Having dealt with the Christian’s conduct in relation to manifesting respect and submissive obedience to authorities in the world (I Peter 2:13-25), Peter will now deal with the Christian’s conduct in the family. As stated previously, Peter is addressing this wonderful letter to Jews who had been scattered, who lived in foreign cities, and were under severe persecution. Peter calls these believers “strangers” because they were temporary visitors in a hostile world (I Peter 1:1; 2:11).
This wonderful epistle of Peter offers words of hope, a call to holiness, and an explanation of the role of suffering in Christian experience. Yes, the Jewish believers were suffering severely under the then notorious and infamous Roman Emperor Nero; nevertheless, Peter calls on these believers to exhibit a life of holiness expressed in godly submission to human authorities and in the home. As Christians, we must understand that our conduct is always being examined by those around us, and we must submit to the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our Christian lives as we walk in this dark and dismal world (Galatians 5:16).
As believers, Peter informs us that we are aliens, visitors in a world that we only have temporary residence; however, our eternal home is heaven (Philippians 3:20). The marvelous salvation that we now possess calls upon us to live holy and obedient lives in a world infected and tainted by sin!
I Peter 3:1-7 may be outlined as follows: I. The Conduct of Christian Wives – I Peter 3:1-6; II. The Conduct of Christian Husbands – I Peter 3:7.
I. The Conduct of Christian Wives – I Peter 3:1-6
Peter exhorts Christian women to be in subjection to their husbands and show them honor and respect. A wife is to accept her place in the family under the leadership of her husband who God has placed as the spiritual leader in the home. Wives are to be submissive even if their husbands are unbelievers so that those men might be saved by the conduct or behavior of their lives. Because their husbands are unsaved, the saved wives were not to nag nor preach to them! However, they were to live such devoted lives that their husbands would be won “without a word,” that is, apart from talking. Unsaved loved ones watch how we deport ourselves; if our lives point to Christ, they may be drawn to Him!
In verses 2-4, the Christian wife’s behavior must be pure (chaste) and her emphasis must be on the inner person rather than the outward adorning. The wife who wins the unsaved husband will possess a loveliness that comes not from outward adornment, but from her inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. This adornment of the spirit is of great worth in God’s sight. Whereas the world prizes costly clothing and gold jewelry, a Christian woman with inner beauty of spirit is of unusual value to God!
In verses 5-6, Peter cited Sarah as one of the examples of holy women in the Old Testament who was submissive. Sarah was submissive to Abraham, calling him her master. She recognized Abraham as the spiritual leader of their household (Genesis 18:12). You see, submissive women become daughters of Sarah when they submit as she did to Abraham! (Genesis 18:12).
Having observed “The Conduct of Christian Wives” – I Peter 3:1-6, let us now observe “The Conduct of Christian Husbands” – I Peter 3:7.
II. The Conduct of Christian Husbands – I Peter 3:7
Christian husbands are exhorted to be considerate to their wives and render respect unto them as the weaker partner. The word “weaker” refers to the physical and not to wives being inferior. The Christian women are fellow heirs of the grace of life (“salvation”) as the Christian husbands.
In closing, the grand Apostle Paul enjoins the Christian husbands to love our wives, for Ephesians 5:25 says: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” Yes, Christ died and gave Himself for the church, but the Resurrected and Ascended Christ is coming back for us. He will consummate the great work of salvation He started in us, for Philippians 1:6 says: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
