In preparing for this week’s Bible study I came across this quote from Martin Luther. You cannot expect a man from the 1500′s to have the same sensibilities of a feminist man living in 2008, however it is interesting to note that Luther affirms both a wife’s special charge to “rule the household” (consider the influence of Proverbs 31:10-31 on his views and the fact that in the Luther household, his wife, Katherine Von Bora, exercised control of the money and property) and the fact that she was to be defined by her relationship to Jesus Christ: The husband is not to dwell on this, that the wife is weak and fragile, but on this, that she is also baptized, and has the same that he has — all blessings in Christ.
1 Peter 3:7 You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
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The woman is also God’s instrument or vessel, he says, for God uses her to this end, that she may bear children, give them birth and nourishment, and watch over them, and rule the household. Such work is for the wife to do. Therefore, she is God’s instrument and vessel, which He has created and instructed to accomplish these things. For this reason is the husband to respect his wife. Therefore St. Peter says, You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, not that you are to rule over them with a headstrong will. They are, indeed, to obey the law of the husband; what he bids and commands, that is to be done; but he is also to see to it that he walks soberly and according to reason with his wife, so as to give her that respect and honor which belongs to her as God’s weaker vessel. The husband is also God’s instrument, but he is stronger, while the wife is weaker physically, as well as more timid and more easily dispirited; therefore you are so to conduct yourself and walk in respect to her, that she may be able to bear it. And grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life. The husband is not to dwell on this, that the wife is weak and fragile, but on this, that she is also baptized, and has the same that he has — all blessings in Christ. So that your prayers may not be hindered. This is his meaning: If you do not act in accordance with reason, but find fault, and murmur, and proceed arbitrarily, and by this give occasion for error, so that neither of you can overlook the other’s faults, and put the best construction on everything, then will you be unable to pray, and say, “Father, forgive us our sins as we forgive.”
