1 Peter 3:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear —

NIV: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.

NASB: Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel;

CSB: Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry,

NLT: Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.

KJV: Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

NKJV: Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—

This is part of a longer instruction to Christian wives in verses 1 through 6. The specific idea here, regarding beauty, further describes how a Christian wife with an unbelieving husband should expect to "win" him to faith in Christ. This "submission" has an important context, however. It does not mean domination, or blind obedience. In fact, Christians are obligated to disobey human instructions which would cause us to sin. Verses 1 and 2 explore this in more detail.

The first crucial point to understand is that Peter is not forbidding these things. He is not prohibiting women from braiding hair, wearing gold jewelry, or wearing clothing! His command is that Christian wives should not seek their "adornment" or "beauty" or identity in these external fashion choices. Then, as today, women felt societal pressure about fashion and beauty. Many women have felt the burden to live up to the beauty standards of their culture. Unfortunately, this sometimes includes a sense that a wife needs to compete for their husband's attention and affection. As it does now, this required time, energy, and money.

On the other hand, influential Greek and Roman writers such as Seneca, Plutarch, Tacitus, and others instructed women to be modest and dignified, instead. While not calling for women to be sloppy or crude, they recognized that a woman's true worth is not in her appearance. Peter's instruction from God came closer to that idea, urging women to understand, in part, that their husbands would not be won to Christ by their efforts to beautify themselves externally.

Verse 4 gives the other side of this coin. Christian women should not obsess on external beauty. Instead, they are to emphasize the "hidden person of the heart."

1 Peter 3:1–7 continues Peter’s command to Christians, specifically, that they should be subject to human authorities. Here he tells Christian wives to be subject to their husbands, even unbelieving husbands. Why? In part, husbands may be won to Christ by the example of their Christ-changed wives. Christian husbands are also commanded to honor their wives or risk having their prayers hindered.

Peter continues teaching about Christian submission to human authorities, now addressing Christian wives. Believing wives must be subject to their own husbands, even if the husband is not a follower of Christ. By doing so, they might win them to Christ through the example of their own changed lives and hearts. Christian husbands must honor their wives. All believers must live in unity together and refuse to seek revenge. In part, God means to use our hopeful response to suffering to provoke the world to see His power in us. Christ, too, suffered and then died, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven.

Peter’s letter to persecuted Christians is about how to endure suffering for faith in Christ. Thus far, he has assured Christians that their future is secure in eternity with God. We are His holy people, set apart for His specific purposes. Because of this, it matters that we live out that truth, even when we suffer. Christians are called to live in submission to every human authority, including kings, governors, and slave masters.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.