Why does Peter call Christian Women the daughters of Sarah in 1 Peter 3:6, and what does this passage say to women today?
Peter writes this letter to the “pilgrims of the dispersion” (1:1), Jewish Christians who had been dispersed outside of Palestine. He tells them that they are chosen, royal and God’s own special people (2:9-10), and then tells them how they should behave. Beginning in 2:13, he says these special people should submit to Civil Authorities, that the servants among them should submit to their masters, that wives should be submissive to their own husbands, and that husbands should honor their wives.
Key Words
In our text, Peter speaks to the wives. Two key words here are submissive and conduct. Combining these words give a good theme for Peter’s inspired words: Submissive conduct. The Oxford dictionary defines submissive as “ready to conform to the authority or will of others.” Looking at the synonyms of this word offers a clear picture of what is meant: Compliant, yielding, accommodating. The Greek term means “to place under” another’s control and authority. By these words and definitions, wives’ behavior should be submissive – that is, compliant or accommodating – to their own husbands.
Peter speaks only to the wives here: He does not address their husbands’ behavior, good or bad, right or wrong. This is about her submissive conduct, regardless of his conduct! Peter addresses that in verse 7. Just as holy women of the past were submissive to their own husbands, so Peter says we should be.
Daughters of Sarah
Peter calls us “daughters of Sarah” in verse 6. In what way are we Sarah’s daughters? Galatians 3:29 says that if we belong to Christ we are Abraham’s seed. If we are in Christ, we are spiritual descendants of Abraham. Sarah being his wife, this would make us “daughters of Sarah.” Peter describes Sarah’s conduct in verses 5 and 6 and says she (along with the other “holy women”) trusted in God. They adorned themselves from within, were submissive to their own husbands, and were obedient and respectful.
Trusting God is the key to submissive conduct. God can be our refuge if we trust in him and pour out our hearts before him (Psalm 62:8). Trusting in God will give us the confidence strength we need to submit to our husbands because we know that the Lord is faithful (2 Thess 3:3). When we trust God, we can feel safe in submitting to our husband, knowing that God’s is the right and best way.
The “holy women,” Peter says, also adorned themselves from within. Peter’s instruction In verse 3 says that the wives adornment (and the holy women) was not to be external, but internal, spiritual (3:4). In Greek, “adornment” means decoration or ornament. What makes us beautiful is not the outward decoration, but our “hidden person,” the one whose conduct is submissive.
When this was written, Roman women obsessed what they wore and how high they could get their hair braided. They focused on their outward adorning to the exclusion of other things, putting the emphasis on the wrong thing. God does not care about the length, color or braiding of our hair; whether we wear rings or jewelry; or if we have designer shoes, purses or clothes. He looks at our hearts (1 Sam. 16:7). If our hearts are right, and our conduct is submissive, we are adorning ourselves with appropriate “decorations.”
Inner “decoration” should dictate our outer adornments. If we have the incorruptible beauty that is precious to God, our outer “ornaments” will be far less important. Being submissive to our own husbands is part of that adorning. Submission is a beautiful gift we give our husbands. Remember, Peter speaks here to wives; there is no instruction for the husband to force or insist that his wife submit. This passage is not about his conduct, but ours! Submission is part of that beautiful adorning that is precious to God.
What did Sarah’s submission look like?
She “obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” – she was obedient and respectful. Paul ended his teaching on the marriage relationship by saying that a wife should respect her husband (Eph 5:22-33). Sarah showed Abraham respect by calling him “lord:” not as a term of worship but as a submissive gesture showing respect. A breakdown of this respect for husbands is a common feature of today’s culture; many wives treat their husbands more like their children than as loving partners. “Daughters of Sarah” should not fall into this cultural trap! Treat your husband with respect, submit to his faithful leadership and see how beautiful your relationship will become!
A Christian woman should be chaste as well as submissive (3:2). An unbelieving husband might not be persuaded by words, but may be won by our conduct. The ESV translates verse 2 as; “when they see your respectful and pure conduct.” Offering a husband respect with a submissive attitude, could go a long way in convincing him of the truth! If our actions are rebellious, defiant and insubordinate (feminist), WE could be what keeps him from accepting and obeying the truth, or being a willing leader in our home. A husband has the God-given responsibility of leadership in the home, but if he must constantly battle his bride, he might just give up trying to do what God has authorized him to do.
Peter concludes with the statement that we are Sarah’s daughters IF we do good and are not afraid.
What we are not to fear is not clear: Opinions vary as to exactly what “not afraid with any terror” means. I found the Amplified Bible’s comment about this phrase interesting; “not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you.” Whether he spoke of not fearing your unbelieving husband or not living in a terrified state, we should be calm natured, trusting in God as the daughter of Sarah would! Proverbs 3:25-26 tells us to trust in God, He will be your confidence.