Eleventh Avenue Church
The following is reprinted with permission
of The Timely Messenger
AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
A Dispensational Approach
I PETER
By: R B. Shiflet
I. THE REALITY OF SALVATION 1:2-21
II. THE REQUIREMENT OF BROTHERLY LOVE 1:22-25
III. THE READINESS FOR WORSHIP 2:1-3
IV. THE "ROYAL PRIESTHOOD" AND THE BODY OF CHRIST 2:4-10
V. THE REMINDER TO LIVE HOLY LIVES 2:11-12
VI. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO AUTHORITIES 2:13-17
VIII. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WIVES AND HUSBANDS 3:1-17
A. Instructions to Wives 3:1-6
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey
not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the
wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose
adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man
of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this
manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves,
being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling
him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with
any amazement."
These words addressed to the believing Jews of the Dispersion by Peter in
keeping with his commission to the Circumcision (Galatians 2:9) closely parallel
the teaching of the Apostle Paul to the Body of Christ I Ephesians 5:21-33. We
see:
1. An Exhortation 3:1
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands."
This is a principle in keeping with Paul's admonition, Wives, submit yourselves to
your own husbands as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22).
There is no way of getting around the fact that God holds the husband responsible
for the type of home he has. In the Ephesians passage, the instruction to wives is
preceded by an admonition for mutual submission, "submitting yourselves one to the
other in the fear of God." There should be "give and take" in decisions that must be
made, but the final responsibility falls on the husband. The wife is not told to
"obey" her husband; that instruction is for children and servants. In both I Peter
and Ephesians, the verbs regarding subjection, or submission, are the same-a word
that means to be under, and they are both in the present tense, indicating a lifestyle.
2. An Explanation 3:1b-5
"... that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the
conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with
fear. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning
let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the
old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in
subjection unto their own husbands."
a. Conversation
These words were addressed to believing wives whose husbands were not believers.
Peter is not telling them that their husbands can perhaps be won to Christ "without
the Word," as the King James Version seems to indicate, but "without a word." Peter
is telling them that it is better to live the Christian life before the husband than
to nag at him about his condition.
b. Conduct
These men will behold the chaste conversation (manner of life) of these wives and
realize that the Spirit of the Lord is directing their lives. This is a
better testimony than word of mouth.
c. Cosmetics
These verses have been used to condemn women for popular hairstyles, for wearing
jewelry, etc. In many legalistic religious circles, women have been made
to look as unattractive as possible. It is interesting that the word "adorning"
in this passage translates the word kosmos, meaning orderly, which gives us our
word a cosmetics." Peter is not telling these women that they cannot look attractive;
he is rather emphasizing that the real adornment should be the beauty of the Lord in
their lives.
3. An Example 3:6
"Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long
as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement."
He uses Sarah as an example to her Jewish daughters of what it means to be in
subjection to their husbands. He says that she "obeyed Abraham, calling him
"lord." I invite any man or woman who is "hung up" on making the husband a
dictator with his wife having no input, to go back and read the record in
Genesis 21:10-12. Sarah told Abraham to cast out Hagar and her son, God endorsed
Sarah's words, and Abraham obeyed.
(To Be Continued)