NO ONE LEFT BEHIND (1 PETER 3)
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A man wanted a boat more than anything. His wife kept refusing, but he bought one anyway. "I'll tell you what," he told her, "In the spirit of compromise, why don't you name the boat?"
Being a good sport, she accepted.
When her husband went to the dock for his maiden voyage, this is the name he saw painted on the side: "For Sale.”
Who was the only original apostle known to be married? The answer is Peter. The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded how Jesus healed his sick mother-in-law from a fever that left her lying on a bed by touching her hand and she served him in return (Matt 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39). In the last days, the love of most will grow cold (Matt 24:12-13), so it’s more important to know how to deal with families and friends presently, so Peter authoritatively speaks on the husband and wife relationship, and not only that but relationships in (v 8 brethren KJV) and out of church (v 15, every man KJV).
Why are relationships important in the last days? How are we to show our love for brothers (v 8) and our witness to outsiders in the last days?
Treasure Your Loved Ones
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Here are some quotes on the husband-wife relationship:
“Wives are like electricity. If handled with care they will light up your life, But if mishandled will give you shocks throughout your life.”
“Husbands and wives are like a lock and key, or two blades of scissors. They cannot and do not function properly by themselves.”
“Husbands and wives are like two countries who sign a Peace Accord with the best of intentions, but then through the course of normal life, accidentally fire heavy artillery at one another which occasionally lead to short-lived, but bloody, invasions.”
“Husbands and wives are like fishermen. They brag about the ones that got away and complain about the one they caught.”
“Every husband is like a movie. Produced by mother, and directed by wife.”
“A husband is like a bar of soap. He can’t do any of the work he’s supposed to do without you, and after too much use, he’s much harder to handle.”
“Marriage is just a piece of paper; so is money, but you get up everyday and work hard for it.”
Readers might be surprised the verb “submit” (v 1) is not an imperative, but a “how” participle! The emphasis in verse 1 is less on “submit” than “win over” (v 1) or “gain” by our behavior (v 1), which is the “hina” subjunctive or the purpose clause, which is translated as “conversation” in KJV and “conduct” in ESV. No book speaks more about this “behavior/conversation/conduct” than 1 Peter and no chapter in the book more than chapter 3 (vv 1, 2, 16). This “behavior/ conversation” elsewhere in the Bible is best served in the context of meekness of wisdom (James 3:13), holy (1 Peter 1:15), honest (1 Peter 2:12) and pure (v 2), which means to be mature, modest and mindful.
Eph 5:22-25 Col 3:18-19 1 Peter 3:1
22 Wives, submit (“how” participle) to your husbands as to the Lord. 18 Wives, submit (imperative) to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 1 Wives, in the same way be submissive (“how” participle) to your husbands1 so that (hina), if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over
Peter’s explanation of “behavior” (v 1) is in the practice of outlandish hairstyles, which is plaiting or braiding in Greek, Cleopatra style. Gold jewelry is richer in Greek - “around placed” (peri-tithemi) gold. Clothes are garments. The first is twisting, the second is around and the third is put on. The contrast is with hidden (kruptos) of the heart, meekness, and peace/quiet (1 Tim 2:2, 1 Peter 3:4), or to be simple, sincere and straightforward. The “great worth” (v 4), translated as very precious (Mark 14:3), costly (1 Tim 2:9) and great price (1 Peter 3:4), makes its entrance in the Bible for the woman who anointed Jesus head with “expensive” ointment (Mark 14:3).
The example is how Sarah carried herself; again “submit/subject” (v 5) is another participle not an imperative. The key is “adorn” (v 5, kosmeo) as of old. Peter is not against the external. A wise wife knows how to give her husband recognition in public. Adorn therefore is not just for cosmetics, but the world or cosmos to the person– the time and space, beauty and order, and dignity. Better, there was no fear (v 6) in Sarah’s submission. Verse 7 for the husband’s responsibility – the “how” or participles - are two: getting along (live) and giving honor (treat with honor). It is to give her room, respect and reassurance.
Treat Others With Fairness
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
A 2020 World Vision survey of ten countries has found that despite a difficult year many people are searching for ways to help or give back. Over three quarters (76%) of people surveyed said it was important to focus on people in need of help this Christmas. A majority of people in six countries have either maintained or increased their charitable giving despite financial impacts of the pandemic Almost two thirds (63%) of respondents said they would prefer to receive a meaningful gift that would help others this Christmas, rather than a traditional gift such as clothes or electronics? https://www.wvi.org/newsroom/charitable-spirit-alive-after-difficult-year-global-survey-shows-over-three-quarters-0
The 91-year-old African American social service agency Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in Minnesota went from serving 108 new clients in March to 1,808 new clients in June. A Give to the Max Day, however, brought in a record-breaking $30.4 million, surpassing the 2019 total that brought in $21.6 for Minnesota nonprofits and schools.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-need-was-great-in-2020-but-so-was-the-giving/ar-BB1ckETv
Contrast Chart vv 8-9
like-minded (homo-phron; homo = same) be sympathetic (sum-pathes; sum = joint)
love one another (philadelphos; brotherly love) be compassionate (eu-splagchnos = good = feelings)
evil with evil or insult with insult blessing
The purpose clause (hina) emphasis in verse 9 is “inherit” a blessing. Inherit, as you know, is from the noun “heir, “heritage” and inheritance. In the noun form, it is to be assigned a portion, a possession, a part or a privilege. The same words “inherit + blessing” refer to the profane Esau (Heb 12:16-17), who was rejected for selling his birthright. In the same way we are not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but to receive a blessing from God.
There is a “because” (gar) that connects verses 10 and 11, surprisingly followed by a Greek imperative (Greek imperative usually starts a sentence and seldom belongs to a reason) is to “keep/refrain” (v 10) his tongue from evil and his mouth from guile. The translation is traditionally left (Luke 5:4), cease (Luke 8:24) and refrain (1 Peter 3:10). The Greek word “pauo” is where we get the word “pause,” except the present context pause is not stop temporarily but totally. This is the most “evil” (vv 9 twice, 10, 11, 12) passage in the Bible – evil is mentioned more times than any chapter in the Bible, and two other “evil” words - evil-speaking (v 16 speak maliciously) and evil-doing (v 17).
The next four imperatives are turn, do, seek and pursue (v 11). Turn (ekklino) is go out of the way (Rom 3:12) and eschew (v 11) in KJV. Evil is contrasted to good, and “seek” is to initiate and “pursue” is to intensify.
The last two imperatives in verse 14 (negation + subjunctive) are fear (phobeo) and frightened/troubles (tarasso). Fear is outright while frightened is overwhelmed. The first is scared and the second is stirred. One is afraid and the other is agitated. - that is me, to be disturbed rather than to be distressed, to be uptight rather than to be upset. Verse 12 has eyes, ears and face. Verse 14 is the feelings – fear/afraid and frightened/troubled.
Evil (vv 9 twice, 10, 11, 12) occurs five times, more than any chapter in the Bible. Evil makes a nest in our tongue and lips (1 Peter 3:10) and is contrasted with “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (v 12). Three imperatives on “evil” in the KJV Bible:
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Thess 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man;
1 Peter 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
Testify to the Lord
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. t saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
I was surpised by a friend of Doris who e-mailed me a long time after Doris’ loss:
“Hello. I am pretty sure we have never met. I only met Doris once when I was a graduate student at Rosemead. She was already in a professional role of professor at Azusa and graciously allowed me to interview her for part of my dissertation study on Asian women in academia. I still remember her wise words to me and the various experiences she shared. Although that was our only interaction (about 1.5 hours together), I carried her words with me deep in my heart as I entered my own career in academia. I am forever grateful for the time she took to share her experiences with me, a young doctoral student, at that time. I am so sorry to hear that she has passed. My own father passed away due to cancer three years ago and I know very well the pain that that journey involves. Reading through Doris' blog is painful but also hopeful as it is clear she had a true relationship with the Lord. And now she no longer suffers but is in fellowship with him face to face. I am so sorry for your loss and pray the Lord's comfort and peace over you and your family as you grieve. Sending prayers from Fullerton, CA. Sincerely, Christina Lee Kim, Ph.D.Assistant Professor Undergraduate Psychology Internships Coordinator, Biola University, Rosemead School of Psychology.”
Revere (v 15, hagiazo) is hallowed (Matt 6:9), sanctify (Matt 23:17) and holy (Rev 22:11). Eyes, ears and face (v 12) is followed by hearts (v 15) here. The most important on top of eyes, ears, face (v 12) and hearts (v 15) is behavior (v 16). Why? Because it occurs for the third time in the chapter (vv 1, 2, 16). Out of its 13 occurrences of the word “behavior,” eight of it is used by Peter in his epistles, six times in 1 Peter (1:15, 1:18, 2:12).
Verse 16’s “ashamed” (kata-ischuno) is not only to shame, but to shame down, i.e. disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush. Shame, rightfully, has to do with the conscience (v 16). Evil must be countered by good (vv 10, 11, 13, 16 twice, 21). Evil is mentioned five times in the chapter, to be eclipsed by good’s six times (vv 9 twice, 10, 11, 12) in the chapter, more than any chapter in the Bible passage in the Bible. There is more “well-doing” in the book (1 Peter 2:15, 20, 3:6, 17) than
than “evil-doing” (v 17) in the book. God narrows, negative and neutralizes the work of evil.
The purpose (hina subjunctive) in verse 18 is to “bring” (prosago ) us to God, is to draw near. There are three contrasts in verse 18: righteous for the unrighteous, put to death versus made alive, and in the body against in the Spirit. We can reveal the love of God, which is undeserved, unconditional and unchanging.
Conclusion: In application, we can ponder Peter’s use of the five sharp “no/never” (me) and never the usual “no” (ouk) in the chapter:
V 6 Not afraid with any amazement/ V 14 be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled (to enemies)
V 7 your prayers be not hindered (to God)
V 9 Not rendering evil for evil (for onesef)
V 10 speak no guile
