Michael

Finally Thoughts on

1 Peter 3:7 The Voice (VOICE)

7 In the same way, husbands, as you live with your wives, understand the situations women face as the weaker vessel. Each of you should respect your wife and value her as an equal heir in the gracious gift of life. Do this so that nothing will get in the way of your prayers.

The Voice (VOICE)

I’ve read many different translations and of course looking up the Original Hebrew/Greek. From the pottery example I think this view is also correct. Ever since the fall woman has been at a disadvantage (As The) weaker vessel….men ruling over women. That was NOT Gods design. That Sin (Men ruling over Women from the Fall/Sin) is broken at the cross! Christ has raised up women to a place of honor again!

Didn’t Jesus say to Martha “I am the resurrection….

John 11:25 New English Translation (NET Bible)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life……

Meaning not just resurrecting the physical dead (Like her Brother etc) but resurrecting the state of Woman!

This is a powerful thought!

Continuing thought on 1 Peter 3:7 verse:

So why does it say “weaker”? That leads to the second major modification:

It says AS, Not Is. The misquoted version leaves out the terribly important word as (Gk. hōs.) The Bible doesn’t say, “The women is a weaker vessel.” It says, “Show her honor as a weaker vessel.” Those little letters make a big difference. It’s not an equivalency but a comparison. Consider another Scriptural example:

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

If someone said that the Bible makes it clear that we need to have wool, slither around, and lay eggs, you’d say they were nuts. You’d be right. The word “as” shows that Jesus is using a simile, a figure of speech. We’re not doves; rather, we’re like doves in one particular point for the purposes of an illustration. (Namely, we should be gentle and innocent in our dealings with others.)

In what way is a wife like a weaker vessel? She’s certainly not weaker mentally, spiritually, emotionally, giftedly, or any other way that really matters.

Thus a lot of commentators take the view that it’s merely about physical strength, considering that Peter was likely writing to an audience where husbands were manual laborers while wives ran the household. That’s somewhat sensible, at least if you’re thinking about heavy lifting, but most women can take just as much physical strain as men in other ways. I don’t know any men who want to take on the pain of childbirth, for instance.

Even running a household is no job for a weakling; the Proverbs 31 woman has enough skills to rival any business executive. And domestic work is downright intimidating to lots of manly men I could name.

So I wonder if there’s more to it than that. Remember, the structure of the phrase is, “Show her honor as a weaker vessel.” The central word is honor, a term of value, worth, and respect. The illustrative word, vessel, is a term for pottery, often used as a metaphor for people since God is compared to a potter (see Romans 9:20-23).

What’s the connection between honor and pottery?

We tend to think of weakness in terms of inferiority. But in pottery, the finer a vessel is, the more valuable it is. Anyone can make a bulky old piece of stoneware for everyday use, but a piece of fine china — a Grecian urn — a Ming vase — a Tiffany lamp — Waterford crystal — that’s the work of a master. You handle that with respect and care. You put it in a special place where people can admire it. You make sure nobody does anything to break it. In a word, you honor it.
Its weakness doesn’t mean it’s more dependent. It means it’s more valuable.

The point of the verse is not, “Remember that your wife is weak, like a piece of china.” It’s, “Treat your wife with honor, just as you would treat the fine work of a master craftsman.”

The idea that “weaker” should be understood as “inferior” is demolished once and for all when we see the last major modification:

It says HEIR’S, not inferiors. The misquoted version above leaves out the entire second half of the verse. That’s suspicious. Once we see what the omitted part says, the game is up. The reason husbands should treat their wives with understanding and honor, according to the verse itself, is this:

“…since they are heirs with you of the grace of life…”

They are heirs with you. They’re not your inferiors or subordinates or dependents. They don’t need your protection or covering or authority to stand before God. They stand shoulder to shoulder with you as equal recipients of God’s grace. They get the same divine adoption as you. They get the same spiritual life as you. They get the same inheritance as you. According to the very same verse that’s been manhandled to say that women are inferior to men, women are equal to men.

1 peter 3:7 Helping others to understand this scripture

The Gospel is directly and deeply related to the way husbands treat their wives. God has chosen His people to be the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7). “This is a great mystery,” writes Paul regarding marriage, “but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32). “I will betroth you to me forever,” God says through the prophets (Hosea 2:19). “For your Maker is your husband,” says Isaiah (54:5). “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5). “‘Return, faithless people,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I am your husband’” (Jeremiah 3:14).

That means we all are “weaker vessels.”

And that means the way that verse says husbands should treat their wives is the way our Bridegroom treats us– with understanding and honor and self-sacrifice.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
…but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong… (1 Corinthians 1:27)
Christ, our Bridegroom, takes weaker vessels and puts them in places of honor. God transforms vessels of wrath into vessels of mercy. God fills earthen vessels of weakness with His Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter if you’re weak or strong, Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free. We all stand side by side as joint heirs of the grace of life.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. …
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

(2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18 NASB)

Wow,
I really enjoy reading all of the comments. So full of education and love. I want to learn all i can on hard topics like these and im so glad i mean really glad i found this blog. May God bless everyone here and thanks so very much for teaching me about God and revealing His word. I hope to teach others the truth as well. Amen

The only position I have ever heard defended biblically is the position that the only position withheld is that of pastor (Bishop or overseer of a church):

1Ti 3:1-2 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…

There seems to be no other restrictions, such as Sunday school, special music, missions, etc.

That said, I’ve seen some unjust bashing of “fundamentalism.” I graduated from one of the largest conservative Christian colleges in America. They had female missionaries come in to speak about their missions and female singers perform during services. The self described fundamentalist church I go to currently is no different.

Islamic fundamentalism = Christian fundamentalism? For the record, whenever I’ve heard the ‘notorious’ verse “wives submit yourselves to your husbands…” I’ve heard the following verse preached. “husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it…”Ephesians 5:25.

In Islam, women are considered property, to be used and treated like dogs. Any preacher teaching this is not doing so on biblical grounds, and thus is not adhering to the “fundamentals of the faith” from which the term fundamentalist was coined.

Also remember Israel wanted Kings to rule over them like the other nations. God said no but they kept on asking and so God gave them what they wanted and we know all about the bad Kings as well as that one Queen that got throwed out the window to boot!

Yet there was only one female priest you can say that saved her whole people and that was Queen Esther! To Israel she was just a beautiful woman for her body, and God is like (more or less) if you won’t treat her like a queen, a daugther/child of the Living God, then I will show you a nation who will and she will be the one who will save my nation Israel that I have made! So God uses a women here not a man. Maybe it was to show us men not to put God to the test!

Also I like your understanding about the OLD TESTAMENT priesthood that it wasn’t to stay male. But for the sake of arguement from the opposing complementarian side, we are not under Law and in the New Covenant/Body Of Christ we are ALL a royal priesthood, Heirs, doesn’t that sound Great?! Male & Female working together as One with Christ as are One an Only High-Priest!

I also see the opposing side messing with the TRINITY!!! Trying to work there false teaching of not letting Godly Gifted Women to teach into the Trinity and messing with our dear Lord Jesus! They are going down the same path that The JW’s. Momons,SDA have done. What’s the end result, Hurt People,recked familys,drug abuse,death,suicide etc etc all because they are reading scripture out of context and making false teachings and bondage! This is a Very Very big problem and I’m happy to try an stop it or at the very least help people/ also my Brother & Sisters who are down on the ground to get them back up on there feet!

maybe you can have a post on The Trinity!

Adam & Eve experienced nothing but Good from God and KNEW what was the BAD thing not to do (Eat From That Tree) infact everything was Very Good. Once they ate and experienced the knowledge of GOOD and BAD things changed! The law of God is GOOD and because it’s GOOD Something BAD will you experience or happen if you go against that Goodness (Which Is Death) or in the Orig. Hebrew: In the day that thou eat of Dieing you shall die!Meaning not just spiritual death but also physical death and then something worse…second death in Hell! Thank God for Mercy/Grace!
Does the above make sense?

That was a good teaching above. The only thing I disagree with is Adam being alone for a 100years. Adam & Woman(Eve) were made on the sixth day after naming the animals in eden! We don’t know how long they were in the garden before they fell! As perfect people there was no death no need to rush and have Children but they knew one day they would have kids! They had perfect self-control, maybe they took awhile getting to know one another? But once they were kicked out of Eden and now have a death sentence Time is now there enemy/against them! So the next thing we read is Adam & Eve having kids! This is my view on this.

Thanks Charis ,

I printed out your comments/Teaching on the Tree Of Knowledge! I think…I know you worded it better then me! Thanks so much for your Godly insight on these very deep things of God’s Word!

:QUOTE:I also wonder what it means and if it has any bearing that in 1Peter 3:7 that the woman is “the weaker vessel”. I don’t think it is an insult toward women, a character flaw, nor a design flaw. Somehow it is God’s intention, part of HIS design, and very good.

And, Adam was closer to a pure “image of God” than any other man who ever lived (besides Jesus). It says in 1Tim 2:14 “Adam was not deceived”. He made the decision to eat the fruit before his eyes were open to the knowledge of good and evil which leads to death. What if his motivations were far more noble than what we imagine? Suppose he CHOSE to die by eating the fruit out of LOVE for his wife??? It still transgressed the boundaries God gave him, so it was still sin. The tree which leads to death is not JUST the knowledge of evil. Somehow “the knowledge of good” leads to death too. :END QUOTE:

STARTING WITH THE PHRASE “the weaker vessel”.
7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

That phrase from my understanding of scripture is this. Woman has a big disadvantage because of the fall, the curse on woman would be (History shows it) that:an he (Man/male) shall rule over you (women/female)! The husband is told to give honour & according to knowledge now because your both Heirs together in Christ. The only way to break that curse or undo it, is being in Christ. Giving your wife (or sister in the faith) equal rein to rule together side by side just like it was before the curse/fall because we are BOTH heirs and In Christ. ONE Hope ONE faith ONE baptism etc. An we single men can learn from this passage as well even though it was written to Husbands. We need to back up our sisters (an wifes to thoughs who are married) in Christ to answer their higher callings from HIM. If you hinder her (Gods Daugthers/Sisters/Women/Wifes) your prayers will be hindered!

Now for the other question about Knowledge: If good knowledge or wisdom leads to death then was it good in the first place? (Don’t confuse that question about Christ going to the cross to die because he beat death when he rose again) that was God’s good wisdom/understanding at it’s best! Maybe to rephrase that question would be this: If good knowledge or wisdom leads to (HELL FOREVER) then was it good wisdom/knowledge in the first place? No. The whole idea of Good wisdom an Knowledge is to PROTECT someone from doing something bad or to warn someone to not make a bad choice or go down a bad path!
The TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD & EVIL IN THE GARDEN: All of what God makes is perfect an good. It was good that that tree was in the garden because it was a visable reminder to Adam as well as Eve that as long as they didn’t eat from that tree ( not to be like God) that was good! It was bad to eat from it it would bring death!
They all ready had the knowledge of good & evil FROM GOD. Its was good not to eat (or touch), it was bad if they did. If they ate from that tree they would get the knowledge of good & evil by EXPERIENCE but now you have to EXPERIENCE THE BAD AFFECT of that action SIN WHICH BRINGS DEATH!
Look at it this way,once they sinned they knew God was GOOD (He Warned Them) but now they did an EVIL thing(They Ate/Sinned). Also it proves God means what He said!
It was in the Garden where “Self” was born. ME,MYSELF,AND I. The tempation with Eve. The Fruit looked good to ME, To make ME wise/wisdom, To be like God etc.ME ME ME, Me Myself and I.
Jesus said to forsake/denied self! Self: We are our own worse enemy!

Adam knew full well that if he ate that fruit he would die. That fact that he took the fruit from Eve and did eat, kind of implys that he secretly wanted to be like God even though he had the knowledge otherwise!

Did adam think like this: We can’t be God but if she eats first and doesn’t die I’ll eat an be like God too and if anything goes wrong I’ll just blame Her! An that’s what he did…Blames God first and then the Woman for giving him the fruit! Notice God makes it clear it wasn’t him who did wrong but adam and thaT “WOMAN” Is not just any woman she is your “Wife”! God doesn’t say because you listen to the womans voice…NO…He said Because you listen to your Wife’s voice…
Sin was already at work in Adam as well as Eve! Adam didn’t even want to achknowledge the woman as his wife! They both hide in shame. While Eve tells the truth the serpent tricked me and I did eat, she didn’t want to say it was my fault, the same for adam! No one wanted to take personal blame for there own sin! Sin had it’s effects in the Garden. Thank God for His Mercy!

Well, right now I’m in a bible study group (is was suppose to be all Women/Only Women) I broke through that wall Praise Jesus. When we went around to tell alittle about ourselfs. I said in Love with a smile, My name is Michael,I’m a Evangelist, I got Ordained, Have degrees, and I’m a Christian For Biblical Equality, Those who might disagree I repect you and I’m thankful for letting me be apart of this group because I need to be fed and my church is giving me the run around. I prayed to the Lord about this and now I’m in a womens group (smile) and everyone Laughted and praised the Lord! So my story is I’m trying to win My/Our Brothers & Sisters to this Biblical View Point by my actions! Because you can talk till your blue in the face to some people, you know. “Be doer’s of the Word not just hearers!”

I know this will help others!

Don Veinot really helped me. Lorri from MMOUTREACH put me in contact with him as we are from the same state IL. and not to far away from each other! Great interview, wow!

It’s amazing how we all find each other on the net! The spirit of truth is truely guide us!

The forbidden (Tree) must of had no seed!

another thought on what you said. They could eat of every seed baring fruit! We know there are many Trees Of Life In New Jeresalem above??? But there was only one in Eden, maybe it had seeds in it to be planted all over the earth? It’s just a thought. Maybe the forbidden tree had no seeds in it’s fruit, maybe showing one cannot eat of it an go on living, seedless,death!? once again this is just a throught and I’m sure Christ will be happy to answer all our questions in time if He so choose’s!
Happy studying and growing in God’s Word!

The forbidden (Tree) must of had no seed!

There’s a thought right there, we won’t know until we get to Heaven and all those questions will be answered! Good Point!

Just going into scripture and reading the text as is without adding or taking anything away and we find Pure Truth in God’s Word & Understanding Into These Deep Things/Matters!