Among the “elect exiles” (1 Peter 1:1) to whom Peter sends this letter were also married women. In the culture of the day, married women were expected to live very much in the shadow of their husbands, to the point that their identity, their social activities, and even their religious decisions all hinged on their husband’s permission and approval. As this was the shape of the institution of marriage in those days, Peter’s instruction in 1 Peter 2:13 to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution” had some awkward implications for the wife when she came to faith without her husband’s permission or leadership. How could she still be subject to the expectations of the community in relation to her marriage when she defied him (contrary to expectation) in her choice of which God/god to serve? These are the persons Peter now sets out to enlighten. Of course, the non-wives among his readers are meant to read this paragraph too as the principles mentioned here apply universally.