The Excellent Wife

The Excellent Wife serves as a biblical guide for Christian women seeking to fulfill their role as wives according to scripture. Martha Peace draws directly from Bible passages to outline principles and practical steps for becoming what she terms an "excellent wife." The book addresses topics including submission to husbands, respect, physical intimacy, communication, and handling conflict within marriage. Each chapter contains study questions and real-world applications for putting the biblical concepts into practice. Peace presents specific scenarios and challenges modern wives face, providing Bible-based responses and strategies. The text includes guidance for dealing with unbelieving spouses, financial disputes, and relationships with in-laws. This systematic examination of biblical wifehood reflects conservative Christian theology and traditional views of marriage roles. The work aims to bridge ancient scripture with contemporary marriage dynamics while maintaining strict adherence to biblical principles.

Readers describe this book as a traditional, conservative Biblical guide to marriage from a complementarian perspective. Many Christian wives say it helped them understand submission and respect within marriage, with practical applications and Scripture references. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear Biblical teaching with verse citations - Actionable steps for conflict resolution - Guidelines for communication with husbands - Study questions for self-reflection Common criticisms: - Promotes an overly rigid view of gender roles - Places excessive blame on wives for marital problems - Some advice could enable abuse - Outdated cultural perspectives One reader noted "It made me feel like everything wrong in my marriage was my fault." Another said "This book gave me the tools to honor God in my role as a wife." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (900+ ratings) ChristianBook.com: 4.7/5 (140+ ratings)

The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott A reformed theological guide for husbands that pairs with Peace's work by addressing biblical marriage from the male perspective.

Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot This collection of letters from mother to daughter outlines biblical womanhood through scriptural principles and practical instruction.

Lies Women Believe by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth The text examines common misconceptions about marriage, motherhood, and femininity through a biblical framework.

The Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes A systematic approach to developing spiritual practices within the context of biblical womanhood and marriage.

Helper By Design by Elyse Fitzpatrick A Reformed perspective on God's purpose for wives that explores submission, respect, and partnership within marriage.

🔹 Martha Peace wrote The Excellent Wife (1999) after teaching women's Bible study groups for years and noticing a lack of comprehensive Biblical resources for wives. 🔹 The book has been translated into multiple languages including Spanish, German, and Russian, and has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide. 🔹 The author was inspired to write on this topic after her own transformation from being a self-described "contentious wife" to embracing Biblical principles in her marriage. 🔹 The book sparked controversy for its strong complementarian view of marriage, which teaches that while men and women are equal in value, they have distinct, divinely ordained roles. 🔹 Martha Peace later wrote a companion book called "The Excellent Wife Day by Day" (2011) that offers daily devotional readings based on the original book's principles.