Bible Study on 1 Peter: Week 5

Week 5:

1 Peter 3:1-7

"Strengthen the Sacred Mix"

Here is the first question from the publisher that I am going to answer this week:

In the previous lesson, we discussed the meaning of the word submission. What do you think submission looks like in a marriage context?

• The word 'submission' in our culture has been turned into something that is humiliating rather than respectful. If someone is submissive to another person, then the first person is seen as inferior or weak. This sense of the word is not what God had in mind. Yes, women and men have different roles in marriage, and they should respect those boundaries. But fulfilling those roles that God created in marriage in no way causes one person to be better than the other.
• In a marriage, I think the wife should be respectful of her husband by encouraging him, not talking negatively about him to others, and by allowing him to be the spiritual leader in the home. For my husband and me, our marriage is a partnership. We are a team, and although he is ultimately responsible for our family, we make decisions together.
• Christ was submissive to the Father by going to the cross and dying for our sins. If Christ can do that, then I can respect my husband and be the wife that he needs me to be.

Here is the second question:

What principles did you learn from Peter's counsel to wives and husbands of the first century that are helpful today?

• Although there are cultural differences between Peter's time and our society today, the Bible can still be applied today.
• One thing is that today, as well as in the time of the Bible, the aspect of holding your tongue can be very important! Knowing the right words to say, as well as knowing when it would be best to keep quite, will help us in any relationship, especially our marriages.
• Another thing is the matter of what true beauty is. Building character and strengthening relationships are more important to God than outward beauty. 1 Samuel 16:7 -- But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Join me next week as we study 1 Peter 3:8-12:  "Pursue Peace with Doves and Dragons."

You can read my thoughts on previous weeks of this study here:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4