Likewise… Part 1 of 4

1 Peter 3:1-6 Does it have anything to do with Us?

In response to a blog post I wrote a month or so ago, several people commented that I had twisted Scripture when I applied 1 Peter 3:1-6 to a wife who was living with a husband who was very much less than loving toward her. In response, I said to myself, “Maybe they are right. Maybe you are wrong and are twisting Scripture.” So, I decided to put on my more scholarly hat and take another look at the passage. What follows is what I found.

As with any study of any topic, context needs to be explored before tackling specific texts. One of my professors at TEDS said, “A text out of context is a pretext for a prooftext.” And this is very true. So, what is the context of 1 Peter 3:1-6?

First, while I have read a few liberal commentators of the letter, I’m not going to entertain the notion that Peter did not write the letter. The first verse says it was written by Peter and that’s good enough for me (1:1). There are further discussions that might be had on this topic, but suffice it to say that I’m convinced of the more conservative view that Peter wrote First Peter. Second, the letter says that it was written to “to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” (1:1). So technically, it was not written to us. On the other hand, the letter was written to people who live in a world very much like ours. Peter wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:6–7). Because the letter was an encyclical letter (a letter written to a number of different churches), because our situation is very similar to theirs, and because the principles in the letter are just as applicable to us as to them, I believe we are safe to read, understand, and apply this letter as if it were written directly to us. In a few places, in the letter, the life context of the original readers differs from ours (E.g. we don’t have slaves and masters). This means we need to glean the principles behind the directives without jettisoning or ignoring the point of the various contexts.

As we proceed, then, it is important for us to remember and keep in the forefront of our minds that Peter wrote this letter to a group of people who were suffering for their faith, but who were looking forward to a glorious salvation in Christ Jesus. He said, “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1:8–9). Whatever else we get out of the reading of Peter’s letter, we need to come away with incredible joy in the midst of the trials and suffering that God brings to us. Peter agreed with Paul when he said, “And not only that but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3–5). And James when he said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2–4).

One scholar broke the letter down into five motifs. He said,

Five major motifs occur throughout 1 Peter, used by the author in such a way as to communicate his overall message. These five motifs are the believer’s behavior, the believer’s unfair treatment, the believer’s deference, the believer’s motivation by Christ’s example, and the believer’s anticipation of future glory. Peter emphasized these themes by the use of a broad vocabulary and by their recurrence throughout the epistle. Taken together they form Peter’s underlying message.

These motifs of [sic] embody a message that may be expressed in the following statement: “The behavior of believers when they encounter unfair circumstances should reflect a spirit of deference in all relationships as they follow Christ’s example and anticipate future glory.” The apostle’s instructions to wives in 1 Peter 3:1–6 must be read and understood against the backdrop of this controlling literary message. Only then can the fullest impact be felt from Peter’s words and the most productive lifestyle application be made.^[1]

As I’ve already pointed out, the letter was written to bolster the faith of the saints who were living in very serious difficulties. In the first chapter, Peter reminds the readers that Jesus went before them, suffering and later receiving glory (v. 12). He then tells them to “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (v. 13). But this is not a grit your teeth and put up with difficult times. Nor is it a go limp and simply wait for things to pass, and everything will be alright. It was never that. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to simply try harder or to grit our teeth and put up with evil in our midst. Rather, Peter says, “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1:13–16). This is something God is calling believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to be. It is a being kind of thing, not a doing kind of thing. Don’t be like you used to be. You are obedient children, not lost souls. Because Jesus is holy, you be Holy too. Peter agrees with the Apostle when he said, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). We are to be a different people because we belong to a different God.

This being rather than doing is extremely important for us as Christians. Peter moves on, in chapter two, to liken us to living stones in a building (2:4-5) and he tells us that the stone, the cornerstone, that ties us all together and knits us into one building is Jesus. We are, therefore, to mix all the metaphors (Peter does it, not me), a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people (2:9). Therefore, we are something, not a group of folks who do things. We are a people, we are a person, we are a building. And, more than that, we have been transformed for a purpose.

That purpose is that we “may proclaim the praises of Him who called out of darkness into his marvelous light (2:9). We are supposed to share our glory with others who know no glory. We are a different people, for the purpose of sharing that difference with the others around us. Peter went on to add, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (2:11–12). This is similar to the teaching of our Lord in the sermon on the mount, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16). We Christians do not exist to live blessed and comfortable lives. We exist to share the love of God with others.

^[1] Slaughter, J. R. (1996). Submission of Wives (1 Pet. 3:1a) in the Context of 1 Peter. Bibliotheca Sacra, 153, 64.