3:1-6 What lesson is Peter teaching Christian wives here?

Peter is teaching Christian wives here that they must be submitted to their husbands according to the divine order, whether their husbands are believers or not (cp Gen 3:16; 1 Cor 11:1-10; Eph 5:22-24, 33; Col 3:18; Tit 2:3-5). 1 Cor 11:10 refers to a wife's long hair as a sign of her subjection to her husband.

The phrase because of the angels indicates that angels are always present in the assembly and the divine order must always be observed. Eph 5:22-24 teaches that the relationship between a husband and wife is a picture of that between Christ and the church. Just as the church is submitted to Christ, so too wives are to be submitted to their husbands. Her conduct as a dutiful, loving, devoted wife should be a testimony to her husband of her faith in Christ, which could be the catalyst which wins him to Christ.

Wives are not to reproach their husbands for their behaviour toward them, but are to manifest the meekness, gentleness and kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ (cp Mt 5:5; 2Cor 10:1).

Wives should not try to influence their husbands for Christ with their outward appearance, but rather by their inner life of holiness, and submission to their husbands. This is not teaching against wives wearing nice clothes and some jewellery.

But scripture does teach against Christian women generally wearing extravagantly expensive clothes and adorning themselves with showy, expensive jewellery that draws attention to themselves and detracts from the worship of God, (cp 1Ti 2:9-10).

See also comments on 1 Cor 11:3-16, Eph 5:22-24, 1Ti 2:9-10.

1 Peter