Unfading beauty

Read 1 Peter 3:3-6

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So for us all, submission is an aspect of being like Jesus (Ph.2:3-8). Its particular relevance here is that unbelieving husbands may be “won over without words when they see the purity and reverence of their wives” (3:1-2). Words will have a part to play (3:15) but it is holy living rooted in reverent fear of God (1:17; 2:17) which will prompt people to ask us about our faith.

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Purity and reverence for God produce lasting inner beauty. Peter is not banning outward adornment (3) but comparing it with “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (4). Such meekness is not a quality of weakness but of strength. Jesus was meek (praus, Mt.11:29) and this is a fruit which the Holy Spirit wants to grows in every Christian (Gal.5:23). In the Greek word praus, “strength and gentleness are perfectly combined” (Barclay).

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Such beauty will increase even as physical beauty fades (2 Cor.3:18). Better still, it will be “of great worth in God’s sight”, as well as pleasing to the husband, for it’s about being holy (5; 1:15), about our hope (5; 1:13), about doing good (6; 2:15) and about the strength of character which enables men and women alike to not give way to fear (6; 1 Jn.4:18).