Inner Beauty of Women (1 Peter 3:1-6)

INNER BEAUTY OF WOMEN (1 Peter 3:1-6):

Peter had given instructions to the believers that were of higher value like subjecting to the authorities and masters, enduring suffering for doing good.  He continues in a similar pattern to give instructions to the wives. Peter says that like those characters that are to be seen in the elect, the wives are advised to be subject to their own husbands. Peter doesn’t say the wives to just obey the believing husbands but he means it generally. He adds that even if there are husbands who may not have come to the knowledge of God or may have come to the knowledge of God but doesn’t obey the commandments of God, Peter says that they may be won by the conduct of their wives even without any word. Peter affirms the power of being and doing what is right, perfect, and sincere. Peter says that when the husbands see the respectful and pure conduct of the wives, they ultimately see many valuable attributes that are the expressions like that of Christ our master. Through these, there are a lot of chances for the husband to be won by the wives, even maybe for God.

Women will be admired usually by an external outlook on the first look. Peter says the wives that their adorning should not be just external by embellishing them and beautifying them with all those that are temporary and external. The hair is the honor for women and braiding of hair is still external to be admired and could not be expensive. Gold Jewelry is the most expensive but still, it is external and worthless when it is no more needed at some point in time. Clothing could cover and adorn by giving a magnificent look, still, it is external and would be torn someday. On the contrary, Peter also stresses the importance of adorning to be hidden, not having an appearance. But it is inside the heart with perfect thoughts, feelings, and thereby attitude that is of imperishable beauty which is outward only with invisible worthy characteristics of much gentleness and quietness in spirit. In the sight of God who is the judge of hearts, it is very beautiful and precious.

Throughout the bible, the holy women who are looked up for their faith in God and who had extraordinary belief in God adorned themselves not much with the external appearances, in which the men of God didn’t desire much. They adorned themselves with valuable inner qualities and thereby they could submit themselves to their own husbands. Sarah obeyed Abraham, called him Lord and she followed him with belief in God. Sarah had to come across many adverse situations than Abraham because she was not just beautiful inside but also beautiful outside. Still, God had called Abraham and Sarah who followed him by knowing it is the purpose of God, who was faithful. The Wives are the children of Sarah, as all believers are heirs of Abraham, as it was usually pronounced as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Peter concludes his words to the wives by saying that subjecting themselves to husbands is good, if they do it they need not fear anything that is frightening even the adverse situations like being carried away by the strangers which happened in the life of Sarah, as God is in control over everything.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection

1.      What kind of husbands the wives needs to subject to?

2.      How wives need to subject themselves to their husbands?

3.      What will happen when husbands see respectful and pure conduct of wives?

4.      What are the external adorning that were mentioned?

5.      Why Peters says not to adorn just by external things?

6.      How an adorning for a wife should be? Why it is precious in the sight of God?

7.      What did holy women who hoped in God do? How?

8.      Whose Children are the wives who do good? Why?

9.      What is the privilege of being a respectful and good wife submitting herself to husband?