PETER’S EPISTLES: PREPARING FOR ETERNITY

XII. Marital Relationships In View Of Eternity

(1 Peter 3:1-7)

I. Introduction

A. Before the Apostle Peter began to minister for the Lord in the Church, his outlook was impacted by Christ’s prophecy in John 21:18-19 that he would be crucified for Christ. Eternity was thus often on Peter’s mind.

B. We view Peter’s epistles that highlight preparing for eternity, and in 1 Peter 3:1-7, Peter taught us how to relate in marital relationships in view of eternity. We view the passage for insight, application and edification:

II. Marital Relationships In View Of Eternity, 1 Peter 3:1-7.

A. Human marriage was created by God for earthly relationship fulfillment and procreation (Genesis 1:27-29; 2:20-24), but in the eternal state, there will be no marital union or reproduction, for glorified believers will be like the angels who neither marry as men nor are given in marriage as women, Mark 12:25.

B. However, marriage is important in view of eternity. Some believers are wed to unbelievers who need to trust in Christ to be saved from damnation (Rev. 20:15), so the believing spouse is duty bound to be a good witness to the unsaved partner. Even if both parties in a marriage are saved, due to the great influence spouses have on each other in this life, they will give an account to God in eternity for how they related to one another.

C. Accordingly, Peter gave instructions to married couples in view of eternity in 1 Peter 3:1-7 (as follows):

1. The Apostle Peter gave instructions to believing wives in 1 Peter 3:1-6:

a. Peter told believing wives to be under the authority (hupotassomenai) of their own husbands, 1 Peter 3:1a. “A wife is to accept her place in the family under the leadership of her husband whom God has placed as head in the home.” (Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 848)

b. Even if her husband does not obey the Word of God as an unbeliever, a wife must submit to her husband that he might be won over to the truth by the wife’s behavior, 1 Peter 3:1b-2; Ibid. (By way of application, if a wife has a carnal believing husband, she needs to function as Peter directed in 1 Peter 3:1b-2.)

c. Such submissive behavior is marked not by an outward adornment but by “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (cf. 1 Tim. 2:9-11). This adornment of the spirit is of great worth in God’s sight. While the world prizes costly clothing and gold jewelry, a woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is precious to God.” (Ibid., p. 848-849; 1 Peter 3:3-4) Peter did not oppose women wearing jewelry and nice clothes, but he taught that their outward attire not upstage the attractiveness of their inner person. (Ibid., p. 849)

d. Peter provided a Scriptural example of the behavior that Christian wives were to exhibit, 1 Peter 3:5-6:

i. Abraham’s wife Sarah obeyed her husband and called him her master, recognizing him as the leader and head of their household in Genesis 18:12. (1 Peter 3:5-6a)

ii. Peter wrote that wives would be like Sarah’s daughters if they like her did what was right and did not give way to “fear” (ptoesin), literally “terror,” Ibid., p. 849; 1 Peter 3:6b. What Peter likely meant was that wives were to trust God without fear that their husbands might take advantage of their submission in unedifying ways, Ibid. The balance to this order is 2 Timothy 3:1-5 where any believer, including a wife, must withdraw from an abusive party, what could be an abusive husband in a wife’s case. Scripture never condones divorce, but there is room for restraining orders if necessary. Nevertheless, Peter’s general call is that a wife trust God in relating to her husband.

2. The Apostle Peter then gave instructions to believing husbands in 1 Peter 3:7:

a. Believing husbands similarly were to dwell together in marriage with their wives literally “according to knowledge” (kata gnosin), what means “with understanding” in our way of speaking, Ibid. Husbands need to be aware of their wives’ spiritual, emotional and physical needs, and to be committed to the protective care of their wives “‘just as Christ does the church’ (Eph. 5:28-30).” (Ibid.; 1 Peter 3:7a)

b. Husbands should treat their wives with respect as the “weaker” partner in physical and emotional weakness, for wives are their husbands’ fellow heirs of God’s gift of eternal life, 1 Peter 3:7b.

c. God is serious about this duty by a husband, for a man’s prayers can be hindered if he does not show adequate consideration for his wife, 1 Peter 3:7c.

Lesson: In view of our accountability to God in eternity, believing marital partners in this life need to live godly lives within the realms of their gender best to influence their spouses for Christ and righteousness.

Application: May we married believers function in marriage in view of our eternal accountability in doing so.