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1 Peter 3: 1 – 22 A Strange but Real Blessing!

by fol CHURCH on November 10, 2018

Today’s reading opens with a well-known passage that I believe is so easily misinterpreted and consequently abused.

As we are to submit to government authorities (and slaves to masters), so Peter concludes his remarks on submission by looking at the marriage relationship.  The NIV text note is worth mentioning here:  The Greek verb refers to submission to a recognised authority, and does not imply inferiority.  As a human being, I was an equal employee with my fellow colleagues where I worked, and yet I still had to submit to my line manager!  The submission mentioned is one of role or function necessary for the orderly operation of the home.  This is particularly important to Peter where the husbands are not believers.

Furthermore, Peter is not launching a tirade against lipstick or taking pride in one’s appearance.  He is reminding us (men as well as women) that what counts is a person’s inner rather than outer beauty (v.3-7; see also 1 Sam 16:7).  Finally, in case any Husband gets carried away with any notion of God granting male domination, Peter points out that men and women are partners and co-heirs, and men should be considerate and respectful to their wives so that their prayer life does not suffer! (v.7, see also Ephesians 5: 22-33).

Peter then returns to his major theme: suffering unjustly.

 

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Prayer:  Holy Spirit, help me to grasp more fully the truth that I am part of a royal priesthood, so that I might lead a right life among those with whom I live.  To your glory. Amen.

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