1 Peter 3:7
Husbands and Wives Enduring Chaos
The Apostle Peter wrote his first letter to believers suffering under mounting persecution (1 Peter 1:1-2). Historically we know this was under Emperor Nero. In order to encourage them to stand against the growing chaos that would emerge from the hostility (1 Peter 1:6-7), he called for a resolute commitment to order among the believers.
The Order the arises from Submission
Part of his letter involved direction for submission to authority. He writes, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution...” (1 Peter 2:13). The section following calls on four groups to exercise submission.
The first involves his entire audience. Everyone is to be subject to the emperor and the governors, because they are sent by God (1 Peter 2:13-17).
Following that, slaves are to be subject to their masters (1 Peter 2:18-25), and wives are to be subject to their husbands (1 Peter 3:1-6). In each of these latter two cases Peter draws a contingency clause. Slaves are to obey their masters regardless of whether the masters treat them fairly or harshly, so that they can follow Jesus’ example.
And wives are to be subject to their husbands whether they are believers or unsaved, in the hope that the unbelieving husbands may come to faith.
When Peter speaks to husbands, however (1 Peter 3:7), the contingency clauses vanish. His entire instruction to them takes only one verse. “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” (1 Peter 3:7).
How a Husband is to be “Subject” to his Wife
Husbands’ subjection to their wives does not look like wives’ subjection to their husbands. The Bible never calls for equality in marriage. Husbands and wives are called to complement each other in their respective roles.
The first clause in the command to husbands calls them to live with their wives in an understanding way. We all recognize that our wives think and act differently than we do. That is not a bad thing, however. When we make a conscious effort to honor our wives as gifts from God, we open the door for understanding them. This involves commitment to care for them and to love them actively.
Second, we are to honor them as weaker vessels. When Peter uses the word, “weaker vessel” he means physical strength. A real man is not the guy who makes demands or makes threats, or worse. Any playground bully can do that. A real man is one who is unafraid to value his wife.
Finally, we are to do these things because “they are heirs with [us] of the grace of life.” This is how we know that the term, “weaker vessels,” refers only to physical strength rather than spiritual maturity. Spiritually they stand with us as fellow heirs. We are never called to rule. We are called to build.
Subjection occurs when we fulfill the role that God has created for us.
The Larger Purpose
We do this “so that [our] prayers may not be hindered.” There is no mystery here. If we are spiritual in every other way while we mistreat our wives, how can our prayers do anything but be hindered?
Therefore, in real world terms, how do we empower our wives? I see three areas: Understand them, encourage them, and recognize their wisdom.
Doug Knox