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1 Peter 3:1-16 – Chiasm
1 Peter 3:1-16 (HCSB)
A – (1) In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a message by the way their wives live (2) when they observe your pure, reverent lives.
B – (3) Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. (4) Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. (5) For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, (6) just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.
C – (7) Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature
C’ – yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
B’ (8) Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, (9) not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing. (10) For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, (11) and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it, (12) because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. (13) And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? (14) But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, (15) but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.
A’ – Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (16) However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.
- A – Wives without a word win Husbands; respectful (phobos)
- A’ Christians with words Defend Hope; respectful (phobos)
- B – Proper Behavior of Wives; Do Not Be Afraid (phobeō); Hearts (kardia) of wives
- B’ – Proper Behavior of Christians; Do Not Be Afraid (phobeō); Hearts (kardia) of Christians.
- C – Husbands “live with” (sunoikeō) Wives as “Weaker Vessel”
- C’ – Wives “coheirs (sugklēronomos) of the grace of life”
Each level is about contrasts:
- Wives vs. Christians: Wives win without words vs. Christians make a defense with words.
- Wives as “weaker vessel” vs. Wives are “co-heirs.”
Each level is about comparisons:
- Wives and Christians: Proper behavior of both.
- Wives and Christians: Hearts
- Wives and Christians: No Fear
What advantage is there to seeing this chiastic form? From a Western prose position, Peter seems almost misogynistic. He spends six verses giving instructions to women, but only one to men. From a Semitic chiastic position, the central idea is not to women, but to men. So while fewer words are spent instructing men, the instruction to men is concentric point.
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