1 Peter 3:1-7 Sunday, February 28, 2016
Mutual Submission & Self-Sacrificial Love: 1 Peter 3:1-7 Sunday, February 28, 2016
CONVERSATION GUIDE: The beauty of a gentle and peaceful spirit will last for eternity, in contrast to the fleeting beauty of According to the bible, the relationship of the jewelry or clothing. The adjective gentle (praus) is Father and the Son is a pattern for the relationship used only three times in the New Testament – the of husband and wife. There is no inequality of other two times referring to Christ, who did not ability or dignity, and yet there are distinct roles. insist on his own rights or demand his own way.
But the bible gives almost no detail about how It must be remembered that submission to authority those roles are expressed in concrete behavior. is often consistent with equality in importance, Should wives never work outside the home? Should husbands dignity and honor3 – Jesus was subject to both his never wash clothes or clean the home? Traditionally- parents and to God the Father. Thus, the command minded people are tempted to nod Yes, yet to wives to be subject to their husbands should nowhere does the bible say such things. It gives no never be taken to imply inferior personhood or such specific directions at all.1 spirituality or lesser importance. Peter affirms just the opposite: wives are joint heirs of the grace In our passage this week, Peter’s aim is to help a of life. believing wife “win” her unbelieving husband by her conduct and submission – to aid in his Peter mentions three types of external adornment: transformation from being spiritually dead to being hairstyles, jewelry and expensive clothes. 1 Timothy spiritually alive. Whether you identify yourself as an 2:9 is so close to this passage that it indicates that egalitarian, a feminist, a complementarian, or a this theme was certainly commonplace of Christian traditionalist, keep in mind that submission is part ethical teaching. It would be wise to take this of God’s strategy to save disobedient husbands.2 A instruction about simplicity in dress seriously, as it wife’s godly conduct testifies “without a word” to has a Christian apologetic function.4 Sarah adorned the truth of the gospel (3:1). herself with hope, submission, goodness and peace.
READ 1 Peter 3:1-7. So concerned is God that husbands live in an understanding and loving way with their wives that DISCUSS his relationship with them is injured when they are 1. Context is key. Notice the first word or phrase not doing so. No husband may expect an effective in verse 1 (“Likewise” or “In the same way…”). prayer life unless he lives with his wife in this way, How does this passage relate to the previous bestowing honor on her.5 Because of the wife’s passage, starting in 2:11? What is the motive for vulnerability, he is sure to honor her in word and submission? (2:13) deed.6
2. What are the results that come from a wife’s willing submission to her husband? APPLY 1. What does it mean to exhibit a life of 3. What adornment is valued by God? How do submission? What can block submission from these verses about adornment relate to, and working and being exhibited? extend, God’s instructions to wives regarding submission? 2. When you examine submission in your relationship with God and with those around 4. What are the characteristics of Sarah listed in you, where is there room for improvement? verses 5-6? 3. Where can you initiate submission in your life, 5. What does it mean for husbands to live with and discipline yourself to carry it out this week? their wives in an understanding way? How does the description of wives in verse 7 help inform husbands to live in an understanding way with May the love of Christ be the rule. their wives?
3 1 Cor. 11:2-12; Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-19 4 Peter Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, Page 117. 1 Keller & Keller, The Meaning of Marriage, Pages 182-186. 5 Wayne Grudem, 1 Peter, Page 154. 2 Peter Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, Pages 115-116. 6 Peter Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, Page 123. 1 Mutual Submission & Self-Sacrificial Love: 1 Peter 3:1-7 Sunday, February 28, 2016
HOMEWORK THIS WEEK: Day 4: TRAIN In this study of 1 Peter, we are learning that God Day 1: MEMORIZE teaches us how to conduct ourselves; it isn’t a “For this is how the holy women who hoped in mystery. Before God, we are to be holy (1:14-16). God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to Before the world, we are to live an honorable life, their own husbands,” ~ 1 Peter 3:5 one filled with good works (2:11-12). As citizens, we are to submit to civil authorities (2:13-17). As servants, we are to do good, even it means to suffer Day 2: READ patiently the mistreatment of others (2:18-25). Read 1 Peter 3:-7. As you read, ask “what does it mean?” List all the options with pros and cons. Submission is at the core of our relationship with God. To grow and mature spiritually requires A classic example of such virtue in a woman is us to work on our willingness to submit and to be Augustine’s tribute to his mother Monica, who humble. The result is respect, cooperation, unity, through a lifetime of virtue finally won her husband community and the fruit of the Spirit in us. Patricius for the Lord.7 Think through the following questions and decide Next week: Faithful Exiles: Daniel. Daniel 1:8-17. the steps that you may need to take to put submission into action.
Day 3: EXERCISE • How can you use the discipline of When we are born again through faith in Jesus, it is submission to improve your faith, a submission to God, to the authority of his Word, character, relationships, confidence, and to Jesus as his means of salvation. Just as man’s leadership ability, parenting, and/or refusal to submit to God brought about the fall of relationship with Jesus and others? man, so man’s submission to God brings about salvation (Acts 2:36; Romans 10:9-10).
Submission is also at the heart of discipleship. • What can you do to make submission Jesus called us not only to believe in him but also to function better, stronger, and faster in you, follow Him. A disciple is a learner and a follower, a even in times of uncertainty and stress? student who has submitted to his teacher.
Today, take notes on the following passages. What does the text say (comprehension)? What does it • What happens to your relationship with mean (interpretation)? How can you apply it? God and with others when you refuse to agree with and submit to his precepts? • Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-20
• 1 Corinthians 7:4. Day 5: PRAY When we die to self, we live; when we give up our lives, we find them. • Galatians 3:26-29 Let us commit ourselves to further study and prayer on this vitally important subject of submission. And • Ephesians 5:1 may we, by God’s grace, practice true submission, from the heart, for his glory.
• Ephesians 5:21-24
7 Confessions, 9.19-22 2