1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if
some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of
their wives, 2
when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let
your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or
putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden
person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet
spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this
manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned
themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah
obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and
are not afraid with any terror.
Commentary
Following up from his exhortation that commanded servants submit themselves to their masters (and by implication we as believers submit ourselves to every lawful ordinance and authority), the Apostle Peter now moves into the realm of the home. He begins by addressing believing wives, reminding them that it is their responsibility to submit themselves to their husbands, believer and unbeliever alike. So "that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear." vs. 1-2
Here the Apostle Peter's exhortation is given for the sake of the unbelieving husband that he may be won for Christ. Not by a nattering wife telling him all that he is doing wrong according to the Gospel, but rather by his observing all that she is doing right in obeying Christ, so he may be won by observing her chaste conduct with fear. The fear mentioned here is not a fear of her husband, but rather a holy reverent fear of the Lord; which is commanded of us all; as she seeks to keep the commandment. Thus a "silent witness" with good behavior is a far more effective that a verbal one with none at all. Now the word translated chaste maybe a bit ambiguous to some as to its meaning, here it means purity of life and or blamelessness of person, and indicates to be "without moral fault or defect" (LN), and or "moral purity and sincerity" (TDNT). In the Bible it is often linked to virginity. Thus her chaste conduct is to be living pure, holy, Godly etc. and thus without fault, or being innocent of violating the Apostles' commandment. For that's the attire that the Lord Jesus Christ wants from her and has given as a commandment through His Apostle for us all (vs 1-2). That being said the Apostle Peter in verse three then moves onto outward adornment. An area of life that woman put much time and effort into, yet is not the primary thing that matters to Christ, for it reveals nothing about the person's character or nature, and thus it is not to weigh in on our opinions of others either. Therefore though outward adornment is often a women's focus. The Apostle Peter here seeks to redirect that misguided emphasis from merely the external, i.e. "arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel" (vs. 3). To what really matters, and that is what she is adorned with on the inside? Though she may be adorned in all manner of outward beauty and opulence is she only a raucous, disagreeable, and or unteachable person who must always have her way (consider Prov 9:13-18; 27:15). Or is she as the Apostle Peter commends here a person whose beauty is primarily emanating from inside her (consider Prov 31:30). Who as as Peter commands here puts on the cherished and highly desirable beauty of a quite and meek spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God (vs. 4). "5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror."
And so the Apostle Peter in commanding believing wives to be submissive to their husbands and to adorn themselves with a gentle and quite spirit, gives us Sara, Abraham's wife as a model of true excellence in Godliness. And again though beautiful to behold on the outside, Sara was far deeper a person than just that. She was a women whose first focus was living right in the sight of God. And this she did by submitting herself to her husband "calling him lord" whose daughters all believing women are if they chose to follow her reverent and Godly example. Now unless you misunderstand and think this a means by which men can find a cause to dominate their wives think again. For the Apostle Peter will address the husbands duties and responsibilities towards his wife in the next section. For a marriage is a union of two unique individuals; requiring both to fulfill their unique part in the relationship for it to function well.
Word Studies
Chaste: (Str 53; GK 53; LN 88.28; TDNT 1.122; TDNTA 19); (2 Cor 7:11; 11:2; Phil 4:8; 1 Tim 5:22; Titus 2:5; James 3:17; 1 Peter 3:2; 1 John 3:3) 8x
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Note: this is a draft version sections may be changed or deleted when edited.
Commentary
Following up from his exhortation that commanded servants submit themselves to their masters (and by implication we as believers submit ourselves to every lawful ordinance and authority), the Apostle Peter now moves into the realm of the home. He begins by addressing believing wives, reminding them that it is their responsibility to submit themselves to their husbands, believer and unbeliever alike. So "that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear." vs. 1-2
Here the Apostle Peter's exhortation is given for the sake of the unbelieving husband that he may be won for Christ. Not by a nattering wife telling him all that he is doing wrong according to the Gospel, but rather by his observing all that she is doing right in obeying Christ, so he may be won by observing her chaste conduct with fear. The fear mentioned here is not a fear of her husband, but rather a holy reverent fear of the Lord; which is commanded of us all; as she seeks to keep the commandment. Thus a "silent witness" with good behavior is a far more effective that a verbal one with none at all. Now the word translated chaste maybe a bit ambiguous to some as to its meaning, here it means purity of life and or blamelessness of person, and indicates to be "without moral fault or defect" (LN), and or "moral purity and sincerity" (TDNT). In the Bible it is often linked to virginity. Thus her chaste conduct is to be living pure, holy, Godly etc. and thus without fault, or being innocent of violating the Apostles' commandment. For that's the attire that the Lord Jesus Christ wants from her and has given as a commandment through His Apostle for us all (vs 1-2). That being said the Apostle Peter in verse three then moves onto outward adornment. An area of life that woman put much time and effort into, yet is not the primary thing that matters to Christ, for it reveals nothing about the person's character or nature, and thus it is not to weigh in on our opinions of others either. Therefore though outward adornment is often a women's focus. The Apostle Peter here seeks to redirect that misguided emphasis from merely the external, i.e. "arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel" (vs. 3). To what really matters, and that is what she is adorned with on the inside? Though she may be adorned in all manner of outward beauty and opulence is she only a raucous, disagreeable, and or unteachable person who must always have her way (consider Prov 9:13-18; 27:15). Or is she as the Apostle Peter commends here a person whose beauty is primarily emanating from inside her (consider Prov 31:30). Who as as Peter commands here puts on the cherished and highly desirable beauty of a quite and meek spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God (vs. 4). "5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror."
And so the Apostle Peter in commanding believing wives to be submissive to their husbands and to adorn themselves with a gentle and quite spirit, gives us Sara, Abraham's wife as a model of true excellence in Godliness. And again though beautiful to behold on the outside, Sara was far deeper a person than just that. She was a women whose first focus was living right in the sight of God. And this she did by submitting herself to her husband "calling him lord" whose daughters all believing women are if they chose to follow her reverent and Godly example. Now unless you misunderstand and think this a means by which men can find a cause to dominate their wives think again. For the Apostle Peter will address the husbands duties and responsibilities towards his wife in the next section. For a marriage is a union of two unique individuals; requiring both to fulfill their unique part in the relationship for it to function well.
Word Studies
Chaste: (Str 53; GK 53; LN 88.28; TDNT 1.122; TDNTA 19); (2 Cor 7:11; 11:2; Phil 4:8; 1 Tim 5:22; Titus 2:5; James 3:17; 1 Peter 3:2; 1 John 3:3) 8x
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Note: this is a draft version sections may be changed or deleted when edited.
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