What does "the grace of life" refer to in 1 Peter 3:7?

Question

My question is pretty straightforward. I'm wondering what "the grace of life" refers to in this verse:

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

The two main options I can see are that it refers to 1) eternal life (since the word "heirs" seems to anticipate something still in the future) or to 2) marriage (from the context just above this verse discussing how women should live with their unbelieving husbands).

Answer 1

Another answer gives a good analysis of the Greek in his answer, but I find his conclusion to be quite surprising on the basis of what he said.

Life in the New Testament (and in a more hidden way, in the old) overwhelmingly speaks of eternal life; that is, the eternal communion with God into which we enter by grace through Jesus Christ. Where do I even begin to cite for that? I want to quote the entire Gospel of John right here!

Moreover (which Dan seems to acknowledge) heir has to do with the hope (as Soldarnal points out in the question) of receiving the grace of God (eternal life). Once again, this usage is overwhelming in the New Testament, and once again, in a more hidden way, in the Old.

In combination, this is a powerful argument. I would charge any one you to find an example of when heir, grace, and life in conjunction, or even two of them in conjunction, mean anything other than the hope of eternal life.

But think about the logic of this passage. If Peter says, "Treat your wife in an understanding way; after all, she's your wife," that is an okay argument, but really is not very strong. But "Treat your wife in an understanding way. She has as much claim to the kingdom of God as you do—and more than you if you treat her wrongly, for then you forfeit your own claim," is an extremely weighty argument. Whereas the first is an appeal to common sense, which are badly muted by sin and a sinful culture, the second is a powerful theological appeal. Any man who abuses his wife knows that she's his wife. But if she is his equal before God, bought with the blood of Christ, loved by God in the same way as he is, and following the logic out to its necessary conclusion, equally human (revolutionary in the ancient world), equally made in the image of God—that is far more powerful.

The grace of life is certainly eternal life.

Answer 2

The phrase "συγκληρονόμοις χάριτος ζωῆς" (fellow heirs of [the] grace of life) in this passage is very interesting. The apostle Paul elsewhere uses συγκληρονόμος to indicate that children of God are "fellow heirs" with Christ (Romans 8:17), so it is certainly possible that eternal life is the meaning here. But I'm leaning towards marriage in this passage. Here's why:

Lexical study reveals that the root word is κληρονόμος, simply meaning "heir," or "one who is to inherit something." When κληρονόμος is given the prefix συν-, which is a preposition literally meaning "with" or "joined together in tight identification," it implies the joint nature of being an heir, thus some translations render the word as "co-heir." In other places where we are "co-heirs" of eternal life, the context typically makes it clear that we are co-heirs with Christ. However in this case, the context is that of a marriage between a husband and a wife. Also, the exhortation appears to be directed at husbands, namely that their prayers may be hindered if they do not honor their wives in the context of their marriage. Because of this context, it is my opinion that being "co-heirs of [the] grace of life" here refers to marriage.

Answer 3

Short answer:

Peter is speaking of the fruit of her (the woman's) womb by alluding to Psalm 127:3.

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The word Peter uses for "heirs together" is συγκληρονόμοι which is a "compound word" in that it consists of a prepositional prefix plus a noun.

In Psalm 127:3 the word is κληρονομία showing that children are a gift from God and his "heritage" (that which he gives his heirs).

In the ancient world, before contraception, sexual relations would generally speaking lead to babies. However, the Psalm is intent on driving home that it is only YHVH that can produce life and that one can have sex all day and night but unless the LORD gives life it was all for nothing (well, maybe not nothing, but it isn't going to fill your quiver):

[Psa 127:1-3 KJV] (1) [A Song of degrees for Solomon.] Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (2) It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. (3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

So the "grace of life" is the miracle of birth that only God can give.

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The reason he is reminding the husbands to be considerate of a woman's weakened condition is because she has been bearing their fruit, the heritage of the LORD:

4 The bows of the mighty have become weak, and those who were weak have been clothed with might. 5 Full of bread, they suffer loss, and being weak, they neglect the land. For the barren woman bore seven, and the woman who is many in children has become weak.

Brannan, R., Penner, K. M., Loken, I., Aubrey, M., & Hoogendyk, I. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English Septuagint (1 Kgdms 2:4–5). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

She was weakened by childbirth and so God pays her a reward:

[Psa 127:3 KJV] (3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

The word translated "reward" is μισθὸς which basically refers to "a reward for service". Since both the man and the woman inherit from the LORD both an inheritance and the reward for her childbirth, the man needs to pitch in too. Not so much with the birthing (unless you count the cheer-leading) but by living considerately and appreciatively for her giving her very life's energy to the young "arrowlet".

Answer 4

"The Grace of life " Praise the Lord 🙌 what s phrase ;but much more than that what a reality.we are talking about a Godly husband and wife "The Grace of life" the two has become one.We are led by the Spirit of God to remember " it's not good for man to be alone I will make him a helper....." I have been married and single, I would have to say the Grace of life is at the top of God's list for us to enjoy what God has joined together. Grace and Peace be with you all in Jesus name.

Answer 5

The context is, obviously, marriage, and specifically a husband and wife being co-heirs. It seems more in keeping with the context to look at this as grace that strengthens and favors a husband and wife to serve together. One of the purposes of marriage is service: we serve empowered by God's grace, my walk and service will influence and effect that of my spouse, we are called to serve not only one another but to serve others together. With those statements before me, I consider, How would treating my wife callously, indifferently, disrespectfully, impact the service God has called me - and us - to? So it seems to me to be an exhortation to (in this case) the husband to respect, cherish and appreciate his wife, among other reasons because she is his help in service to the church and world. As an extension of that, Peter points out that if you are having conflicts with your wife, praying together will be difficult and prayer without needed confession and repentance will make your prayer, to say the least, hindered.