The answer is: With honour

1 Pet 3:7

In 1 Peter 3:7, Peter’s instruction bursts forth as an advocacy for respectful and gentle treatment between husbands and wives. He uses the phrase "with honour," implying that a husband shouldn’t just maintain a superficial love or adherence to duty; rather, this is a distinct call to recognize the deep worth and value of his partner. In a time when women often held subordinate societal roles, this might have been quite revolutionary!

This principle isn’t just one of a kind within the Bible. It echoes throughout the scriptures. For instance, Ephesians 5:25 encourages husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church—totally selfless, sacrificial love. You might see a common thread here: love isn’t a one-way street. The duty is mutual, working to uplift each other.

Moreover, tickling your curiosity—did you know that in many ancient cultures, women were not considered as essential as men? The Biblical emphasis on mutual respect was quite cutting-edge for its time. It stirs a wave of thought about how equal partnership wasn’t just a modern innovation but has roots going back millennia.

The significance extends beyond just individual marriages; when constraints of gender hierarchy begin to crumble, societies often flourish. Treating a partner “with honour” could be thought of as laying the foundation for communities and families that strive for balance and inspire love. It makes you think further about how respect reflects back to us in multifaceted forms in all our relations.