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
Peter
addresses different categories of people: first, the readers (
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
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
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
b. of governing authorities Rom 13:1; 1 Pet
c. true even of harsh
leaders/bosses; 1 Pet
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
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.