First Epistle of St. Peter, chapter 3:1-7
interpretation, meaning, commentary, explanation
(1) Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
The head of the family is to be the man. Peter, like Paul, writes that the woman is to obey her husband, even one who is not a believer. Such obedience has its limits when God is pushed to the background by the husband's behavior. God should always come first, and if the husband, forces the woman to disobey, for example, any of God's commandments, then the wife has the right to disobey her husband with firmness and a calm conscience toward the Creator.
What is a woman to do when she is beaten and her husband blusters at her? Often mistakes should be looked for in ourselves, we treat marital relations as an adventure. How many couples, get married quickly, without even getting to know each other well, seeing serious mistakes in their partner count on the other party to change?
How many people, before they meet their other half, ask God to help them make it His will and not ours? Just because we like someone doesn't mean that such a relationship will be approved by the Lord. God will certainly let us know in some way so that such a union will not take place. By getting married we become one flesh, how can we unite for life without asking God to decide if this union makes sense? Today we have many divorces due to the foolishness and recklessness of young people who do not ask the Lord for help.
A Christian, no matter what, is to show love to every person, including his own persecutor, just as Jesus and the apostles did after his crucifixion. In the Apostolic Epistles we do not find a single word in which an apostle maligns his persecutor. A woman of true faith, through her correct behavior, has a chance to convert her husband. The tyrant, seeing that despite the harm done, his wife is faithful and helpful to him, can change his way of life to one that is close to God. This is not an easy task, but it is possible. Would you sacrifice your happiness in this life to save even one soul? With your one earthly life, you have a chance to do so. Remember that you once married this man and swore fidelity and love to him until death. Let's not throw our words to the wind, but keep them. If society took marriage more seriously, we wouldn't have so many divorces today, and the relationship wouldn't be treated like a contract that can be broken when something goes wrong.
What should a beaten woman do when her life is threatened? She has the right to throw her husband out of the apartment or flee, as Paul did, for example, when he was freed from prison by an angel and then lowered on a rope over a wall. According to Scripture, as long as her husband has not committed adultery, she should not divorce him. This may seem unfair, but when we look at it more broadly, it makes sense. If there had been, a ban on divorce in these and other cases, it is likely that more marriages would have survived difficult times to return to a healthy life after some time. There would be less debauchery, infidelity, husbands abandoning the family and not keeping a child, and people would approach marriages with more caution.
(2) While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
The pious life of a wife will certainly be noticed by her husband. He may not appreciate it now, but at some point in his life, perhaps his conscience will be touched and with your attitude you will make him abandon his sinful life and give his heart to Jesus.
Adorning yourself, wearing of gold
(3) Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
God admonishes us not to get caught up in overdressing. We should be dressed neatly and cleanly. Any unnecessary accessories, gold, expensive robes are not welcome in a Christian. We have so much poverty in the world that money spent on a gold necklace could be used for the needy. By dressing excessively, women become jealous, comparing themselves with others. Under the term costume robes, are those that unnecessarily expose naked parts of the body, which causes unnecessary attraction of attention. A person's clothing, is supposed to protect from the cold, not be a source of pride.
(4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For God, the most important thing is our heart. We may be poor, wearing old torn clothes because we don't have money for new ones, but if we have given our heart to the Lord, we are extremely rich in His eyes. We are accumulating treasure in heaven, not on earth. Our lives should be humble, then we would end the stardom in front of the cameras, the silly shrieks of poor teenagers in pursuit of their idols' autographs. God is supposed to be our main value, he is the one we are supposed to strive for.
(5) For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: (6) Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
The holy women depicted in the Old Testament were submissive to their husbands, but God was at the center of their lives. Sarah was obedient to Abraham, who was her husband.
(7) Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
A husband is obliged to treat his wife with respect, bear in mind that she is weaker. He must not use violence, treat his wife like a servant. A husband is supposed to respect his wife, take care of her just as a woman takes care of her husband, they are one body, just as we take care of ourselves, we should not neglect our wife. It is good for spouses to pray to God together, thus strengthening the marriage bond. Couples who pray together and live according to God's word have the lowest divorce rate.
A husband's prayer to God will have serious problems reaching the Lord when a husband mistreats his wife. How do you imagine your prayer will be answered when you are angry in your heart, insulting your wife, mentally abusing her? Can such a prayer please God when there is no repentance in your heart?
