I might make some Videos because I know People would rather watch a Video than read, but I want to get into some things, so I’m going to start with writing. So in 1 Peter we are passed Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, Jesus is Dead and Peter is writing to People who mostly maybe even haven’t met Jesus but have been talking about the things that happened some years Previous, since the Disciples went out after he died. And Peter is the chosen, not elected but appointed by Jesus, Pope of the Church, the only similar inheritance went to maybe James who is kind of left to be the Steward of the Earth, while Peter is the Foundation of the Church from Jesus.
When he is writing Jesus is just recently Dead, many People want to know what it means, what they should do, how long until the end comes, etc. So in 1 Peter 2:11-12 he says,
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of Visitation.”
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2:15
“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-“
Now, I bring this Book of 1 Peter up because it gets into some very important things that have been misinterpreted and used for Evil for Hundreds of years, or even more recently, so here is what it says about Slaves listening to their masters, and then next it gets into Wives listening to their Husbands. I think People will be interested in the context.
2:18-25
“18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
You can see that Peter is saying, that if you are going to suffer unrighteous beatings and punishment and things, it’s best if you basically just kinda make sure it’s unrighteous, don’t cross a line and make yourself a real bad guy, and this actually can have a Christ Energy effect whereby someone is changed by watching you, your suffering and strength and things can be all you need to get through the same.
In no way is the verse saying like, Slavery is justified, or that anyone should be obeyed like God because of some kind of Master-God equivalence as if it were an extension of “render unto Cesar what is Cesar’s”. It’s saying, “Be like Jesus” is what it’s saying.
Now, in 1 Peter chapter 3 some will like this because some People say Marriage is a Property Contract or something so this opens that discussion, because now context is added to what Peter is saying to Slaves who are hearing about Jesus. It says this about Wives:
3:1-7
“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.”
Different translations say this differently, but I think the important part to start with is the Adornment, it actually says not “ONLY” to adorn yourself outwardly, but to “ALSO” have the inner adornment through the Spirit and everything. So if we go from that to the first verse, it says “Submit yourselves to your husbands so they will in turn listen to you” basically. This is not a demand to obey your Master-Husband, this is saying that you should come at your Marriage with kind of the “Treat others as you want to be treated” attitude, and it assumes you have Gospel to share with the other person. Then also it says that Husbands should respect their Wives the same way.
So none of this is exactly up there with “Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child” where it usually seems to be quoted.