Saturday, October 08, 2005

Paraphrasing 1 Peter 3:7

Last Sunday, several of us were praying before church. Peggy, an older woman who richly loves the Lord, said that she will be talking on 1 Peter 3:7 at a wedding that she would be attending shortly. She asked us if any of us had any insight into this verse.

I have spent some time on it. I have a load of alternate translations, etc. that I am placing in the comments.
1 Peter 3:7,8. NASB95
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
Paraphrasing 1 Peter 3:7. Husbands, I just got finished telling your wives to be submissive, respectful, gentle, and quiet. In others words, I told them to think about how they should live with you, before a loving God who holds you in high esteem. Now, think about this. She is weaker than you are. Be gentle with her. She breaks easily. And not just physically. She easily wounds emotionally, too. Hold her in high esteem, respect her. She will inherit from God everything that you will. She receives the same grace from God that you do and you will. She will have eternal life just like you do. If you do honor her, then your communion and communication with God will not be hindered, blocked, or delayed. And your prayer will flow easily to Him who hears us all.
Now for the hard part. How does one walk this out? How have I walked this out?