BEAUTY WITHIN

Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Key verse: 4

NIV

3 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves(A) to your own husbands(B) so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over(C) without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.(D) 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self,(E) the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.(F) 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God(G) used to adorn themselves.(H) They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.(I) You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

7 Husbands,(J) 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 prayers.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Wives and Husbands

3 Likewise, wives, (A)be subject to your own husbands, so that (B)even if some do not obey the word, (C)they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your (D)respectful and pure conduct. 3 (E)Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be (F)the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (G)calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and (H)do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, (I)husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker (J)vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 3:7 Some manuscripts since you are joint heirs
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. To win an unbelieving husband

A woman's beauty is not in her outward appearance; she is beautiful if her heart and life are pure and reverent. She is beautiful if she has a gentle and quiet spirit, and if her hope is not in the things of the world, but in God. Women become proud and cantankerous when they put their hope in men or in growing children, or in a new house or a new car or in a job. A woman should strive to maintain spiritual order in her home as Sarah did by obeying Abraham. She should not give in to fear, but do what is right. A woman should not divorce an unbelieving husband if he consents to live with her (1Co 7:12-14). Unbelieving husbands can be won to faith, not by talk but by Christ-like behavior.

2. Husbands, treat your wives with respect

A man should treat his wife with respect and consideration. He should refrain from physical violence, for she is weaker than he is, and she is also an heir of God and joint heir with Christ (Ro 8:17).

Prayer: Lord, help me to grow in inner beauty.

One Word: Be beautiful on the inside