In the first century, many Gentile married women came to believe in Jesus without the support of their husbands. Family life at the time revolved around the paterfamilias. A woman who abandoned the pagan temple because of Jesus would be viewed negatively by her husband and society. Peter could have preached the importance of going to church despite her husband’s opinion, but instead, he wrote:
1 Peter 3:1–4
"The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition."
This approach is very similar to handing over your possessions to a thief. The gospel values the life of a sinner much higher than he deserves.
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