She’s not just a vessel he’s a vessel too because she’s the weaker and he’s the stronger vessel. You’ve got two vessels: a weaker and a stronger vessel.
The first thing to notice is that she’s called the weaker vessel, meaning the husband is also a vessel. So, Patricia’s question relates specifically to the term “the weaker feminine vessel” or “the weaker vessel, the feminine one.” Three words need explanation, right? Vessel (what’s that?), feminine, and weaker. And those two ways of being drawn out to this woman interweave to create the unique Christian beauty of what Paul calls headship and submission. Her being weaker draws out of him one kind of honoring, and her being a fellow heir of glory draws out of him another kind of honoring. I don’t think Peter made any mistake there or was writing carelessly. So, two things govern a Christian husband’s demeanor toward his wife in this verse: (1) the fact that she does not share his superior masculine strength, and (2) the fact that she does share the glory of being an heir of God. And the other fact that you should live in the light of is that she shares with you in glory of being an heir of God. So, Peter is saying to husbands, “As you live with your wives, consider two central realities that you should know”- in other words, live “according to knowledge.” Here’s what you should know: One is that you, husband, are the stronger and she is the weaker vessel.
Likewise, husbands, live together according to knowledge with your wives, as with a weaker vessel, the feminine one, showing honor as also living together with fellow heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.
Let’s begin with a literal translation of the verse she’s asking about, 1 Peter 3:7. “Hello, Pastor John, and thank you for the podcast! What does Peter mean in 1 Peter 3:7 when he writes that husbands should live with their wives in an understanding way, ‘as the weaker vessel’? Specifically, what is the weaker vessel? Is she physically weaker, emotionally weaker, spiritually weaker, or something altogether different? Thank you for your help.” Today’s question comes to us from a listener named Patricia. Several times in this podcast we have looked at 1 Peter 3:7, but only briefly and never at length.
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