
Writer of Fancy: The Playful Piety of Jane Austen

1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary

The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter

A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons

Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature

Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism

A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel

From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution

Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper

A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament

Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature

Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays

Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life

The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Wives, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
Let us pray.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, October 7, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Another student, Peter Rae, came up with a chiastic outline of 1 Peter:
A. Greeting, 1:1-2
B. Rejoicing in trial, 1:3-25
C. Abstain from flesh, 2:1-12
D. Submit to those in authority, 2:13-3:17
C’. Christ the example, 3:18-4:11
B’. Rejoicing in trial, 4:11-5:11
A’. Farewell, 5:12-14
The intriguing this about this structure is the way that it highlights submission to authority. This appears to fit with Peter’s emphasis elsewhere in 1 Peter, and even more fully in 2 Peter, on the nearness of judgment and the growing intensity of persecution. A speculative reconstruction would run along these lines: With persecutions increasing, Peter’s readers were tempted to take things into their own hands and rebel outright. Peter writes to warn them off the temptation to Zealotry. In his second letter, Peter then has to assure the same readers that their patience in the face of persecution is not in vain. The Lord will come and will judge, however slow it might seem to us.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Monday, May 9, 2005 at 7:01 pm
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