^“1Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ²when they see your respectful and pure conduct. ³Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. ⁵For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. ⁷Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:1-7 ESV).

What does it mean to be subject to your own husband?

“Submission refers to a wife’s divine calling to honor and affirm her husband’s leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts.  It is not an absolute surrender of her will.  Rather, we speak of her disposition to yield to her husband’s guidance and her inclination to follow his leadership.  Christ is her absolute authority, not the husband.  She submits ‘out of reverence for Christ’ (Ephesians 5.21).  The supreme authority of Christ qualifies the authority of her husband.  She should never follow her husband into sin.  Nevertheless, even when she may have to stand with Christ against the sinful will of her husband (e.g., 1 Peter 3.1, where she does not yield to her husband’s unbelief), she can still have a spirit of submission—a disposition to yield.  She can show by her attitude and behavior that she does not like resisting his will and that she longs for him to forsake sin and lead in righteousness so that her disposition to honor him as head can again produce harmony” (Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, 61).

Isn’t submission just an outdated cultural reference?

What kind of husband should a wife to be subject to?

Why should a wife be subject even to an unbelieving husband?

“¹⁸Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2.18-21 ESV).

The Source of Suffering. ¹⁸Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

The masters are the source of the suffering.

The servants are more like today’s employees.

The key to redeeming suffering is calling and perseverance.

The Grace of Suffering. ¹⁹For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

What’s so gracious about suffering?  Grace.

What’s so gracious about suffering?  Endurance.

What’s so gracious about suffering?  God’s presence.

The Example of Suffering. ²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

The example is the Messiah.

The example is made possible by his suffering for me.

The example is reproducing Jesus.