1 Peter 3:1-6

Likewise, 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, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.  Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but 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.  For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Submission is the subject Peter is covering in this section where he is discussing what it means to follow Christ.  This section speaks directly to wives, especially those who might have an unbelieving and unjust husband.  Peter has already established the need for Christians to submit to unjust governments.  He is now applying this same principle to marriage.  The submission of wives to their husbands should not be offensive or be interpreted as some sort of male chauvinism.  It is simply what Christians do in basically all their relationships.   

EVANGELISTIC SUBMISSION: Submission of wives to husbands is part of God’s design of order for the family and society.  Both men and women are created in the image of God and are called to reflect the image of God.  There is no inferiority or superiority between men and women or really any person.  There are different roles and functions that God has ordained.  This reflects the Trinity.  There is no difference in worth or value between the Father, Son, and the Spirit.  There are different functions and there is submission and authority.  Peter calls for women to submit to their unbelieving husbands as a means of evangelism.  This matrimonial evangelism may occur because a wife could come to Christ before her husband.  This should not be understood as approval of believers and unbelievers getting married.  Women who come to Christ before their husbands will have a completely different set of priorities and may become tempted to assume leadership in the home.  This must be avoided.  They will also desperately want their husbands to come to Christ.  This is only natural and should be a high priority.  The most effective means of matrimonial evangelism is respectful and pure conduct.  Peter advises women to use their works more than their words to show them the way of Christ.  This patient, silent, kind, joyful, and respectful submission can be a powerful instrument in drawing an unbelieving husband to Christ. 

MATERIALISTIC SUBMISSION: Women are given a beauty by God that is a blessing and gift.  This beauty can become an idol to both men and women.  Peter instructs women to care much more about their inner character than their outer appearance.  Men should seek to observe a woman’s heart more than he admires her hair and other physical features.  Women may tend to emphasize their appearance while men tend to idolize it.  This is the way of the world and not believers.  Christian women should not seek to draw attention to their bodies and physical beauty with extravagant hair styles, expensive jewelry, or clothing that exposes their bodies.  These materialistic means of attracting attention is a type of seduction that has no place in the body of Christ.  Believers are to strive to become more like Christ and grow in spiritual maturity.

EMBLEMATIC SUBMISSION: This type of submission is what has been demonstrated by godly women in the past.  These women are emblems of what all women should strive to become.  They were godly in conduct and had their hope placed on God and not their own fulfilment or the approval of others.  Sarah was submissive to Abraham who was far from a perfect husband.  He asked Sarah to lie for him and went so far as to deceive a king he feared into taking her as his own wife because Abraham only spoke a half-truth of Sarah being his sister.  Abraham’s sin was terrible, and I don’t believe Sarah should have joined him in it.  However, Abraham was held responsible for it and not Sarah.  Authorities are always responsible for their decisions over those they lead.

APPLICATION: Understand submission as a basic function for all believers.  Accept the roles God has ordained within marriage and prioritize reflecting His glory over promoting our own.  Develop and value character over physical beauty.  Follow the example of the godly people through whom God has worked in the past.