1Pe 3:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Pet 3:1-7: 3:1-7 The last of Peter’s three exhortations about accepting authority (2:13–3:7 ) concerns wives and husbands (cp. Eph 5:21-33 ; Col 3:18-19 ). 3:1 accept the authority of (literally submit to ): Wives are instructed to acknowledge that God has appointed the husband as head of the relationship (see 2:13 ; Eph 5:22-25 ). Submission in the ancient world took the form of obedience (see 1 Pet 3:6 ). God also intends the husband to be a loving and respectful head (3:7 ; see Eph 5:25-30 ). However, Peter focuses especially on wives with pagan husbands who would potentially be hostile toward their wives’ faith. • without any words: Peter urges Christian wives to evangelize their husbands through their submissive and appropriate behavior.

Summary for 1Pet 3:1-7: 3:1-7 ^a The last of Peter’s three exhortations about accepting authority (2:13–3:7 ^b) concerns wives and husbands (cp. Eph 5:21-33 ^c; Col 3:18-19 ^d). 3:1 ^e accept the authority of (literally submit to): Wives are instructed to acknowledge that God has appointed the husband as head of the relationship (see 2:13 ^f; Eph 5:22-25 ^g). Submission in the ancient world took the form of obedience (see 1 Pet 3:6 ^h). God also intends the husband to be a loving and respectful head (3:7 ⁱ; see Eph 5:25-30 ^j). However, Peter focuses especially on wives with pagan husbands who would potentially be hostile toward their wives’ faith.

• without any words: Peter urges Christian wives to evangelize their husbands through their submissive and appropriate behavior.
Summary for 1Pet 3:3-4: 3:3-4 ^k fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes: Peter has sometimes been interpreted as if he condemns any form of female ornamentation, but this is not his purpose. Instead, he insists that Christian women should not be noticed for the beauty of clothing and jewels but for the interior beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. See also 1 Tim 2:9-10 ^l.
3:6 ^m and called him her master: See Gen 18:12 ⁿ. Peter views this address as indicative of Sarah’s overall attitude toward Abraham.

• without fear of what your husbands might do: Christian wives married to unbelievers frequently found themselves pressured, both subtly and overtly, to abandon Christian principles and values. Peter urges them to continue to do what is right.
3:7 ^o In the same way: Like slaves and wives (2:18–3:6 ^p), husbands also have a particular responsibility within the household.

• She may be weaker than you are: Peter was probably thinking of the woman’s physical strength and perhaps her social status. Since women are typically physically weaker than men and were often less able to assert themselves in that society, the husband had the duty of protecting and caring for his wife.

• your equal partner in God’s gift of new life: The husband’s headship is balanced and informed by the equal status that men and women have before God (see also Gal 3:26-29 ^q).

• The prayers of a husband are hindered if he does not give exceptional honor to his wife (cp. Jas 4:3 ^r).