The Most Beautiful Woman In The Bible
1 Peter 3:1-7
Who is the most beautiful woman described in the Bible?
Young men, what if I could take you to a passage in the Bible that describes the
most beautiful woman in the Bible, and therefore, provides you with a model to
guide you in finding a wife?
Young women, what if I could take you to a passage in the Bible that describes just the kind of person you ought to be, to attract a godly man, but most important, to please your Creator?
Parents, what if I could take you to a passage that describes
the internal values you must nourish in your little girls?
Here it is:
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands,
that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the
conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by
fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing
gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the
heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very
precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy
women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own
husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if
you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the
wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life,
that your prayers may not be hindered.
The apostle Peter wrote this letter to Christians who were suffering. These
people were doing right, but suffering because of it.
Now marriage, under the best of circumstances, requires work: mutual intentional
commitment to each other, communication and patience. It is a relationship based
on promises made to God and to each other ideally. And in order for marriage to
work, survive and thrive, mutual commitment is essential. Under any
circumstances – the work must be done.
But in the case of Christian women who received Peter’s epistle, consider two
pressure points: (1) She was living in very difficult times for all Christians,
and (1) Her husband is not obedient to the Word of God.
What does she do? Walk away? Act with malice and aggression against the
unbelieving husband?
No. Peter’s direction to these Christian women was: Good Behavior! “…be
submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they,
without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.”
Just as Peter taught Christians to submit to every ordinance of man (2:13), and
submit to superiors in work context (2:18), wives are to submit to their
husbands, even though those men may not living according to the Word of God.
Submission continues through difficult times, because of conscience toward God.
And there may be an additional good result, as the unbelieving husband is
influenced by the “chaste conduct accompanied by fear” that he observes in his
wife.
What is “chaste conduct accompanied by fear?” What does the internal side of
that look like?
(1) There is an emphasis on inner beauty. The passages does not absolutely
forbid any and all external beauty (so long as it is modest, see 1 Tim. 2:9,10).
The point is one of emphasis. What takes priority over everything? The internal
attitudes of heart. Women must use the Word of God to look inside, where beauty
begins. “These verses do not ban grooming or beauty aids, but they do put these
adornments in proper perspective. If a woman relies only on these kinds of
things to make her beautiful, she will miss the greater value of inner beauty.
She must not go overboard patching up the externals while ignoring the internal
character. Seneca, the Roman philosopher, referred to women in this time period
who wore two or three fortunes in their ears. Peter encourages Christian women
not to lose their sense of value. They are to recognize the beauty of character
that is far more vital and important than external beauty,” (David Wallis and
Max Anders, Holman New Testament Commentary, I & II Peter, p.49).
(2) A “gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” The
word “gentle” does not mean letting men use you, abuse you, never defending
yourself or becoming the property of a domineering male. It has to do with
control, patience, and not being given to panic or impulsive outburst. It is
kindness that is not turned off by belligerence. She is to exhibit a calming
influence. This, of course, comes from the internal strength of faith, reverence
for God and love for her husband.
(3) This manner of life was illustrated by holy women in previous times, like
Sarah. All of this taught and written by the apostle Peter is not peculiar to
the New Covenant. God has always expected women to live as described here:
Chaste, respectful, meek, holy, living by hope in God, doing what is right out
of conscience. Sarah is offered as a specific illustration of this righteous
conduct. She is put before the reader as a model of what is being described. She
showed proper respect to Abraham, “calling him lord,” and that was not just
something she said; it was how she lived before God and toward Abraham.
Christian women today can become “children” or “daughters of Sarah,” when they
live as God intends, with the kind of inner character so well described in this
passage.
To young unmarried men, this is what you should be looking for. Your goal should
not be to win an external beauty, but rather find one devoted to inner beauty.
Having a “trophy” wife to show off to the world for her figure and her worldly
appeal is (1) alarming, and (2) contrary to the Biblical description of good
women. (3) It will never become the basis for good parenting and a strong and
lasting marriage. (4) God wants young men to find daughters of Sarah.
To young women, does this passage express your purpose, your goal and interests
“which is very precious in the sight of God?” Do not let men or the world
determine how you carry yourself and present yourself. If you want to know God,
serve Him and reflect His glory, take passages like this (in First Peter 3), and
let the discipline of this truth mold you and make you into a daughter of Sarah.
To parents, do you foresee that your little girl will grow up to meet this
description. If not, what do you need to be doing now?
Christians will find young Christian men and develop them as Paul developed Timothy, the results will be visible, valuable and pleasing to God.
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 17.12; December 2010
