So “the weaker vessel” is potentially the kind of person who is capable of producing all kinds of God-glorifying and people-blessing attitudes and actions. ![]() ![]() Paul, for instance, said that someone rightly related to the Lord could become “an instrument (skeuos) for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Tim. It looks as if Peter is encouraging husbands to look at their wives as some kind of useful possessions! But it’s obvious that the writers of the New Testament had a much higher view of people, including wives, as vessels and used the word in another sense. The word skeuos means a possession that is useful, as a pot is useful for carrying water or a sail is useful for providing wind power for a boat. So here goes!īy using the word “vessel” to describe a wife, Peter was paying her a compliment. That led to the necessity for further clarification. “Vessels?!!” they said, unsure whether that meant vessel as in tugboat or water pot but being unimpressed with both. He called women ‘weaker vessels’!” I replied foolishly. “Why then did he call us “weaker partners?” they asked. I tried to assure them that Peter was not making any negative comments about their undeniable abilities. While I have a definite regard for Peter, I couldn’t argue with the statements these women were making. ![]() Moreover if it weren’t for women, the missionary enterprise would be in danger of grinding to a halt, and many churches around the world would be emptier than they presently are. I remember on one occasion quoting Peter and being besieged by young women who challenged me to run a marathon, lift weights and do various other endeavors! Others reminded me that women outlive men and that if they were allowed to exercise their moral sensitivities we would have less war, more compassion, and the world would be a far better place. Simon Peter had never heard of “political correctness.” He was a creature of his times as we are of ours and, accordingly, he may have said things that were perfectly understandable and acceptable in his day that modern people find neither understandable nor acceptable.įor example when Peter said that husbands should be “considerate” and “treat their wives with respect” he gave as one of the reasons the fact that a wife is “the weaker partner.” Actually he called her a “weaker vessel” (1 Pet.
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