Study of First Peter              Lesson 44

Chapter 3

 

3:3-4 Your face and overt charm won't win Him to the Lord but the adornment of the real you will!

 

Peter knew that it was not the external adornment that was the most important but what was internal, what is going on in the soul, the influence of the Word in her being lived out.  That's his focus here.

 

As Christian wives who seek to impact their unbelieving pagan husbands they need to use the right kind of adornment. Which is Peter's point!

 

Peter's concern is to impress upon them that their outward attractiveness should not serve as the basis for an evaluation of their true character.

 

If your pattern ladies is to rely on the overt external to gain your way, or some advantage,  What are you going to do when the overt, external fades with age?  And it will!   

Point of Truth

It's the inner beauty radiating from the life enveloped with the Word and living it out that lasts!

 

 

Next follows three clauses that elaborate the kind of adorning Peter had in view that was common of the day.

braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry or putting on dresses;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3:3 Do not let your adornment be external only braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, and putting on fine clothes.  (NIV has it right here)

 

Summary Observations

1. Peter's point is that for Christian women to rely on this kind of external adornment would suggest preoccupation with the superficial over against the inner beauty of the soul that is plus doctrine that he emphasizes in vs:4.

2. It goes without saying that Peter in this passage is not encouraging slovenliness or an indifference toward female attire.

3. Point I believe we need to understand is that anyone with an understanding of the Word of God there will be an impact on their grooming, especially the women.

 

4. This passage does not constitute an absolute prohibition of braids or the use of any items of jewelry any more than it forbids the actual putting on of clothes.

5. It is a warning against extravagance and self-centered display. It is possible to be guilty of the evil Peter rebuked by wearing too little as well as wearing too much. 

6. Paul also deals with women's attire in 1 Tim 2:9-10.

 

Quick Rabbit trail  -  1 Tim 2:9-10

 

vs:9 Likewise, (in the same manner, that is as the men just mentioned in vs:8 who are to lift up holy hands, a Hebraism for prayer)

- holy  o[sioj  undefiled, what's in view is that they are to be morally and spiritually clean as they approach the throne of grace in prayer;

- What Paul is saying here in vs:9 as he addresses the women "I want" (from vs:8) you women when you pray they were to be morally and spiritually clean but also

 

to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly,

- proper clothing   perfectly coordinated, orderly  ko,smioj  adj

your clothing should compliment you and be coordinated

- modestly  with propriety   meta,  aivdw,j   dress for the occasion

- discreetly, good judgment  swfrosu,nh  thinking clearly; good common sense; therefore with good judgment

 

Then Paul adds some characteristics that need to be evaluated to fit the criteria just last out.

with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 

 

 

 

2:10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper (suitable)  (to profess or make a claim) to godliness (being in fellowship and advancing as a believer).

 

7. Neither passage (1 Pet 3 or 1 Tim 2) is opposed to good grooming and appearance but are saying that the overt charm is not as important as the inner beauty from doctrine applied.

 

8. The finest of appearance and clothing are ruined by the soul minus doctrine and under the influence of evil.

 

9. The soul enveloped by MAS of pride, arrogance, envy, jealousy, hatred, bitterness is an ugly soul and no manner of dress or jewelry will disguise it.

 

10. Isaiah warned the women of his day against beauty arrogance and made the point that when the overt became more important than the inner beauty from doctrine the judgment of the nation is near.  Isa 3:16-26

 

11. (B.L.)  For the Christian wife to simply rely on external gaudy, immodest adornment, like the world uses, would give her unbelieving husband a wrong impression of her and would frustrate her spiritual purpose to win him to Christ.

 

3:4  Emphasizes the inner spiritual character 

 

"But" (alla), the strong adversative conjunction, indicates the true adornment that Christian wives should rely on to win their unsaved husbands as opposed to the overt external just emphasized in vs:3.

 

Their true adornment Peter says is "the hidden person of the heart."

 

What's in view here?  What's Peter referring to with this hidden person of the heart? 

1. The regenerated new person that is in union with Christ and raised to walk in newness of that new life.

2. That God the Holy Spirit is in rulership, empowering the life.

3. That the individual has a frame of reference of truth resident in the inner person, the soul available for application.

The characteristics of the inner person that are important here:

with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

 

The expression "the imperishable quality"   (o` a;fqartoj)   designates a quality of not being subject to corruption;

- this refers to the inner beauty that flows from the Word that doesn't perish or decay

 

a gentle and quiet spirit  adds some more imperishable characteristics

 

- being humble, gentile in the true sense is not a sign of weakness as viewed by the human viewpoint but of strength (strength/power - under control)  which is only a reality with the application of truth.

 

quiet spirit   quiet is  h`su,cioj  and it refers to tranquility that arises from within, from the spiritual moxy that one has.

 

Spirit refers to what is most often today referred to as temperament or disposition i.e the readout others gain in dealing with her.

 

Some Observations:

1. The first adjective "gentle" (prau<j) emphasizes her bearing as gentle, considerate, and unassuming in its relations to others.  She will not he pushy, nor selfishly assertive.

2. The second adjective, "quiet" (h`su,cioj), is more general in scope. It pictures a quiet disposition as contrasted to a noisy, boisterous attitude.

3. It is  a spirit which calmly bears the disturbances created by others and which itself does not create disturbances. 

 

4. There is nothing distinctly feminine about a 'humble and quiet spirit.  It is never a virtue intended for women alone, but for believers.

 

5. The point here is that by its very nature, such a life exhibiting these characteristics will challenge and convict the unbelieving husband.

 

which is precious in the sight of God.

- this should give comforting assurance to the tested wives.