The man who honers his wife, then, does not humiliate or downgrade her.

Rather, he demonstrates by his words and his deeds- in private and in public - that he esteems her.
{ Proverbs 31:28-30 }

This honor , Peter says should be 'assigned ' by Christian husbands to their wives.
It is to be rendered, not as a favor, but as the wive's rightfull due.

Why are wives entititled to such honor ?
Because " you are also heirs with them of the underserved favor of life, " explains Peter.
In the first century C.E., the men and women who recieved Peter's letter were all called to be joint heirs with Christ.
{ Romans 8:16,17} { Galatians 3:28}

They did not have the same responsibiltes in the congregation,
but they would eventually share in ruleing with Christ in heaven.
{ Revelation 20:6}

Today , too, when most of God's people have an earthly hope,
it would be a serious mistake for any Christian man to feel that because of the privileges he may have in the congregation,
he has more value in God's eyes then women do.
{ compare Luke 17:10}

Men and women have an equal spiritual standing before God,
for Jesus' sacrificial death opened up to both men and women the same opportunity,
that of beening freed from the condemnation of sin and death with everlasting life in view.
{Romans 6:23 }