Discussion on: "the wife, as to the weaker vessel" (1 Peter 3:7)
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In preparation for teaching on 1 Peter 3:1-7 in several weeks, I invite comments on the meaning of “the weaker vessel” from 1 Peter 3:1-7
Regular Baptist Press has this:
ESV:
Regular Baptist Press has this:
she is the ‘weaker vessel, which probably refers to the fact that God made women generally weaker physically than menFor reference purposes this is how various versions render the text:
ESV:
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a: of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.NASB:
You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.KJV:
Likewise, 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 hinderedNIV:
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayersNKJV:
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.
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so, are you saying that the weaker vessel means:
1. the woman is more prone to sin
2. the man has a stronger connection to God
3. the man is more in God’s likeness than woman
I’m just throwing out some ideas as to what you might be saying. I’m guessing you’re meaning #1, but i’m not sure. I actually have never thought that through.
Hi Anne,
No, I wouldn’t say any of these.
1) I think sin is an EOE—Equal Opportunity Employer (just a play on words, there :) ). But I believe there isn’t a quantity distinguisher in Scripture regarding men’s and women’s activity in sin. Both men and women are prone to the same devastating ugliness before a holy God. Romans 3
2) Gal. 3:20 says that there is equal value before God. We have equal access and, of course, equal responsibility.
3) Gen. 1:27 says that we were all created in the image of God, equally.
Hi Susan,
If you were to choose a partner for your business, would you choose someone who was slightly inept or a bit daft? Of course not. You’d choose someone capable and of good character- someone you could trust implicitly while you were away, someone you could leave in charge of the business at times so you could focus on other things.
And since our marriages/households have the much more important eternally weighted purpose than just mere temporal business endeavors, but to Eph. 5 model Christ and the Church, how much more ought we to look for someone who is equally desirous and hungry for the truth of Scripture and to obey it?
For whatever reason, the difference in how Adam and Eve mentally responded to the temptation in the Garden has set the standard for gender roles. Adam sinned willfully, Eve was beguiled. Women tend toward this weakness, men don’t, so God assigned men with leadership of the home and the church. We realize that is a generality, but the exceptions prove the rule. For every woman who is wise and hard working, I can give you 20 who are as vacant as a mall parking lot at 2am.
I’m not sure if I would agree with this, although, I certainly could be misunderstanding your point. I tend to be very vacant—at times. :) Gen. 2 (pre-curse), I believe, defines leadership roles set by God when He created Eve to help Adam. That’s how I see it played out in Scripture, anyway. :) Gender roles were set, from what I can tell, before sin entered the world. IMO, it was always intended that men have that headship/authority role.
Thanks! Kim :)
1. the woman is more prone to sin
2. the man has a stronger connection to God
3. the man is more in God’s likeness than woman
I’m just throwing out some ideas as to what you might be saying. I’m guessing you’re meaning #1, but i’m not sure. I actually have never thought that through.
Hi Anne,
No, I wouldn’t say any of these.
1) I think sin is an EOE—Equal Opportunity Employer (just a play on words, there :) ). But I believe there isn’t a quantity distinguisher in Scripture regarding men’s and women’s activity in sin. Both men and women are prone to the same devastating ugliness before a holy God. Romans 3
2) Gal. 3:20 says that there is equal value before God. We have equal access and, of course, equal responsibility.
3) Gen. 1:27 says that we were all created in the image of God, equally.
Hi Susan,
If you were to choose a partner for your business, would you choose someone who was slightly inept or a bit daft? Of course not. You’d choose someone capable and of good character- someone you could trust implicitly while you were away, someone you could leave in charge of the business at times so you could focus on other things.
And since our marriages/households have the much more important eternally weighted purpose than just mere temporal business endeavors, but to Eph. 5 model Christ and the Church, how much more ought we to look for someone who is equally desirous and hungry for the truth of Scripture and to obey it?
For whatever reason, the difference in how Adam and Eve mentally responded to the temptation in the Garden has set the standard for gender roles. Adam sinned willfully, Eve was beguiled. Women tend toward this weakness, men don’t, so God assigned men with leadership of the home and the church. We realize that is a generality, but the exceptions prove the rule. For every woman who is wise and hard working, I can give you 20 who are as vacant as a mall parking lot at 2am.
I’m not sure if I would agree with this, although, I certainly could be misunderstanding your point. I tend to be very vacant—at times. :) Gen. 2 (pre-curse), I believe, defines leadership roles set by God when He created Eve to help Adam. That’s how I see it played out in Scripture, anyway. :) Gender roles were set, from what I can tell, before sin entered the world. IMO, it was always intended that men have that headship/authority role.
Thanks! Kim :)
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/25/george-f-will-new-project-for-the-ge… A New Project for the Gender Police - Gallant government will protect the weaker sex
Women live five years longer than men. Their unemployment rate is significantly lower. For years they have received more high-school diplomas, B.A. and M.A. degrees, and now Ph.D.s.
…
Women were 49.7 percent of the workforce in August. Because the economic slump hit construction and manufacturing harder than government and health care, which employ more women, by November women may be, for the first time, a majority of workers. In this year’s second quarter, women earned 82.8 percent of the median weekly wage of men. Last year single women working full time earned 95 percent of what men earned. Young, unmarried, and childless urban women earn 8 percent more than similarly situated males.
Hi Marty—I didn’t want you to think I had completely forgotten about listening to Chuck. I’m sorry it’s taking me so long, but I finally got an opportunity to take a chunk of time. I clicked the link and the same “media not found” error message came up. Sorry! I also tried to just google “Chuck Missler” and got his (Chuck and Nancy Missler?) website. I searched there, but couldn’t really find any audio sermons for those verses. Just wanted to let you know. Thanks!
Kim :)
Kim :)
The link worked fine for me- PM me and I might be able to help you work out a fix.
Just a quick update on my mini-link dilemma. I still cannot view or hear Chuck, but, thanks to Susan, I now have Firefox as my browser(I think is the right term) and am really enjoying it! So in a roundabout way—thank you, too! :)
I’ll wait to hear from you if you want to try a different link or something. I told Susan it might be my computer setting so I’m going to check with my hubby tonight.
Thanks!
I’ll wait to hear from you if you want to try a different link or something. I told Susan it might be my computer setting so I’m going to check with my hubby tonight.
Thanks!
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