1 Peter 3 and submission

I can't put my honest feelings but I think you know what they are.

But let's begin by taking the verse at face value. It says the way a woman put their hope in God and made themselves beautiful was by being submissive to her husband. Then the example used was Sarah and Abraham.

There are some who believe this charge for woman to be submissive goes back to the garden. The question is how do we interpret this verse in a modern society. To answer this we first have to know if God conforms or changes with society. Or is their an "old" God and a "modern" God.

You picked a good one buddy...

 

I think Peter is talking to women who became Christians after they were married.

He is letting them know that they are not exempt from subjection to their pagan or Jewish husbands.

That was the way to win those disobedient and unbelieving husbands who had rejected the Word.

In other words, the only form of Godliness they saw was in the peaceable, and exemplary conversation of their wives.

 

I would like to type out 1Peter 3;1-7 from the Phillips, Letters to Young Churches. I think it gives the true spirit of the text in question:

In the same spirit you married, women should adapt yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they do not obey the word of God they may be won to God without any word being spoken, simply by seeing the pure and reverent behaviour of you, their wives. Your beauty should not be depedent on an elaborate coiffure, or on the wearing of jewellery or fine clothes, but on the inner personality-the unfading lovliness of a calm and gentle spirit, a thing very precious in the eyes of God. This was the secret of the holy women of ancient times who trusted in God and were submissive to their husbands..............Similarily, you husbands should try to understand the wives you live with, honouring them as physically weaker yet equally heirs with you of the grace of life. IF you don't do this, you will find it impossible to pray properly. end quote.

Equal responsibility and not subjugation.

F.F. Bruce seems to think Peter is thinking back to women's lack of status in the Synagogue of those times. Women had no place in the synagogue. He thinks the veil was a release from that subjugation and given freedom to pray and speak in the service. So, the veil, rather than a symbol of submission, is a symbol of freedom.

Cheers,

Jim

 

In order to properly interpet any vere from scripture you must take into consideration all the surrounding verses, as in the entire paragraph. You can not take a verse and pull it out of place and assign meaning to it that is not being supported and taught in surrounding verses. You will always get a misinterpetation.

 

My husband and I are Christians and were married as Christians and I definitely submit to him -- but then that's easy because he loves me so much. I cannot imagine challenging him for his headship position in this house. I have enough to do as it is!

 

I did read it Joseph, and it doesn't change my mind on proper bible interpetation.