18 Paula,

First let me clarify that I have no issues with “submit”; I know what it does and doesn’t mean, so that did not factor into my view of this passage at all

Thanks for clarifying!

A Christian wife of a non-Christian husband had a tough job, because she often could not say a word to him about religious matters. Her actions were her only witness, and such actions went beyond the norm for the society, which considered women to lack the depth of character Peter encourages here.

Very well said!

As for Sarah, I think the OT shows both from Abraham’s actions and Sarah’s demands on him concerning Hagar that she did not hesitate to openly scold him at times.

While you may be right, I see Sarah’s demand not as scolding but as a command that God affirmed was a righteous command when he told Abraham to obey her.

So Peter is not giving all Christian wives a more restricted range of behavior than husbands, but advising believing wives on how to achieve the difficult task of witnessing to unbelieving husbands.

I would not say at all that Peter is giving Christian wives a more restricted range of behavior. I think that he is reminding all wives that the Christian attitude of submission is due even to their husbands (in the teaching of Christian freedom which is the other side of the coin and which Peter also touches on with the issue of self-determination, many women would naturally want to reject supporting their husbands and treating them with respect since most if not all likely followed the “I rule you drool” “manly” way of taking male privilege) and due even to unbelieving husbands. The purpose of aiding unbelieving husbands to come to faith in Christ is there in the passage but it also follows the term “in like manner” which clearly shows that this is a Christian attitude and way of life, not just a woman’s attitude and way of life.

And again, my interpretation is not driven by fear of the word “lord”; I am well familiar with its usage.

This part I didn’t pick up from your comments. It seemed to me that you were looking at the term “lord” as almost a mocking term since it was said to be used in derision. I think that threw me off.