Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Peter 3:7

Duty of husbands to their wives. Application of principle πάντας τιμήσατε. κατὰ γνῶσιν, for the woman is the weaker vessel the pot which the stronger the cauldron may easily smash (Sir 13:2). ὡς, κ. τ. λ. point with comma after γνῶσιν and τιμήν. σκεύει. The comparison of Creator and creature to potter and clay is found first in Isaiah 29:16, but is latent in the description of the creation (יצר) of Adam from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7 f.). In the prophets it is developed and applied variously (Isaiah 45:9 f., Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:6). In Sap. 15:7, there is an elaborate description of the maker of clay images, in which σκεῦος replaces πλάσμα and vessels which serve clean uses are distinguished from the contrary sort. Thence St. Paul adopts the figure and employs it to illustrate the absolute sovereignty of the Creator, as Isaiah had done (see Romans 9:21), distinguishing vessels intended for honour from those intended for dishonour. Lastly 2 Timothy 2:20 exemplifies the particular application of the figure, on which Peter's use of σκεῦος rests ἐν μεγάλῃ δὲ οἰκίᾳ (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 4:17) … κ. τ. λ. The comparative ἀσθενεστέρῳ proves that both husband and wife are vessels and assists to exclude the notion that St. Paul could mean to call a wife the vessel of her husband in 1 Thessalonians 4:4. ὡς … ζωῆς, inasmuch as they are also heirs with you of the grace (1 Peter 1:10; 1 Peter 1:13) of life (1 Peter 2:24): the heavenly inheritance is not distributed according to earthly custom, which gave the wife no rights of her own. εἰς … ὑμῶν. If the prayers are those of all (1 Peter 3:8) compare 1 Corinthians 7. (τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἀποδιδότω … ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ). Peter teaches that married life need not if the wife be properly honoured hinder religious duties, as St. Paul feared (1 Corinthians 7:32 ff.). If ὑμῶν = you husbands (as v.l. συγκληρονόμοι requires) cf. James 5:4.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Peter 3:7

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