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1 Peter 3:1<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Wives, likewise,<\/span> be<\/span><\/em> submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Truth to Learn<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Submission is one part of God\u2019s plan for marriages.<\/p>\n Behind the Words<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWives<\/span>\u201d is translated from gun\u0113<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201ca woman\u201d or \u201ca wife\u201d (see Revelation 19:7<\/span><\/strong>).<\/p>\n The word \u201chusbands<\/span>\u201d is from an\u0113r<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201ca man\u201d or \u201ca husband.\u201d<\/p>\n The words \u201cyour own<\/span>\u201d are a translation of the Greek word idiois<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cthat which is specifically one\u2019s own.\u201d Hence, wives are to be submitted to their own husband, not to any husband.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201csubmissive<\/span>\u201d is from hupotass\u014d<\/span><\/em>, which we have recently learned has the meaning \u201cunder rank.\u201d It is expressed here not as a command, but as a passive participle. Hence, Peter is saying, \u201cWives being submitted to \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Meaning Explained<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n In the middle of the previous chapter Peter began a theme of submission, \u201csubmit unto every ordinance of man\u201d and \u201cservants submit yourselves to your masters.\u201d The same idea appears in James\u2019 letter to the church where we are instructed to submit ourselves to God (James 4:7<\/span><\/strong>).<\/p>\n Submission is a key in our battle against our enemy, the Devil. In each case this word refers to an act of our will, allowing our own wishes and desires to be subordinated to those of the one to whom we are submitting. This is contrary to our sin nature which wants to promote self. And, seeing self as number one is encouraged today through the messages being proclaimed by the word system, such as, \u201cDo your own thing\u201d, or \u201cAfter all, I\u2019m worth it\u201d, or \u201cBe you; do what you want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n For a woman married to a godly man who is himself submitted to God, it may be easier to submit, though not always easy. For a woman married to an unsaved man or to a saved man who is not in submission to Christ, it is certainly much more difficult. However, Peter does not make an exception in these cases. He simply says that the conduct of a submissive woman may be the thing that God uses to reach her unbelieving husband.<\/p>\n Lest men think that this makes them any more important than their wives, let me remind you men that we are to be the spiritual leaders, able to answer doctrinal questions from our wives (1 Corinthians 14:35<\/span><\/strong>). We are to treat our wives as having great value (1 Peter 3:7<\/span><\/strong>). Twice we are commanded to love our wives with a self-sacrificing love (Ephesians 5:25<\/span><\/strong> and Colossians 3:19<\/span><\/strong>) even to the point of dying for them, just as Christ died for the church. Incidentally, wives are never commanded to love their husbands in this manner. Men, this means that when you and your wife have an argument, it is up to you to sacrifice your own will and apologize to her for your inappropriate behavior, expecting nothing in return from her.<\/p>\n Application<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n In God\u2019s church, the body of Christ, men and women have different roles. Neither is better than the other. Neither is superior to the other. In a marriage, wives are to be submitted to their husbands who are to love their wives. Both of these actions are commanded and neither one depends on the other.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/p>\n – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/p>\n If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to:
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