeting ( 1 Corinthians 14:34 : at Corinth they had been used to prophesy and pray).— ἵνα … κερδηθήσονται , be won, cf. ἵνα κερδήσω in 1 Corinthians 9:20 ff. = ἵνα … σώσω , 1 Corinthians 9:22 , ( cf. 1 Corinthians 7:16 .).

CHAPTER 3 1Pe 3:1-22. Relative Duties of Husbands and Wives: Exhortations to Love and Forbearance: Right Conduct under Persecutions for Righteousness' Sake, after Christ's Example, Whose Death Resulted in Quickening to Us through His Being Quickened Again, of Which Baptism Is the Sacramental Seal. 1. Likewise—Greek, "In like manner," as "servants" in their sphere; compare the reason of the woman's subjection, 1Co 11:8-10; 1Ti 2:11-14. your own—enforcing the obligation: it is not strangers ye are required to be subject to. Every time that obedience is enjoined upon women to their husbands, the Greek, "idios," "one's own peculiarly," is used, while the wives of men are designated only by heauton, "of themselves." Feeling the need of leaning on one stronger than herself, the wife (especially if joined to an unbeliever) might be tempted, though only spiritually, to enter into that relation with another in which she ought to stand to "her own spouse (1Co 14:34, 35, "Let them ask their own [idious] husbands at home"); an attachment to the person of the teacher might thus spring up, which, without being in the common sense spiritual adultery, would still weaken in its spiritual basis the married relation [Steiger]. that, if—Greek, "that even if." Even if you have a husband that obeys not the word (that is, is an unbeliever). without the word—independently of hearing the word preached, the usual way of faith coming.

But Bengel, "without word," that is, without direct Gospel discourse of the wives, "they may (literally, in oldest manuscripts, 'shall,' which marks the almost objective certainty of the result) be won" indirectly. "Unspoken acting is more powerful than unperformed speaking" [ŒCUMENIUS]. "A soul converted is gained to itself, to the pastor, wife, or husband, who sought it, and to Jesus Christ; added to His treasury who thought not His own precious blood too dear to lay out for this gain" [Leighton]. "The discreet wife would choose first of all to persuade her husband to share with her in the things which lead to blessedness; but if this be impossible, let her then alone diligently press after virtue, in all things obeying him so as to do nothing at any time against his will, except in such things as are essential to virtue and salvation" [Clement of Alexandria].1 Peter 3:1-7 The apostle teacheth the duty of wives and husbands,1 Peter 3:8-13 exhorting all men to unity and love, and to return goodfor evil,1 Peter 3:14-18 to suffer boldly for righteousness’ sake, and to givea reason of their hope with meekness and fear;taking especial care to suffer, as Christ did, forwell-doing, and not for evil-doing.1 Peter 3:19,20 The preaching of Christ by his Spirit to the old world.1 Peter 3:21,22 After what manner Christian baptism saveth us.To your own husbands; this he adds both to mitigate the difficulty of the duty, subjection, in that they were their own husbands to whom they were t