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NASB | 1 Peter 3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to husbands and their accountability to God, and so partnering with them] so that even if some do not obey the word [of God], they may be won over [to Christ] without discussion by the godly lives of their wives, [Eph 5:22] |
Subject: How literal do we go? |
Bible Note: joyduncan The submission is this verse has nothing to do with suppression of women. The word used for submission here is very similar to the meaning of the word Roman soldiers used to connect their shields to form a turtle. The turtle was a very unique battle formation where the soldiers linked their shields together. On side of the shield held a loop and the other a hook. You can imagine the confusion if every soldier tried to hook his loop to the guy next while trying to hook is hook also. Nothing would get done and everyone would be frustrated. Each man would upon command would offer his loop to the hook of the solder next to him and in order they would “submit” to the next until they were all linked together. In every situation there has to be a tie breaker or nothing would get accomplished each would be trying to hook his hook and loop and his loop. God in his wisdom said man is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. How much was that? Did Jesus lord Himself over the church? No He served the church, giving His life for the church, yet He is the head of the church. Does that mean He suppresses the church? No. It means when a decision is made it is His responsibility of leadership to look out for the welfare of the church and make the right decision. Now man is to model that, does that mean he is to lord his position over his wife suppressing her. No it means he should so love his wife that he would be willing to give up his own desires for her welfare. In effect die of self for her, to become one flesh with her. Thus feeding her desires is feeding his. But there is also a requirement of the wife, she is to allow him to make that decision not to try to force her will upon him. Suppression of women only comes when men put their interest above the welfare of the wife, that is they fail to love the wife as Christ loved the church. The failure here is not in God’s command it is in our human failure to properly apply it. EdB |