Range of Meaning

Words have a range of meanings. For example, a trunk can be the trunk of an elephant, the trunk of a tree, the trunk of a car, the trunk to carry clothes (i.e., a suitcase), etc. Context and usage tell give us the correct meaning. The same is true of the Greek verb upotasso. Twelve-year-old Jesus returned home with his parents and was obedient [upotasso] to them (Luke 2:51, NIV). The seventy-two disciples returned and said, “Lord, even the demons submit [upotasso] to us in your name” (Luke 10:17, NIV). Because of the fall, the creation was “subjected [upotasso] to frustration” (Rom 8:20, NIV). I’ve used one single translation, the NIV, to show how the verb upotasso has a range of meanings from obedient to subject and submit.

Peter told the slaves to upotasso to their masters, which we may rightfully translate as “be obedient” or “submit,” since slaves were in a lesser position than the masters were (1 Pet 2:18). But when he said to the wives to upotasso, most likely he thought of them as partners and meant for the verb to mean “agree,” “coordinate with,” or “cooperate with” your husbands. We see such a diversity of meaning for upotasso in the Old Testament. The NIV translated it as “be still” – “Be still [upotasso] before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Ps 37:7), “in triumph” – “Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph [upotasso]” (Ps 60:8), or “find rest” – “Truly my soul finds rest [upotasso] in God; my salvation comes from him” (Ps 62:1). Since we believe God created women and men as co-rulers in his creation, we must understand upotasso differently than we do with slaves and masters or parents and children.

“Wives, live cooperatively [upotasso] with your husbands so that if the word doesn’t persuade any of them, they would be gained through their wives’ lifestyles without any word by seeing your pure admiration and changed lifestyle.” (1 Pet 3:1–2)

Husbands who weren’t convinced by apostolic teachings that Jesus was their Messiah wouldn’t be able to argue with the changed lives of their wives. They admired their husbands and changed their lifestyles, including their focus.

“A lifestyle that isn’t outwardly, that is, braided hair, wearing gold, or highly decorated clothing, but one that is hidden, that is, of a person’s heart, the imperishable beauty of gentleness and quiet spirit, which is expensive before God.” (1 Pet 3:3–4)

Peter was a married apostle and knew his wife’s true beauty wasn’t in what she wore but in who she was, the expensive characters God saw. He wanted the wives in his audience to focus on inner beauty more than external beauty because that would draw their unbelieving husbands to the Messiah.

Judeo-Christianity begins with the foundational truth that God created women and men equally. “In his image, he made them” (Gen 1:27). They are co-rulers of God’s creation then and now. Once a woman and a man marry, they become equal partners in the new family. Within this, if one spouse is an unbeliever, the best way to draw him or her to Christ is through our changed lifestyles, not words. This was Peter’s message then and now.