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The women in ancient culture had no public life whatsoever and so had nothing to pass the time. It was argued by some that they should be allowed the interest in dress and adornment. After all, their only responsibility was to be bedfellows with their husbands.

As a result, the woman’s life was often nothing more than of great self-indulgence. Culturally to see a woman that had spent the entire day “adorning” herself meant that she had done nothing to occupy her mind, which in that day was a good thing.

While “the Roman Statesman Cato the Censor insisted on simplicity; Lucius Valerius answered: ‘Why should me grudge women their ornaments and their dress? Women cannot hold public offices, or priesthoods, or gain triumphs; they have no public occupations. What, the, can they do but devote their time to adornment and to dress?’” (William Barclay, p. 254)

Christianity came into this world of great luxury and decadence. Peter pleads for the graces which adorn the heart of the believer. These were the graces which adorned the holy women of the past.

Peter writes to these new believing wives and says to be nothing more than a good wife. In their culture that would be recognized by her:
1. Submission
2. Purity
3. Reverence