1 Peter 3:5

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.

1 Peter 3:5-6 . For after this manner — Namely, with inward holiness and outward plainness; in old time — In the patriarchal ages; the holy women who trusted in God — And therefore did not act thus from servile fear, but from true piety, and are consequently worthy to be imitated; adorned themselves — Their adorning, according to St. Peter here, was, 1st, Their meek subjection to their husbands; 2d, Their quiet spirit, not afraid or amazed; and, 3d, Their unblameable behaviour, doing all things well. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham — See Genesis 12:5 ; Genesis 18:6 ; calling him lord — In token of her subjection; for the ancients, by giving titles of respect to their superiors, acknowledged their own inferiority. Therefore, by mentioning the reverence with which Sarah spake of Abraham, the apostle intimates that she entertained the highest respect for him, and a just sense of her own subjection to him. Sarah was considered by the Jewish women as an illustrious pattern of a dutiful wife; whose daughters — Or children, in a spiritual, as well as natural sense; ye are — Or show yourselves to be, and that ye are entitled to the same inheritance; as long as ye do well — Discharge all your conjugal duties conscientiously. Sarah being constituted by God the mother of all believers, ( Galatians 4:26 ,) even as Abraham was made their father, the believing women of Pontus, by imitating Sarah’s virtues, became her children, though not descended from her.

And are not afraid with any amazement — So terrified with the apprehension of any danger or prejudice that may arise to you on account of your piety, as to be discouraged from your duty, or induced, through fear of displeasing your husbands, to do actions contrary to your religion. For, while the apostle enjoined wives to be in subjection to their husbands, he cautioned them against committing sin, especially the sin of idolatry, either from a desire to please their husbands, or from a fear of offending them.

1 Peter 3:5 . Αι ἅγιαι γυναῖκες , the holy women ) most worthy of imitation.— αἱ ἐλπίζουσαι , who hoped ) Hope in God is true holiness. This epithet is a part of the subject.— ὑποτασσόμεναι , being in subjection ) The adorning of the matrons in the old time is explained by the words, being in subjection (of which subjection Sara is an example), doing well, and not fearing , etc.

1 Peter 3:5 . ποτε refers vaguely to O.T. history as part of αἱ … θεόν . References to the holy women of the O.T. are rare in N.T. and this appeal to their example illustrates the affinity of Peter to Heb. ( Hebrews 11:11 ; Hebrews 11:35 ). Hannah is the obviously appropriate type ( cf. Luke 1 with 2 Samuel 1 f.); but Peter is thinking of the traditional idealisation of Sarah.

5. after this manner—with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit (compare the portrait of the godly wife, Pr 31:10-31). trusted—Greek, "hoped." "Holy" is explained by "hoped in (so as to be 'united to,' Greek) God." Hope in God is the spring of true holiness [Bengel]. in subjection—Their ornament consisted in their subordination. Vanity was forbidden (1Pe 3:3) as being contrary to female subjection.

5 . For after this manner in the old time ] It is obvious from the special instance given in the next verse that the Apostle has in his mind exclusively the saintly wives and mothers of the Old Testament. The names of Penelope, Andromache, Alcestis, which are familiar to us as patterns of wifely excellence, were not likely to have come within the horizon of his knowledge. who trusted in God ] More accurately, who hoped in God . It may be noted that the same inadequate rendering is found in the Authorized Version of Romans 15:12 , and Philem. 1 Peter 3:22 . The idea of “trust” is, of course, not far removed from that of “hope,” but the variation of rendering was a needless one, and ought therefore to have been avoided. being in subjection unto their own husbands ] The repetition of the same verb as that used in 1 Peter 3:1 and ch. 1 Peter 2:13 , should, be noticed as reproducing what might almost be called the key-note of the Epistle. It occurs again in ch. 1 Peter 3:22 , 1 Peter 5:5 .

Verse 5. - For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God; rather, who hoped in God ( εἰς Θεόν ); whose hope was set toward God and rested in God. Bengel says," Vera sanctitas, spes in Deum." St. Peter is the apostle of hope. Adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. The apostle bids Christian women to consider the example of the saintly women of the Old Testament. With their hope resting upon God, they could not care for finery and costly jewels. They adorned themselves with the more costly ornament of a meek and quiet spirit: they showed their meekness by living in subjection to their husbands. Submission to authority is the key-note of this part of the Epistle. 1 Peter 3:5