‘In the same way, you who are wives, be subject in obedience to your own husbands, so that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behaviour of their wives, beholding your chaste behaviour in fear.'
Becoming a Christian clearly opened up new avenues of thought in people's minds. The fact that in Christ all were equal had caused a revolution in thinking. Not only did it give slaves status, but it also gave ‘lower class' women status. And it is apparent here, as it is apparent in Paul's letters, that some Christian women were beginning to exercise their new found freedom to such an extent that they did not consider themselves bound to be obedient to their husbands. Thus he draws their attention to what, according to the Scriptures, their responsibilities are in Christ.
They are to be subject in obedience, because from the beginning that has been God's ordinance. And in this regard they are to consider what effect their behaviour might have on their husbands, and indeed on wider society. If they behave chastely and demonstrate the fear of God they might well win their husbands to consider the claims of Christ without even having to say anything to them.
The point here is not that becoming a Christian has not altered their status. The point is rather that it has. Chastity was not a common feature of life in those days in pagan societies, and husbands had had to get used to the idea that their wives would indulge in a little licentious living (often disguised as piety - see Revelation 2:22), even if only in the temples, however little they liked it (and after all they did it themselves). But now here they found that their wives had suddenly become chaste and responsive to their husbands wishes. And all because they had become servants of Jesus Christ. It would impress them as nothing else could, and could well also win them to Christ. And to Christian wives that should be an important aim. Whereas if they simply instead turned their attentions towards Christian men it would have invalidated their witness.
‘If any obey not the word.' That is they have heard it and rejected its message. Thus they are in no condition to listen to any testimony that she might give. But she is assured that if her life is her witness then such a witness might reach him in a way that the word had not. We are reminded of the exhortation of Jesus, ‘let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father Who is in Heaven' (Matthew 5:16).
‘In fear.' That is, because they walk in the fear of God. Compare 1 Peter 1:17; 1 Peter 2:18; and see 1 Peter 4:5. Christians are to live in the light of the fact that account must in the end be given for all their actions.
Notice also the contrast between the husband's not obeying the word with the wife's having effectively begun to obey the word. It is the main theme of Peter's letter. The aim was that Christian obedience to the word should be the testimony of the church in every aspect of their living.