Session 3: Chapter 3 Submission and Suffering

 This is chapter 3 of 1 Peter as taught by Jen Wilkin.  These are my summary notes.

Verses 1-2: "likewise" equals "in the same way". 

1. Submission is an order of authority.  It's not inferiority.

2.In every sphere of human authority and submission, God never commands absolute submission.

First century married woman is who Peter is writing to.  It would make sense to her if she just came to Christ and her husband didn't.  In this culture, it would be unthinkable for a wife to adopt a different religion.

"Own husband" - there is no general submission to men.  Church and home.  One benefit of submission to the husband: it can affect the husband to God.  A powerful expression of her trust in God.

Verses 3-4: Peter is not forbidding outward adornment but looking for inward adornment: gentle and quiet spirit.  Real beauty comes from the hidden person of the heart, something you are.

Verses 5-6: Examples of submission.  What did these ancient women do? They trusted in God.  Sarah calling her husband "Lord" equals respect and honor.

Verse 7: This is radical.  In ancient times, all obligations were on the wife and not the husband.  All the rights were on the side of the husband.  What is his obligation?

1. A Godly husband lives with his wife in unity and oneness.

2. Do it with understanding.  Understand the wife.

3. Give honor.

This was such a radical thing.

The phrase "a weaker vessel" means weaker physically.  The phrase "heirs together" means inheritance together.  The result: prayers not hindered.

Verses 8-22: Talks about Godliness in suffering

Verse 8: "Finally" - the first conclusion.  "Be of one mind".  Take this into marriage also.  Unity in Christ.  Warm love among each other.

Verse 9: Blessing when we are wronged.  Challenged to love even in disputes.  Result? A blessing.

Verses 10-12: Demonstrates the blessing from Psalm 34.

Verses 13-17: Don't be afraid of threats.  God will help to give a defense.  Suffer for doing good than evil.  That's tough.

Verse 18: The power of suffering for doing good.  The greatest example is Jesus.  On the cross, Jesus suffered all the judgment.

Verse 19: By the Spirit.  After death before resurrection. Hades.

Verses 20-22: From the cross, to proclaiming to the disobedient in Hades (prison) and now to the work done through our life in baptism.  He's making a picture linking Noah to it all.  The water of the flood washed away sin and wickedness bringing a new world with a fresh start.  The water of baptism does the same.  Passing from old to new.  It's not baptism that saves us but the spiritual reality behind it.  What saves us is the answer of a good conscience before God.  His completed work.  It's also a burial and resurrection = baptism.  Jesus is exalted.  The ultimate victory.  Jesus triumphed.  We will too.

Summary: So we are:

1. Called to submission

2. Called to unity and love

3. Called to return evil done to us with good

4. Called to endure suffering as Jesus did

5. We will inherit a blessing

Next: session 4 chapter 4 "Suffering and Serving"