1st Peter 3:1-12 Class #6

Peter continues to describe the duties of Christians living as sojourners and pilgrims in this world. He counsels wives to be submissive to their husbands and to focus their adornment on the development of a meek and quiet spirit, like the holy women in the past who trusted in God (such as Sarah). For those whose husbands are not believers, their chaste and respectful conduct may influence them to respond to the gospel. Husbands are then instructed to live with their wives in an understanding way, honoring them as the weaker vessel and as fellow heirs of the grace of life. Such treatment would ensure that their prayers were not hindered (1-7).

1 Peter 3:1–7 ESV

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

2) What are wives told to be in regards to their husbands? Why? (1)

- Submissive; to convert those husbands who are not yet Christians

How would you define being submissive? What submissive, is not?

Walter Wiegand - The most signicant part is the word/phrase "Likewise" KJV ESV and "In the same way" NASB. Citizens to their government, slaves to masters, wives to husband, husbands to Christ, Christ to God's perfect will. We are all ultimately in submission to Christ. Therefore, it really should not be dicult to understand how to live in submission and with someone together in submission. Submission is not done because someone is smarter/wiser; many times a slave was more educated than the master and tasked with teaching the master's children. The word used here for submission is like that found in a military setting, soldiers submitting to their superiors, the idea of giving up one's own right or will, to establish order rather than chaos. To submit is the voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden (in a plural sense).

Emily Wiegand - Submission is respect which comes from love. It is to put my husband’s needs and desires above my own as long as these are consistent with God’s will and to do this joyfully and willingly without grumbling.

Submission is not putting my husband’s will before the will of God. It is also not agreeing on everything. If my husband were to say our household will worship a different God to submit to this would be wrong.

Mary Love - Yielding to the judgment or choice of another, even if I have a different opinion. It’s not about having rule over another. Submission is also something you do because of your love and respect for God

Cindy Taylor - Having a general respect for our husband's position in the household. Allowing your husband to lead and being a supportive wife. This does not mean that you are to be controlled or abused by your husband. We are not doormats. 😊

Tony Padgettt - Submission must always be coupled with "in the Lord". We submit to the Word of God in how to treat and love our spouse. Be submissive does not mean, at any time, to submit to anything outside of God's Word.

Bart Woods - Giving into one's need thinking of others more highly than yourself not being selfish in acknowledging what others want and need, not compromising your Christian walk

Tom Procich - Being obedient to another, within the will of God. Submissive is acting upon wishes of another. Not submissive is not doing what one should.

3) What does Peter hope the unbelieving husbands will observe in their wives? (2)

- Their chaste conduct accompanied by fear

4) What should not be the focus of their adornment? (3)

- That which is outward: arranging the hair, wearing gold, their apparel

5) What should be the focus of their adornment (4)

- The hidden person of the heart: the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit

6) What other women so adorned themselves and were submissive to their husbands? (5-6)

- Holy women of God in the past who trusted in God; specifically, Sarah

7) How are husbands to treat their wives? (7)

- With understanding and honor

- As to the weaker vessel

- As heirs together of the grace of life

Chapter 3 OBJECTIVES

2 of 4) To consider the duties that we have to one another as brethren in Christ

Chapter 3 SUMMARY (2 of 4)

Duties toward brethren are then summarized, stressing unity, compassion, love, kindness, and simple courtesy. When mistreated by brethren, the proper response is to extend a blessing, for to such conduct we were called, that we might inherit a blessing. As motivation for such conduct, Peter quotes Psalms 34:12-16 which offers advice to loving life and seeing good days. The key is to turn from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it. Those who do so have the assurance that the Lord watches over them and hears their prayers (8-12).

1 Peter 3:8–12 ESV

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

8) Why should husbands treat their wives so kindly? (7)

- That their prayers not be hindered

What did you learn about the marriage relationship in these verses? How does God’s Word challenge your ideas of marriage?

Tony Padgett - Our focus should on the wellbeing and best interests of the other person - not ourselves. By doing this we reflect the selfless love of God.

Tom Procich - We are a team, not adversaries competing with each other. These have been our guide for years.

Charleszetta Akins - Although it might be hard sometimes,we have to be submissive to our own husband. And have that gentle and quiet spirit which is the way God wants us to be.It can be a challenge for some of us because we like to be in control.

Emily Wiegand - These verses make it clear how much each of our behaviors influence and affect each other. When husbands love their wives as Christ loves the church it is easy for wives to submit to their husbands. Conversely if wives submit and serve their husbands as to the Lord it is easy for husbands to love and respect their wives. (Eph 5) A marriage like this will definitely stand out to the world!

Cindy Taylor - We have to change our perspective on what it means to submit. So often submitting is seen as a negative. In marriage there should be a mutual respect for one another. The husband should honor the wife. The wife should submit to the husband. Think about how harmonious marriage can be when we fulfill these roles.

Mary Love - Your attitude has a great influence in your marriage and on your family, submission is not about the other person it’s about God. Don’t try to be superwoman, let your partner do their part, God expected men to honor his wife and whatever he can to help her, marriage is not a one-man show

9) What duties do we as brethren have to one another? (8)

- To be of one mind

- To have compassion for one another and love as brethren

- To be tenderhearted, courteous

10) How are we to respond when mistreated by brethren? Why? (9)

- With blessing; we were called to so respond, that we may inherit a blessing

11) What proscription is offered for those who would love life and see good days? (10-11)

- Refrain the tongue from evil, the lips from speaking deceit

- Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it

12) What is said of the righteous? Of those who do evil? (12)

- The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers

- The face of the Lord is against those who do evil

What have you learned from this lesson?

Lagenia Padgett - I am challenged by 1 Peter 3:11

And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it. We often are caught up in expressing /proving our point that we are not able to humble ourselves and just seek peace in the current situation.

Mary Love - I understand that Peter is speaking about Christian and how we should behave in our marriage, I remember a comment from a minister, he said wives if you husband is not treating you right you do not have to commit, that comment has always been in the back of my mind. Question is that correct?

Emily Wiegand - That I need to be less selfish in my marriage and actively find ways to serve and submit to my husband, not just at the times when it is convenient. Humbling. Not a new message but deeper applications with every new day.

These verses also make me so thankful to be a member of Gods household and challenged to love my brethren in an increasing way every day.

Tony Padgett - Beauty lies within the inner man. No amount of fancy adornment will disguise an evil heart. Submission is not weakness, but a show of love and respect and glorifying the Lord. Finally, living the life of a Christian will help our prayer life and extend our days.

Cindy Taylor - 1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, This scripture stands out to me because it reinforces the importance of our conduct. It is a reminder to conduct myself in a way that is pleasing to God so that by my actions I may win over my husband who has not yet obeyed the gospel.

Bart Woods - 1st Peter 3, Peter Guided by the Holy Spirit direct mankind to the essence our relationship in marriage not worldly loved appearances from the outside, but that love we get from the spirit of God ,which is worth ghting for but not combating with each other, but motivating and having kindness and encouragement, Peter talks about having one mind, even if we have disagreements we should still be guided by the Holy Spirit, so what have I learned 1st Peter 3 that the eyes of God is over righteousness and that the wrath of God is over ungodliness, I am thanks because I would not have known sin if Yahweh when I have shown me, you know an eye for an eye, all the glory be to God for teaching us the protracted of our Christian walk, thank you brother Berry may God continually the crown your head with knowledge oh, yes the word that cut coming and going so continues to preach the word in season out of season making the weak strong and the strong stronger.

Tom Procich - Our conduct matters, both personally and to those we love.

Walter Wiegand - Our conduct matters, both personally and to those we love.

Charleszetta Akins - I learned that God is not concerned with our outer beauty it's the inner self and unfading beauty that is of great worth in Gods sight.and we wives should submit to our husbands.but also the husbands must be considerate and respect the wife.( just saying)

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