The background of this passage indicates that there were many wealthy Jewish women who had joined the church following their conversion. Peter was doubtless concerned because of the way they appeared in the congregation. You talk about some of today's styles— Clement of Rome, in a contem porary discussion of those days, declared that some of the women had hair styles which were as much as 12 inches high above their heads. These ladies were so care fully coiffed, intertwined with chains of gold or pearls, that they would not dare sleep in a reclining position. Generally they would doze sitting up and in this way avoid having their hair styles dis turbed. That does not sound too far-fetched! What is more, those early days for the church, espe cially for the wealthy women, were really a clothes parade. It was tre mendously important to be seen in the latest and most stylish garb. Actually, we do not find things much different than that today, do we? Nudity is flaunted on every hand, with women's clothing down to a very bare minimum. We are to so dress that we are not trying to gain the attraction of the oppo site sex or the jealousy of our own. John Newton suggested, "Make sure you clothe yourself so that people will not recall what you had on, but rather your own Christian gentleness and modesty." That is a perfect observation and com mentary on the situation found here in I Peter 3:3. In verse four, the Apostle says, "But let it be (that is, the adorn ing of one's body) the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of
a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." "The hidden man of the heart" means the "real you." This is what you are when the lights are out, when no one else is around. As a believer we are not to be filled with the corruptible things of this world. Most of the things women treasure are actually lost on men. They fail to take note or fully ap preciate them. I am thinking of jewelry, furs, silks, laces and all the like. But there is one thing a man can see. It takes no skill in discerning inward beauty. It is read ily noticed. One who has a meek and quiet spirit will have found a place in the sight of God, accord ing to 3:4, of very great price. Philips translates this verse, "The unfading loveliness of a calm and gentle spirit." MEEKNESS The word "meek" may not fit in, but be in discord with women's liberation today. It may be entirely against the world's ideals. Keep in mind, though, that "meek" can never be used as a synonym for the word "weak." They are com pletely different. "Meekness" really means "strength under control." Originally it was used in connec tion with wild horses, animals that had been tamed and properly har- nassed so that they could fulfill some usefulness. The other thing this verse teaches us is that not only is meekness a virtue but so also is a quiet spirit. Do not think this is insignificant as you look at it from face value. It simply means the ability to be able to keep from flaring up. In fact, one translation has it "to keep one's seat in the sight of an emo tional concern." That is a "quiet
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