Study of First Peter              Lesson 42

Chapter 3

Intro:

Peter now returns to the theme of Christian submission as it is applied to the marriage relationship, the most intimate and restricted human relationship.

It involves one of the most fundamental aspects of the Christian life. In addressing wives and husbands, Peter does not stress the rights of each partner, which is the popular thrust today  but the duties that are to be discharged in their relationship with each other.

 

The social status of the wife in the Roman provinces that Peter addressed often left much to be desired, when the wife accepted a new "religion" different from her husband, that action generally produced acute problems for her.

Peter's primary concern was not to improve the social status of wives, but to offer the believing wife a strategy that would enable her to avoid violence, disarm the opposition of her unbelieving husband, and lead him to Christ.

 

 

 

3:1  In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands

This first phrase  In the same way  ties this passage back to 2:13 and 2:18; same principles here as there.

 

Peter addresses different categories of people: first, the readers (2:13), then the slaves (workers) (2:18), next the wives (3:1), afterward the husbands (3:7), and last 'all of you. (3:8) 

 

What's the point?  "The principle of Christian submission to Gods will relates to every class and every situation."

 

 

Both are to submit from the same motivation: the mastery of their lives by the redemptive love of Christ their Lord.

 

Therefore there is a Christ centered purpose in all of these exhortations.   

If we fail in authority orientation at any of these categories and here within the marriage relationship we will be failing in living the Christian life, as we saw in 2:24 living righteously, that is honoring God.

 

Here he addresses the wives!

you wives, be submissive to your own husbands 

 

- Peter doesn't qualify this imperative with conditions just states the principle.

 

Observations on the use of hupotasso in the New Testament

1. Paul uses it several ways, to indicate submission to those who are worthy of respect because of personal virtue or position held.

2. It is used in a few contexts where it speaks of an enforced submission; many are like Eph 1:22  [which speaks of Christ's supreme rule;]

3. Luke uses it of the demons being subject to the disciples in Christ's name; Lk 10:17; 20

4. Most of the passages do not speak of enforced submission but of a voluntary submission;  esp. when used in the middle voice;  and it speaks of one who chooses to subject or subordinate themselves to someone;

5. A good example that it implies a responsive obedience;  voluntary submission, Jas 4:7.

6. In many passages it is a recognition of God's order therefore His will.

7. One thing that we must remember is that authority and order never indicates that the one submitting, or who is under authority is in any way inferior.  [Where the feminists have gone off the reservation.]

- its really a matter of administration and does not imply inferiority

8. Too often today it seems, the idea is that to be under the authority of someone is to somehow be inferior!  Not So!!

9. What it simply means is that God has established order!

 

 

10. For any man who thinks that the authority he has as head of the home, bonifide, is to be dictatorial, that it gives him the right to get his way all the time; is out in left field Biblically.

 

     11. Sample passages for u`pota,ssw indicating the voluntary submission:

a. Of Christ, as a child; willingly submitted to parental authority that was appropriate for Him as a child;  Lk 2:51

 

b. of governing authorities  Rom 13:1; 1 Pet 2:13

 

c. true even of harsh leaders/bosses;  1 Pet 2:18;  Titus 2:9

 

d. of the wife;  1 Pet 3:1;  Eph. 5:21; Col 3:18; 

 

We might ask Why are we to be submissive, to have respect for authority?  Back in 2:13 Peter gave us a clue.

 

Peter next directs this submission to your own husbands

- underlines the private and unique relationship established by the marriage tie. The closeness and exclusiveness of her relation to her husband should motivate the wife's submission.

 

Points of truth:

Submission to authority is often consistent with equality in importance, dignity, and honor - Jesus was subject both to his parents and to God the Father.

 

Wherever the love of Christ holds sway in the lives of both husband and wife her submission to her husband will be an occasion of deep joy, not one of grief and groaning.  

 

Next the purpose clause which tells us why this submission is important

There is a saving impact of the wife's submission

so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word

 

This is followed up by the method to be used:

by the behavior of their wives,   3:2  as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

 

"If" (kai ei), "if also," shows that not all Christian wives face that distressing situation but the conditional construction indicates that many of them do.

 

any of them are disobedient to the word, 

- Present active indicative  avpeiqe,w  which is a very strong word

- to be unpersuaded, to continue to refuse to believe the gospel, it portrays those who deliberately and persistently set themselves against the claims of the gospel.  

 

The objective: they may be won 

 

Peter's word order, "they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives,"  indicates that the wife's behavior may be an effective evangelistic means to bring the unbelieving husband to Christ.