1 Peter 3:5,6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For after this manner Namely, with inward holiness and outward plainness; in old time In the patriarchal ages; the holy women who trusted in God And therefore did not act thus from servile fear, but from true piety, and are consequently worthy to be imitated; adorned themselves Their adorning, according to St. Peter here, was, 1st, Their meek subjection to their husbands; 2d, Their quiet spirit, not afraid or amazed; and, 3d, Their unblameable behaviour, doing all things well. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham See Genesis 12:5; Genesis 18:6; calling him lord In token of her subjection; for the ancients, by giving titles of respect to their superiors, acknowledged their own inferiority. Therefore, by mentioning the reverence with which Sarah spake of Abraham, the apostle intimates that she entertained the highest respect for him, and a just sense of her own subjection to him. Sarah was considered by the Jewish women as an illustrious pattern of a dutiful wife; whose daughters Or children, in a spiritual, as well as natural sense; ye are Or show yourselves to be, and that ye are entitled to the same inheritance; as long as ye do well Discharge all your conjugal duties conscientiously. Sarah being constituted by God the mother of all believers, (Galatians 4:26,) even as Abraham was made their father, the believing women of Pontus, by imitating Sarah's virtues, became her children, though not descended from her. And are not afraid with any amazement So terrified with the apprehension of any danger or prejudice that may arise to you on account of your piety, as to be discouraged from your duty, or induced, through fear of displeasing your husbands, to do actions contrary to your religion. For, while the apostle enjoined wives to be in subjection to their husbands, he cautioned them against committing sin, especially the sin of idolatry, either from a desire to please their husbands, or from a fear of offending them.