Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
In the "Reading through the Bible" series, we had I Peter 3 ... and when I got to verse 6, I wondered what "that" instruction meant.
Peter says: 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord:whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
I looked at this verse in both NIV and NASB and found following:
NIV ... 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.
NASB ... being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
Several years ago, I saw the following concerning I Cor. 7 ... 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
I saw that in both cases of men married to unbeliever and women married to unbeliever, the unbeliever was to dwell with the believer ... that is to say the believer lives as a believer ... and then if the unbeliever is content to dwell with the believing mate as that believer lives as a believer, the believer should not put away or leave. But if the unbeliever departs, is not content to dwell with the believer, let him or her depart.
The key point is the believer continues living as he or she believes God shows to live.
There is a woman in our little church group who has unbelieving husband. This woman has some kind of spiritual gift of giving (Romans 12:5). She loves to give. She has little to give but I can tell how much she loves to "go the extra mile" in giving offerings. It is in her by the Spirit of God.
One time, her husband called me long distance. He said his wife had been brainwashed. I was a little shocked and replied in a very sincere question, "Who's brainwashed her?" The man was so taken aback by my sincerity that he couldn't continue talking and quickly terminated the conversation. Later I realized this man thought I had brainwashed her into wanting to give money in offerings. But I knew this was a gift of the Holy Spirit given to her. When her father was living, she would send considerable offerings. When her father died, and she was likely limited by the money given her by her husband, she sent very small offerings ($40 a month) but I always knew she wanted to send more though she never told me this. And when she could she occasionally sent more.
Romans 12 ... 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
She continued to give what she could give and her husband was apparently "content to dwell with her" as she lived as a Christian. I Cor. 7:13.
Concerning what Peter instructed in I Peter 3, I believe Peter is saying the same thing Paul said in I Cor. 7 ... The believer is to continue to live as a believe, "doing what is right in the sight of God" ... without fear of her husband as she does right.
She must not leave the right way to please her husband. She will not be justified if she does that.
She "submits" to her husband but not at the cost of eliminating what is right in the sight of God.
She could not afford to yield to "any fear" of what husband might do if she continued in right way. Nor could she fear what husband might do if she refused to become drunken with him or do things contrary to the way of God.
Therefore believer who is man must live as Christian ... believer who is woman must live as Christian ... and if the unbelieving mate departs, "let him depart" ...
Paul explains: God hath called us to peace.
It is be more peaceful for him to leave (or unbelieving woman to leave) if unbeliever choose not to live with the believer.
And Paul says: 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy
husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
I'm sure there are cases where people were both unbelievers and married one another. Then one becomes a believer after they married and no longer wants to live as he once lived. I can see in such a case as this, the unbeliever being very unhappy with the marriage now that the mate is a believer. There would likely be constant turmoil, no real peace. So Paul says: 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a
sister is not under bondage in such cases:but God hath called us to
peace.
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These instructions for women to submit to husband but to live in godly way, present an interesting challenge to the woman.
for example: What if the husband wants his wife to get abortion?
The Christian wife would have a good deal of trouble with this. Abortion is murder of a helpless child.
Also abortion would violate the following commandment of God.
Genesis 1 ... 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,
Sex was put in men and women by God for the purpose of procreation.
Humans today have created a way to by-pass God through birth control where they can fulfill their own lusts without the penalty of a child to care for.
But no matter how smart man gets, God will win out in judgments and consequences for our acts which go against HIM.
Nevertheless, the Christian woman must trust God and do what is right in the sight of God even when her husband demands she do the wrong thing.
The Christian woman must have faith God will take care of her even if her husband flees her.
Therefore the Christian woman (as a daughter of Sarah) ... acts as follows ... whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. I Peter 4
NASB ...
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.