1 Peter 3:1 Bible Concordance and Commentaries

Apart Attention Behavior Behaviour Believe Changed Conversation Daily Deportment Disbelieve Disobedient Gained Hearts Husbands Likewise Manner Married Message Obey Ruled Subject Subjection Submissive Though Watching Wives Women Won

3:1 Likewise, {1} ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; {2} that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

(1) In the third place he sets forth the wives' duties to their husbands, commanding them to be obedient.

(2) He speaks namely of those who had husbands who were not Christians, who ought so much the more be subject to their husbands, that by their honest and chaste conversation, they may win them to the Lord.

3:1 Various Practical Duties

SUMMARY OF I PETER 3:

Duties of Women. Duties of Husbands. Duties of Christians Toward Each Other. Attitude Toward Adversaries. Christian Endurance of Wrong. Christ's Preaching to the Spirits in Prison. Salvation of Those in the Ark. The Antitype Is Baptism.

Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands. See notes on Eph 5:21-24. Paul teaches the duty of submission, and shows that it was not the duty of the believing wife to abandon her unbelieving husband (1Co 7:13-15). Peter goes farther here and teaches that the wife show her obedience in order to win her husband.

That, if any obey not the word. That even those who have steeled themselves against the gospel and who refuse to listen to it

they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. May be quietly won by the sweet, Christian lives of their wives.

3:1 If any - He speaks tenderly. Won - Gained over to Christ.

3:1-7 The wife must discharge her duty to her own husband, though he obey not the word. We daily see how narrowly evil men watch the ways and lives of professors of religion. Putting on of apparel is not forbidden, but vanity and costliness in ornament. Religious people should take care that all their behaviour answers to their profession. But how few know the right measure and bounds of those two necessaries of life, food and raiment! Unless poverty is our carver, and cuts us short, there is scarcely any one who does not desire something beyond what is good for us. Far more are beholden to the lowliness of their state, than the lowliness of their mind; and many will not be so bounded, but lavish their time and money upon trifles. The apostle directs Christian females to put on something not corruptible, that beautifies the soul, even the graces of God's Holy Spirit. A true Christian's chief care lies in right ordering his own spirit. This will do more to fix the affections, and excite the esteem of a husband, than studied ornaments or fashionable apparel, attended by a froward and quarrelsome temper. Christians ought to do their duty to one another, from a willing mind, and in obedience to the command of God. Wives should be subject to their husbands, not from dread and amazement, but from desire to do well, and please God. The husband's duty to the wife implies giving due respect unto her, and maintaining her authority, protecting her, and placing trust in her. They are heirs together of all the blessings of this life and that which is to come, and should live peaceably one with another. Prayer sweetens their converse. And it is not enough that they pray with the family, but husband and wife together by themselves, and with their children. Those who are acquainted with prayer, find such unspeakable sweetness in it, that they will not be hindered therein. That you may pray much, live holily; and that you may live holily, be much in prayer.

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