crumbs45

 

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 45

1 Peter 3: 1-7 Wives and Husbands

Scripture 1 Peter 3:1-7 New International Version 3Wives, 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,2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

CrumbsI am told thatslaves and women were regarded as inferior beings in the Roman Empire. If so the New Testament and this passagein particular must have beena shock. It’s not only Peter. Jesustootreatedwomen as spiritual beings. Paul in Ephesians wrote of mutual submission . Here Peter describes marriage as a partnership.

The phrase that strikes me is “in the same way” Lives led in quiet submission bear witness to the existence of a loving God whether those quiet lives are led by slaves, women or husbands.

Most of this passage deals with the behaviour of women. They were vulnerable then and they are now. Horror is rightly expressed about acts of abuse, mainly against women and yet advertising and societal pressure is made to bear on women to make themselves physically attractive,.

. We all need to cultivate a quiet and gentle spirit. Such a spiritsurvives the ageing processand pleases God. Men would be of such disposition that women would be prepared to commit themselves tomarriagewithoutfear. This passage is an application of our Lord’s teaching that we should love our neighbours as ourselves.

Queries( for private thought or joint discussion)1. Submission may lead to abuse. How should we cope? 2.If we are married how should this passage affect our attitude to our partner? 3.How should we react to thecultural attitudestowardsmarriageand womenin our society

 Please note that this is also published on my blog along with poems and other items on https://pmgsblog.blogspot.com 

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