Articles
The Weaker Vessel
To the sheer delight of feminists everywhere, Peter refers to a man’s wife as a “weaker vessel” (1 Pet 3:7). The standard feminist take on this is that the Bible is misogynist and denigrates women as brainless slaves, good for nothing but birthing babies and cooking meals. To be self-actualized, women need to break out of this antiquated mold and dominate in boardrooms, state houses and on the battlefield. Only by exercising her sheer strength, intellect, creativity and tenacity in a “man’s world” will she reach the zenith of her potential.
Clinton Hamilton comments: “(Weaker vessel) is used here in the comparative degree, weaker, and in this context she is weaker than is her spouse. But weaker … or more feeble in what sense? Certainly, not in moral and spiritual qualities because the Bible has many examples of women who were models of spiritual comportment … This leaves the physical sense as to the point of comparison. Because of this … attribute pagan men often abused their wives as do men in this day … because they have the strength to do so. But the will of God demands a different kind of behavior of husbands …” (Truth Commentary on 1 Peter, 138).
A wife should be honored and handled as gingerly as fine china. She should be loved as Christ loves His church; and supported, affirmed, defended and made to feel secure and appreciated. If more men would do that, then perhaps fewer women would be on medications and filing for divorce. A wife and mother in her own home should never have to question her husband’s devotion, should never have hands laid on her in a hostile manner and should never be the recipient of demeaning words. An honored wife is a woman contented with the exalted role God gave her.
