by Ken Cayce
© Ken Cayce All rights reserved.
Copyright
Title: The letter has always been identified (as are most general epistles, like James, John and Jude), with the name of the author, Peter. And with the notation that it was his first inspired letter.
Author - Date: The opening verse of the epistle claims it was written by Peter, who was clearly the leader among Christ's apostles. The gospel writers emphasize this fact by placing his name at the head of each list of apostles (Matt. chapter 10; Mark chapter 3; Luke chapter 6; Acts chapter 1), and including more information about him in the 4 gospels than any person other than Christ. Originally known as Simon (Greek), or Simeon (Hebrew); compare (Mark 1:16; John 1:40-41). Peter was the son of Jonas (Matt. 16:17), who was also known as John (John 1:42), and a member of a family of fishermen who lived in Bethsaida and later Capernaum. Andrew, Peter's brother, brought him to Christ (John 1:40-42). He was married, and his wife apparently accompanied him in his ministry (Mark 1:29-31; 1 Cor. 9:5).
Peter was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, when he was called to follow Jesus. His brother, Andrew, was a fisherman, as well. Peter was married and had a home in Capernaum. When Jesus called Peter, he left his nets and followed Jesus.
Peter was called to follow Christ in His early ministry (Mark 1:16-17), and was later appointed to apostleship (Matt. 10:2; Mark 3:14-16). Christ renamed him Peter (Greek), or Cephas (Aramaic), both words meaning "stone" or "rock" (John 1:42). The Lord clearly singled out Peter for special lessons throughout the gospels (e.g. Matt. Chapter 10; 16:13-21; 17:1-9; 24:1-7; 26:31-33; John 6:6; 21:3-7; 15-17). He was the spokesman for the 12, articulating their thoughts and questions as well as his own. His triumphs and weaknesses are chronicled (in the gospels and Acts chapters 1-12).
There are many outstanding things about Peter. This is the same Peter, who was chosen with James and John to carry out special tasks for the Lord Jesus. This is the same Peter, who walked on the water. He is the same Peter, who saw the transfiguration. He is the same Peter, who told Jesus who He was, when people were guessing who Jesus was. He said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Because of his unique prominence, there was no shortage in the early church of documents falsely claiming to be written by Peter. That the Apostle Peter is the author of 1 Peter however, is certain. The material in this letters bears definite resemblance to his messages in the book of Acts. The letter teaches, for example, that Christ is the Stone rejected by the builder (2:7-8; Acts 4:10-11), and that Christ is no respecter of persons (1:17; Acts 10:34). Peter teaches his readers to "clothe yourselves with humility" (5:5), an echo of the Lord's girding Himself with a towel and washing the disciples' feet (John 13:3-5). There are other statements in the letter similar to Christ's sayings (4:14; 5:7-8). Moreover, the author claims to have been a witness of the sufferings of Christ (5:1; compare 3:18; 4:1). In addition to these internal evidences, it is noteworthy that the early Christians universally recognized this letter as the work of Peter.
The only significant doubt to be raised about Peter's authorship arises from the rather classical style of Greek employed in the letter. Some have argued that Peter, being an "uneducated" fisherman (Acts 4:13), could not have written in sophisticated Greek, especially in light of the less classical style of Greek (employed in the writing of 2 Peter). However, this argument is not without a good answer. In the first place, that Peter was "uneducated' does not mean that he was illiterate, but only that he was without formal, rabbinical training in the Scriptures. Moreover, though Aramaic may have been Peter's primary language, Greek would have been a widely spoken second language in Palestine. It is also apparent that at least some of the authors of the New Testament, though not highly educated, could read the Greek of the Old Testament Septuagint (see James' use of the LXX in Acts 15:14-18).
Beyond these evidences of Peter's ability in Greek, Peter also explained (5:12), that he wrote this letter "through Silvanus", also known as Silas. Silvanus was likely the messenger designated to take this letter to its intended readers. But more is implied by this statement in that Peter is acknowledging that Silvanus served as his secretary, or amanuensis. Dictation was common in the ancient Roman world (compare Paul and Tertius; Romans 16:22), and secretaries often could aid with syntax and grammar. So Peter, under the superintendence of the Spirit of God, dictated the letter to Silvanus, while Silvanus, who also was a prophet (Acts 15:32), may have aided in some of the composition of the more classical Greek.
1 Peter was most likely written just before or shortly after July, A.D. 64 when the city of Rome burned, thus a writing date of ca. A.D. 64-65.
Background - Setting: When the city of Rome burned, the Romans believed that their emperor, Nero, had set the city on fire, probably because of his incredible lust to build. In order to build more, he had to destroy what already existed.
The Romans were totally devastated. Their culture, in a sense, went down with the city. All the religious elements of their life were destroyed, their great temples, shrines, and even their household idols were burned up. This had great religious implications because it made them believe that their deities had been unable to deal with this conflagration and were also victims of it. The people were homeless and hopeless. Many had been killed. Their bitter resentment was severe, so Nero realized that he had to redirect the hostility.
The emperor's chosen scapegoat was the Christians, who were already hated because they were associated with Jews, and because they were seen as being hostile to the Roman culture. Nero spread the word quickly that the Christians had set the fires. Thus, a vicious persecution against Christians began and soon spread throughout the Roman empire, touching places north of the Taurus mountains, like Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (1:1), and impacted the Christians, who Peter call "aliens". These "aliens", who were probably Gentiles, for the most part (1:14, 18; 2:9-10; 4:3), possibly led to Christ by Paul and his associates, and established on Paul's teachings, needed spiritual strengthening because of their sufferings. Thus the Apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote this epistle to strengthen them.
Peter wrote that he was in "Babylon" when he penned the letter (5:13). Three locations have been suggested for this "Babylon". First, a Roman outpost in northern Egypt was named Babylon; but the place was too obscure, and there are no reasons to think that Peter was ever there. Second, ancient Babylon in Mesopotamia is a possibility; but it would be quite unlikely that Peter, Mark and Silvanus were all at this rather small, distant place at the same time. Third, "Babylon" is an alias for Rome; perhaps even a code word of Rome. In times of persecution, writers exercised unusual care not to endanger Christians by identifying them. Peter, according to some traditions, followed James and Paul and died as a martyr near Rome about two years after he wrote this letter, thus he had written this epistle near the end of his life, probably while staying in the imperial city. He did not want the letter to be found and the church to be persecuted, so he may have hidden its location under the code word, Babylon", which aptly fit because of the city's idolatry (compare Rev. chapters 17-18).
Historical - Theological Themes: This is one of the penman that we all relate to better than to most. Peter was actually two men. Peter, before the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and Peter after the baptism. The Peter, before the baptism of the Holy Ghost denied Jesus as the Christ 3 times. The Peter after the baptism, historians tell us, was pleased to be crucified like his Lord. We can relate the weakness in all of us to Peter's weakness and restoration.
Since the believers addressed were suffering escalating persecution (1:6; 2:12, 19-21; 3:9, 13-18; 4:1, 12-16, 19), the purpose of this letter was to teach them how to live victoriously in the midst of that hostility:
(1) Without losing hope;
(2) Without becoming bitter;
(3) While trusting in their Lord; and
(4) While looking for His second coming.
Peter wished to impress on his readers that by living an obedient, victorious life under duress, a Christian can actually evangelize his hostile world (compare 1:14; 2:1, 12, 15; 3:1-6, 13-17; 4:2; 5:8-9).
Believers are constantly exposed to a world system energized by Satan and his demons. Their effort is to discredit the church and to destroy its credibility and integrity. One way these spirits work is by finding Christians who lives are not consistent with the Word of God, and then parading them before the unbelievers to show what a sham the church is. Christians, however, must stand against the enemy and silence the critics by the power of holy lives.
In this epistle, Peter is rather effusive in reciting two categories of truth. The first category is positive and includes a long list of blessings bestowed on Christians. As he speaks about the identity of Christians and what it means to know Christ, Peter mentions one privilege and blessing after another. Interwoven into this list of privileges is the catalog of suffering. Christians, though most greatly privileged, should also know that the world will treat them unjustly. Their citizenship is in heaven and they are strangers in a hostile, Satan-energized world. Thus the Christian life can be summed up as a call to victory and glory through the path of suffering. So, the basic question that Peter answers in this epistle is: How are Christians to deal with animosity? The answer features practical truths and focuses on Jesus Christ as the model of one who maintained a triumphant attitude in the midst of hostility.
1 Peter also answers other important practical questions about Christian living such as: Do Christians need a priesthood to intercede with God for them (2:5-9)? What should be the Christian's attitude to secular government and civil disobedience (2:13-17)? What should a Christian employee's attitude be toward a hostile employer (2:18)? How should a Christian lady conduct herself (3:3-4)? How can a believing wife win her unsaved husband to Christ (3:1-2)?
Jesus chose Peter to head His church. Jesus said, in Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Peter saw most of the miracles Jesus did. Peter's mother-in-law had been healed by Jesus. Peter was there when John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God. Peter had been an eye-witness of the Lord.
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Apostle of Jesus Christ: Peter was one of a unique group of men who were personally called (Matt. 10:1-4), and commissioned (John 20:19-23), by Christ, and who ministered with Christ after His resurrection. The Church was built upon the foundation of their teaching.
Peter (Greek Petros), is the Greek form of the Aramaic name Cephas ( Rock), which was given to Peter at his call to discipleship by the Lord Himself (John 1:42), and is the name by which he is usually designated in the New Testament.
Strangers: These strangers dispossessed in a land not their own, temporary residents or foreigners. Like all believers, they were residents of an eternal city (Phil. 3:20; Heb. 13:13-14). They are described as strangers (Greek parepidemois), sojourners in a strange place, and scattered (Greek Diasporas), meaning the dispersion.
Scattered: With the Greek definite article, scattered, or dispersion, is sometimes a technical term for the scattering of the Jews from Israel throughout the world (John 7:35; James 1:1). But here, without the article scattered is used in a non-technical sense referring to spiritual pilgrims, aliens to the earth, whether Jews or Gentiles, i.e., the church.
Throughout Pontus, and so on, is in the area now known as Asia Minor. Peter’s letter is addressed to churches in provinces located in modern-day Turkey, which were part of the Roman Empire. This is addressed primarily to the Jews that were scattered in these places.
Peter’s calling was primarily to the Jew. He had been taught of God not to call any man unclean, when the Lord let the sheet full of unclean animals down three times to him. It was also, Peter who saw the first Gentiles baptized in the Holy Spirit (read about it in Acts chapters 10 and 11).
Apostle, in this instance, means an ambassador for Christ. Peter is bringing the message of Christ, and not his own. Notice, that Peter did not say he was the apostle, but an apostle, which recognizes the other apostles.
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Elect ones who are chosen of God to salvation according to the foreknowledge of God the Father: Foreknowledge is God’s determination in eternity past to bring certain ones into a special relationship with Himself. The Spirit sets apart for salvation from destruction those whom God has foreknown.
This is a very controversial Scripture. The elect are those chosen from the foundation of the earth to receive salvation. The elect are the elect, because they activate their free will and accept the Lord as their Savior.
Foreknowledge, Greek word is translated foreknown (in verse 20). In both verses, the word does not refer to awareness of what is going to happen, but it clearly means a predetermined relationship in the knowledge of the Lord.
God brought the salvation relationship into existence by decreeing it into existence ahead of time. Christians are foreknown for salvation in the same way Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be a sacrifice for sins (Acts 2:23).
Sanctification of the Spirit: To sanctify means to consecrate, to set apart. The objective of election is salvation, which comes to the elect through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit thus makes God’s chosen holy, by saving and setting them apart from sin and unbelief unto faith and righteousness (1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13).
Sanctification thus begins with justification (declaring the sinner just before God by graciously imputing Christ’s righteousness to him, Phil. 3:9), and continues as a process of purification that goes on until glorification, when the Christian sees Jesus face to face.
Sprinkling is an allusion to (Exodus 24:1-11), in which the blood was sprinkled on the altar and the people as a symbol sealing their covenant as they promised to obey God’s Word and as a symbol of Jehovah’s acceptance. Likewise, in the New Covenant, faith in the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross not only activates God’s promise to give the believer perfect atonement for sin, but also bring the believer into the covenant by one’s promise of obedience to the Lord and His Word.
God is not controlled by time, as we are. He is eternal. He lives in eternity. It is no problem for Him to look a few thousand years into the future (by our time). God dwells where there is one eternal day. There is no separation of time into days, and weeks, and months where God the Father dwells.
He foreknew, from the foundation of the earth, what decision you and I would make pertaining to salvation. He wrote our name into the Lamb’s book of life at the foundation of the earth. He did not make us like puppets where we would not have a choice, He just knew ahead of time, how we would choose.
God chose all who would believe to be His sons, from the beginning of time. The plan of salvation was worked out from the very beginning. God knew our weakness and made provision for it. We are sanctified in the Spirit by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is in the Holy Spirit that we are sanctified (made holy). It is the Holy Spirit of God which keeps us.
Jesus promised He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and be our Teacher and our Guide. He would teach us all Truth. It is the sprinkled blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us and makes us acceptable to the Father. To be filled with God’s Spirit, brings grace and peace, multiplied.
Verses 1:3 to 2:10: The Christian’s destiny: salvation means deliverance. Peter’s view of salvation is ultimate salvation. That is, when the believer will be rescued from this world into the presence of God.
Verses 1:3 to 12: The plan of salvation: Peter does not look at time from a Western perspective. The Hebrews regarded the present as so fleeting that in their language they have essentially only two tenses: past and future.
Verses 3-5: The portrayal of salvation looks to the future. The author of salvation is portrayed as the blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The work of salvation (verses 3-5), is described as to its effect. Hath begotten us again refers to a new stage of life that begins at salvation.
This lively hope has no element of uncertainty for it is guaranteed by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The believer’s inheritance is described as incorruptible, imperishable or indestructible, and undefiled (i.e. morally untainted).
That fadeth not away means it is not subject to the ravages of time. Further it is reserved, that is, it has been preserved in the past and still is in heaven. Kept, is a present passive participle, we are secure because we are continually guarded by God, who never relaxes His vigil. Salvation here, refers to final salvation. That is, deliverance from the presence of sin and into the presence of God.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
The hope for the Christian is the resurrection. The word blessed, in the Scripture above is from the word, eulogetos. This word translated blessed, is only used regarding God. When blessed is said of the Christians, it is taken from another root word.
Father and our Lord Jesus Christ: Though God was known as Creator and Redeemer in the Old Testament, He was rarely called Father. Christ, however, always addressed God as His Father in the gospels (as in John 5:17), except in the separation on the cross (Matt. 27:46). In so doing, Christ was claiming to be of the same nature, being, or essence as the Father (Matt. 11:27; John 10:29-39; 14:6-11; 2 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 1:3, 17; 2 John 3).
Also, by speaking of our Lord, Peter personalized the Christian’s intimate relationship with the God of the universe through His Son (1 Cor. 6:17), an important truth for suffering Christians to remember.
Hath begotten us again into a lively hope: God gave the new birth as part of His provision in salvation. When a sinner comes to Christ and puts his faith in Him, he is born anew into God’s family and receives a new nature (John 1:13; 3:1-21).
Abundant mercy: The reason God provided a glorious salvation for mankind is that He is merciful. Sinners need God’s mercy because they are in a pitiful, desperate, wretched condition as sinners.
A lively hope: The living hope is the eternal life, Hope means confident optimism and:
Lively hope: Because of the new birth, the believer anticipates a literal, bodily resurrection, even as Jesus was raised from the dead (see 1 Cor. 15:23). This living, blessed, purifying hope will be realized at the Rapture and resurrection of the dead in Christ (1. Thess. 4:6; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3).
The Lord Jesus Christ is the first of the first fruit harvest. He was the first to be begotten at resurrection. The hope of the believer is that our Leader, Jesus Christ, arose and so all who put their faith in Him, shall rise, also. The Christian’s new life is in Christ.
1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Inheritance incorruptible … reserved in heaven: In keeping with this living hope, believers have a future inheritance, already reserved in heaven (Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:11; 14, 18; Col 1:12; 3:24). An inheritance comes by virtue of relationship, to be distinguished from rewards, which are granted for obedience and good works (1 Cor. 3:13-14; 2 Cor. 5:10).
Incorruptible: The inheritance is not subject to passing away, nor liable to decay. The word was used in secular Greek of something that was unravaged by an invading army.
Undefiled: This word means unpolluted, unstained with evil. The undefiled inheritance of the Christian is in marked contrast to an earthly inheritance, all of which is corrupted and defiled.
That fadeth not away: Fading was often used of flowers that wither and decay. Though earthly inheritances eventually fade away, the eternal inheritance of a Christian has no decaying elements.
Peter showed those persecuted Christians how to look past their troubles to their eternal inheritance. Life, righteousness, joy, peace, perfection, God’s presence, Christ’s glorious companionship, rewards, and all else God has planned is the Christian’s heavenly inheritance. According to (Eph. 1:14), the indwelling Holy Spirit is the resident guarantee of that inheritance.
The New Testament is the last will and testament for those who choose to believe in and follow Jesus. Our inheritance in Jesus is incorruptible, because He is incorruptible. Since Jesus is the Beginning and the Ending, the inheritance is forever, as well.
What a wonderful promise to the believer, that we will be joint-heirs with Jesus. This inheritance is not of this world. It is not an earthly inheritance which is corruptible.
We are told (in John 14:1-3), Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if not , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also.
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept by the power of God: Nothing can steal the believer’s heavenly inheritance, although disobedience can mean a loss of rewards (2 John 8). The final consummation of our salvation will be revealed and experienced in glorification with Christ at His return (Rom. 8:17; 2 Thess. 1:10).
Supreme power, omniscience, omnipotence, and sovereignty, not only keep the inheritance (verse 4), but also keep the believer secure. No one can steal the Christian’s treasure and no one can disqualify him from receiving it.
Through faith: The Christian’s response to God’s election and the Spirit’s conviction is faith, but even faith is empowered by God. Moreover, the Christian’s continued faith in God is the evidence of God’s keeping power. At the time of salvation, God energizes faith, and continues to preserve it. Saving faith is permanent; it never dies.
We must have faith to receive this great inheritance that God has for us in heaven.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
It takes no faith to believe in things on this earth that we can see with our physical eyes. It takes faith to believe in the things in heaven that we cannot see. It is our faith that activates the power of God within us. By faith are we saved. Faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection is what brings salvation to us.
Read (Romans chapter 10:9-10). The revealing will take place when we have shed this house of flesh and are in heaven with Jesus. Some revealing of the Scriptures are taking place now, because the coming of Christ is so near.
Verses 1:6-9: The problem of salvation looks to the present. Earthly trails constitute a problem of our salvation, but they are only for a season, or temporary. Manifold temptations means diversified trails. True faith cannot be destroyed though God is in the process of refining faith through our trails.
1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Greatly rejoice: That is, to be exceedingly glad, exuberantly jubilant. This kind of joy is not based on changing, temporal circumstance, but is used of joy that comes from the unchanging, eternal relationship with God. Peter relates this joy to:
Manifold temptations: Peter teaches several important principles about trouble in this verse:
There is anticipation looking forward to that wonderful day, when we will be with Jesus for all of eternity. Christians are in the world, but not of the world. This earth is not our home, we are just passing through. Since we are still housed in a body of flesh, we have problems originating from that flesh.
We age, we get sick, we get tired, etc. Some of the temptations we experience are no more than just being tempted to eat too much. Praise God! I will have a new body. Temptations are earthly in nature. I will no longer experience temptations, when I get my new body and dwell in heaven.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Trial of your faith: God’s purpose in allowing trouble is to test the reality of one’s faith. But the benefit of such a testing, or fire, is immediately for the Christian, not God. When a believer comes through a trial still trusting the Lord, he is assured that his faith is genuine (Genesis 22:1; Job 1:20-22).
Appearing of Jesus Christ: The Greek word for appearing is apokalupsis, or revelation of Christ. The revelation or unveiling of Christ refers to His second coming, particularly focusing on the time when He comes to call and reward His redeemed people (verses 13; 4:13; 1 Cor. 1:7), i.e. the Rapture.
Though persecutions and suffering may befall believers, such trials will not be worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18).
Gold, tried in the fire, just becomes more and more pure. Some of the fiery trials that come on us are to purify us and make us better Christians. Sometimes that is very hard to see, but usually a great problem that we overcome, makes us stronger in the Lord.
Job, in the Bible, is a very good example of overcoming in dire circumstances. Gold will perish, when the earth is destroyed. Gold may be changed now, but it is still around in some form or other after it is melted. We are the same. We are still around after the testing, but the question is, are we a vessel of honor or dishonor, after the trial?
We will begin this lesson by repeating the last verse of the last lesson.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
(See 1 Peter Chapter 1 for description).
1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Having not seen: This is in the sense of His appearing (verse 7; 1 Cor. 5:7). At that time, the fiery trials that believers have endured will benefit God by bringing Him praise and glory and honor eternally.
Jesus says that those who believe, who have not seen, are greatly blessed.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed they that have not seen, and have believed.
This is speaking of true faith. Abraham believed, and it was counted unto him as righteousness. When we have faith like Abraham, we are counted righteous in God’s sight, as well.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It is our faith in Jesus Christ that saves us.
1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of souls.
Receiving … salvation: This could be translated presently receiving for yourselves. In some sense, Christians now possess the result of their faith, a constant deliverance from the power of sin. In another sense, we are waiting to receive the full salvation of eternal glory in the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23).
This is just saying that the reward for believing is salvation in Jesus Christ.
Verses 10-11: The prophecy of salvation looks to the past. This section is most important, for it reveals that salvation was the object of prophecy and reveals how much the Old Testament prophets knew of Christ. The prophets, that is, the Old Testament prophets searched diligently: This emphasizes the study involved in their search.
They wanted to know when the Messiah was coming and what would be the circumstances of His coming. The Spirit of Christ, that is, the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). Which was in them, indicates the prophets were indwelt by the Spirit.
1 Peter 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace unto you:
Salvation: In this section, Peter looks at the greatness of salvation from the viewpoint of the divine agents who made it possible.
The prophets of old could prophesy about this salvation in Jesus, but they had no first-hand knowledge.
Have inquired and search diligently: The Old Testament prophets studied their own writings in order to know more about the promised salvation. Though they believed and were personally saved from their sin by that faith (through the sacrifice God would provide in Christ), they could not fully understand what was involved in the life and death of Jesus Christ (Numbers 24:17; Heb:13:39-40).
Grace that should come: God is by nature gracious and was so, even under the conditional Old Covenant (Exodus 34:19; John 4:2). But the prophets foretold an even greater exhibit of grace than what they had even known (Isa. 45:20-25; 52:14-15; 55:1-7; 61:1-3; Rom. 9:24-33, 10-11, 13, 20; 15:9-21).
Matthew 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous have desired to see which ye see, and have not seen ; and to hear which ye hear, and have not heard .
We know they were aware that they were to happen in the future, but they did not have the opportunity of seeing Jesus, because He had not come. They believed that it would happen, as we see in the following verse.
Zechariah 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
All of the true prophets of old told similar things. They knew that He would come, and they hoped for His coming, but He did not come in their lifetimes.
1 Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
What manner of time: Who would be the person? And When would He come? Were the questions the Old Testament prophets searched to know.
Spirit of Christ which was in them: Jesus Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, took up residence within the writers of the Old Testament, enabling them to write about the glorious salvation to be consummated in the future (2 Peter 1:19-21).
This is saying that the Spirit of Christ dwelt within these prophets.
Signify, in the verse above, means to make plain or real. They had visions from God that revealed to them the things that would occur at a later date. God revealed to them about the Messiah (Jesus Christ). They knew of his birth, life, ministry, death of His flesh, and of His resurrection. They knew it, because God had revealed it to them.
Sufferings of Christ … glory that should follow: The Old Testament prophets foresaw both the first coming, with the Messiah suffering (Isa. 53), and the Second Coming, with Messiah reigning (Isa. 32:1), without understanding the long interval of this current dispensation.
1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Not unto themselves, but unto us: The Old Testament prophets who wrote of the coming of salvation (in verses 10-11), knew it was a future Savior who would come, and thus they were really writing for those who are on this side of the cross.
Them that have preached the gospel: The New Testament apostles and preachers of the gospel had the privilege of proclaiming that the prophecies written by the Old Testament prophets had come to pass (2. Cor. 6:1-2).
Angels, who are not themselves objects of redemption, desire to look into (literally, desire to stoop to look into): This is the same word used of Peter at the empty tomb of God (Luke 24:12).
The prophet’s ministry is not just for his generation of people. Prophecy is given to make known unto all generations the wisdom of God. Even the angels, in heaven, do not know the things revealed to these prophets through the Holy Ghost of God.
Verses 13-25: The products of salvation: hope, holiness, reverence and love.
1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Gird up the loins of your mind: The ancient practice of gathering up one’s robes when needing to move in a hurry; here it is metaphorical applied to one’s thought process. The meaning is to pull in all the loose ends of one’s thinking, by rejecting the hindrances of the world and focusing on the future grace of God (Eph. 6:14; Col. 3:2).
Be sober: Spiritual sober-mindedness includes the ideas of steadfastness, self-control, clarity of mind, and moral decisiveness. The sober Christian is correctly in charge of his priorities and not intoxicated with the various allurements of the world.
In light of their great salvation, Christians, especially those undergoing suffering, should unreservedly live for the future. Anticipating the consummation of their salvation at the second coming of Christ (see verse 7).
Grace that is to be brought unto you: Christ’s future ministry of glorifying Christians and giving them eternal life in His presence will be the final culminating of the grace initiated at salvation (Eph. 2:7).
Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Greek word for revelation is the same word that is translated appearing (verse 7). Meaning the whole sequence of end-time events centered around the Second Coming.
The exhortation to set one’s hope involves an inward resolution Gird up the loins of your mind. The imagery is that of personal discipline and outward conduct. Be sober (Greek nephontes): Be free of every sort of mental and spiritual intoxication. The revelation of Jesus Christ is the Second Advent when Jesus returns to earth to set up His kingdom.
To gird up the loins of your mind, means they would not allow their mind to wander. God is saying through Peter; do not let your mind run astray. Keep your thoughts close on the things of God. Sober here, means to not be fickle. Be serious about the things of God.
We must love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We must guard against worldly thoughts. We must walk in the grace the Lord has provided for us. We must be still walking the path of righteousness even up until the moment the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed to us.
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
We read in the book of Samuel (1 Sam. 15:22), that to obey is better than sacrifice. The Father wants His children to be obedient to our Savior Jesus. In fact, He must be our Lord, as well as our Savior. We must crucify our flesh and its desires, and live a life separated unto the Lord. Lust of the flesh is not for the believer in Christ. We should overcome the lust of the flesh and live for Jesus.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Be you holy: Holiness essentially defines the Christian’s new nature and conduct in contrast with his pre-salvation lifestyle. The reason for practicing a holy manner of living is that Christians are associated with the holy God and must treat Him and His Word with respect and reverence. We therefore glorify Him best by being like Him (see verses 16-17; Matt 5:48; Ephesians 5:1; Lev. 11:44-45; 18:30; 19:2; 20:7; 21;6-8).
Cursing and blasphemy is not the conversation of the godly. Our conversation reveals what we are in our heart. Christianity is of the heart. Out of the issue of the heart, the mouth speaketh.
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Christians are to be Christ-like. If we are like Christ, we should be holy, because He is holy.
Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian’s life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves.
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy; For I am the LORD that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44-45).
This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal propriety addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God. The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people, and that as his people they ought to be like their God.
Verses 17-20: The exhortation to reverence (or, godly fear): The basis for the exhortation is our relationship to the Father. The motivation for living our lives in reverence is doctrinal, forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things. The ones who are exhorted to live their lives in reverence (verse 17), are the ones who are exhorted to be holy (verses 14-16). They are redeemed, (Greek elutrothete, i.e., brought back from sin).
Vain: useless, worthless. The price paid for their redemption was the precious blood, which was essential:
(1) Sacrificially, as a lamb without blemish and without spot He was perfect;
(2) Eternally, who verily was foreordained it was the Father’s plan and idea before the foundation of the world, that is, in eternity past; and
(3) Historically, but was manifest in these last times: a reference to Jesus’ incarnation.
1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:
If ye call on the Father: This is another way of saying, if you are a Christian. The believer who knows God and that He judges the works of all His children fairly, will respect God and His evaluation of his life, and long to honor his heavenly Father.
Fear of the Father is showing great respect. If we are judging others, we are saying, we are judge. God is no respecter of persons. To be like Him we must not be a respecter of persons either. Jesus is the Judge of all the earth, who judges the works whether they be of God, or not. We should spend our time on this earth doing good.
Verses 18-19: The word redeem means to purchase. When Christ died for our sins, He paid the price that satisfied the demands of God’s holiness. The price of redemption was the blood of Christ. In explaining redemption to the Galatians, Paul used three different words that were applied to purchasing servants at the ancient slave markets.
(1) The first agorazo, meaning to purchase in the market, is used to explain how Christ paid the redemption price of His blood, which was sufficient to purchase every one sold under sin (Gal. 3:10; 2 Peter 2:1);
(2) Ekagorazo, meaning to purchase and take home, emphasizes that Christians have been purchased out of the marketplace and are no longer for sale (Gal. 3:13);
(3) The third word, lutroo, meaning to purchase and give freedom, emphasizes the liberty that belongs to a soul redeemed by God. (Gal. 4:5).
The Christian is encouraged to stand fast in that liberty (Gal. 5:1).
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver and gold, from your vain conversation by tradition from your fathers;
Redeemed: That is, to buy back someone from bondage by the payment of a price; to set free by paying a ransom. Redemption was a technical term for money paid to buy back a prisoner of war.
Here it is used of the price paid to buy the freedom of one in the bondage of sin and under the curse of the law (i.e. eternal death, Gal. 3:13). The price paid to a holy God was the shed blood of His own Son (Acts 20:18; Rom. 3:24; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:11-17).
Silver and gold are of the earth. All things of the earth are not thought of as being godly. It is really the improper use of silver and gold that is corruptible. Mankind’s desire for excess gold and silver has made sin out of it.
The father, spoken of in the verse above, is speaking of earthly fathers. This is saying, most earthly fathers teach their children that holding gold and silver is very important. The tradition of men is to get great wealth, if possible. God teaches being humble and loving to your fellow man. Gold or silver cannot save us from the wrath of God. Gold or silver cannot redeem our souls.
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Only the blood of the Lamb of God can do away with sin. The blood of man is not without sin and could not do away with sin. Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh (see John 1:14). The blood of a child comes from his father. God the Holy Spirit, hovered over Mary, and she conceived of God. God was the Father of Jesus Christ. It was the blood of sinless God that paid the price for sin.
Hebrews 10:4 For not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
We see from the Scripture above, that animal’s blood could not do away with sin either, even if it were the animal sacrifice for the sin. The blood of an animal could cover the sin for a year. It did not clear the conscience of the sinner, nor do away with his sin.
The blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, was pure. Only the blood of God manifest in the flesh of man can do away with sin. The blood of Jesus abolished sin for all who believe in Him.
1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Foreordained or foreknown: In eternity past, before Adam and Eve sinned, God planned the redemption of sinners through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 2 Timothy 1:9).
Manifest in these last times: This expression refers to the first coming of Jesus. In this context, last times describes the period between the first and second comings, in which the Rapture is always imminent (see Acts 2:17; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:18).
The plan of salvation was planned from the foundation of the world. Jesus Christ was the one to do this, because we are His creation. Jesus was known as the Word of God in heaven. He was made real to us, when He took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us. Manifest, means made real.
1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Gave him glory: God, through the ascension, returned Christ to the glory that He had with Him before the world began (Luke 24:51-53; John 17:4-5; Acts 1:9-11; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:1-3; 2:9).
Jesus paid the penalty for sin for all mankind on the cross.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.
Salvation is provided for all, but not all receive the salvation He has provided. Simple faith in Jesus as our Savior and believing He rose from the grave brings salvation. For some, this is too simple and they do not believe.
His atonement for our sin brings us forgiveness; His resurrection from the grave brings us hope of eternal life. Our faith in Jesus Christ justifies us before the Father.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Purified in the verse above, means consecrated to God’s service. This means then that we have changed into an obedient servant to do the will of God. The Holy Spirit teaches us all Truth. If we truly love God, we will love his children.
Unfeigned love of the brethren: The love indicated here by Peter is the love of choice, the kind of love that can respond to a command. Fervently means to stretch to the limits (Luke 22:44; Acts 12:5; also Luke 10:27). Only those whose souls have been purified, i.e., saved, have the capacity to love like this. Such love exhibits itself by meeting others at the point of their need (2:17; 3:8; 4:8; also in John 13:44; Romans 12:10; Phil. 2:1-18; Heb. 13:1; 1 John 3:11).
The only way we can show love to God is by showing love to His children here on earth. This is not an outward love for show, but a true love from the heart.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Being born again literally having been born again, refers to all believers having been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, which communicates His offer of salvation to mankind. Thus, our salvation rests, from the human perspective, upon our willing reception of that offer.
Not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible: The spiritual life implanted by the Holy Spirit to produce the new birth is unfailing and permanent.
By the word of God: The Spirit uses the Word to produce life. It is the truth of the gospel that saves.
The new birth mentioned here, is a birth of the spirit man. The old flesh man must be buried and the new spirit man takes his place. We bury that man of flesh in water baptism and rise a new creature in Christ. The next 2 Scriptures can say it better than I can.
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Our spirit is born in Jesus Christ (the Word of God).
In verses 24-25 Peter enforces his point about the power of the Word to regenerate (by quoting from Isa. 40:6-8).
1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
Life is like the grass mentioned here. It is here and all of a sudden it is gone. The flesh of man will return to the earth from which it came. It is the spirit of man that lives on.
1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The Word of God is eternal. Jesus is the Word of God. The Word of God is also the Bible. The spoken and the written Word of God are the most powerful forces on the earth. The Word is Eternal. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the focal point of the Bible. This Word of God that is preached is the power unto salvation.
1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
This is actually a continuation of chapter 1. We see that Peter is still giving instructions on how to live the Christian life. We must shed the old self that was worldly, and take on the garment of righteousness provided for us by Jesus.
Laying aside: The Christian’s new life can’t grow unless sins are renounced. When that purging takes place, then the Word does its work (verse 2).
Malice means badness, depravity, malignity, or trouble. The Greek word for evil is used 11 times in the New Testament to indicate that wickedness which comes from within a person (verse 16; Rom. 1:29; Eph. 4:31; Titus 3:3).
Guile, in the verse above, means trick, craft, or deceit. We all know a few hypocrites, and pray that we will not be among their number. They pretend to be believers, but have not really given up their worldly ways.
All of these things spoken of here, including envies and evil speakings, are ways unbecoming a Christian. Those, who have truly dedicated all of themselves to Christ, will not have these things in their lives.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
We all know that new-born babies get their nourishment from milk. Christians should get their nourishment from the Word of God (Bible). It should be the desire of our hearts to fellowship with God in His Word each day. A baby cannot live long without milk, and a Christian cannot grow without studying the Word of God.
A Christian develops a desire for the truth of God’s Word by:
1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord gracious.
This again, is speaking of feeding on the Word of God. Just as the milk for the baby is sweet, so is the Word of God. The study of the Word of God will bring peace to your soul. The grace of the Lord is sufficient for me.
Tasted: At salvation, all believers experience how gracious the Lord is to those who trust Him. That should compel believers to seek more of that grace in pursuing His Word.
Verses 4-8: Are built up is the main verb in this section. The choice of the word shows that the building is not haphazard, but is according to an intelligent plan brought to reality by a Master Craftsman, which sets for the fact of our integration into the body of Christ (verse 5). The overall design is a spiritual house, which describes the nature of the body of Christ, that is, a house in which God dwells.
The material used to build the house is figuratively presented as lively (lively), stones. Christ is also described as a living stone (literally a worked stone or a precious stone that is living). Disallowed by Israel but acceptable (Greek eklekton entimon, literally elect and precious) to God.
1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, precious,
To whom coming: Coming, in the Greek here means to come with the idea of remaining. Here it means to remain in Christ’s presence with intimate fellowship (John 15:5-15).
The ever living Stone is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We know that Peter brings this up, because it was the Jews, who rejected Jesus. If we build upon the Rock (Jesus Christ), we shall not be moved by trials and temptations.
Both a metaphor and a paradox, this phrase from the Old Testament emphasizes that Christ, the cornerstone and stone of stumbling, is alive from the dead and has a living relationship with saved humanity.
Disallowed … chosen: The messianic credentials of Jesus were examined by the false religious leaders of Israel and contemptuously rejected (verses 6-8; Matt. 12:22-24; John 1:10-11). But Jesus Christ was God’s precious and elect Son, ultimately authenticated through His resurrection from the dead (Psalm2:10-11; Matt. 3:17; Acts 2:23-24, 32; 4:11-12; 5:30-31; 10:39-41).
It, of course, was not just the Jews that rejected Jesus, but mankind in general. We know that salvation in Jesus is the most precious thing we can receive.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Ye also, as lively stones: Christians are so closely identified and united with Christ that the very life that exists in Christ exists in them also (Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:3-4; 2 Pet. 1:4).
Jesus is the Cornerstone, and we are the building blocks. The word translated lively here, could better have been translated living. He (Jesus), is living, and we are living as well. Together we build the house. God will tabernacle with men. We are, in a sense, His dwelling place.
Built up a spiritual house: Metaphorically, God is building a spiritual house, putting all believers in place, integrating each one with others, and each one with the life of Christ (Ephesians 2:19; Heb. 3:6).
A holy priesthood: Old Testament priests and New Testament believer-priests share a number of characteristics:
The main privilege of a priest, however, is access to God.
Offer up spiritual sacrifices: Spiritual sacrifices mean God-honoring works done because of Christ under the direction of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Word of God. These would include:
There is no more physical sacrifice. Jesus fulfilled all of the sacrifice for us. This is speaking of the spiritual, and not the physical sacrifice. This is not a sacrifice of obligation. It is a sacrifice of love.
Jesus is the High Priest, and all believers in Christ are priests unto God. The sacrifice that we offer up unto God is praise.
Verses 6-8: Three Old Testament passages employing the stone metaphor are used by Peter to show that Christ’s position as chief cornerstone of the new spiritual house was foreordained by God. That same stone is also going to be the stumbling stone that brings down the unbelieving in judgment (Matt. 21:42, 44).
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
You can see from the following Scripture that Zion, which is symbolic of the church and figurative is in the realm of the New Covenant as Sinai is the realm of the Old Covenant.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
This is speaking of Jesus as Cornerstone and all believers in Christ who make up the church. Confounded, in the verse above, means that these Christians will not be confused about what they believe. They will be established in Jesus.
1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Jesus is the cornerstone that keeps the church together. There is nothing more precious than knowing you are saved. To know beyond a shadow of doubt that you will spend eternity with Him, is precious indeed. To not believe causes you to be left out.
1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence (quoted from Isaiah 8:14). To every human being, Christ is either the means of salvation if they believe or the means of judgment if they reject the gospel. He is like a stone in the road that causes a traveler to fall.
The same Stone that the Christian leans upon for strength is the same stone that those who reject Him stumble over and fall. The verse above seems to indicate, that even some who profess to know Jesus become disobedient and fall on the Stone. To stumble at the Word, means they do not have an understanding of the Word.
Stumble at the word: Unbelief is their disobedience, since the call of the gospel to repent and believe is a command from God.
Also they were appointed: These were not appointed by God to disobedience and unbelief. Rather, these were appointed to doom because of their disobedience and unbelief. Judgment on unbelief is as divinely appointed as salvation by faith.
The Holy Spirit of God teaches us the meaning of the Scriptures. If we do not receive help from the Spirit, we will not understand fully the Word. It seems God had appointed them to be part of His spiritual house, but through disobedience, they have missed the mark of being lively stones for Christ.
Verses 9-10: The priesthood of the believer and his unique relationship to God are described by the terms a chosen generation … a royal priesthood … a holy nation. Thus, the New Testament church stands in a unique relationship to God as did Old Testament Israel.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Chosen generation: Peter uses Old Testament concepts to emphasize the privileges of New Testament Christians (Deut. 7:6-8). In strong contrast to the disobedient who are appointed by God to wrath (verse 8), Christians are chosen by God to salvation (1:2).
Royal priesthood: Priesthood of Believers. Every believer has the privilege and responsibility of direct access to God. In the Old Testament, the family of Aaron was designated as a priesthood to God. In the New Testament that priesthood becomes the birthright of every Christian. Like their Old Testament counterparts, believer-priests have the privilege of access to God.
The concept of a kingly priesthood is drawn from (Exodus 19:6). Israel temporarily forfeited this privilege because of its apostasy and because its wicked leaders executed the Messiah. At the present time, the church is a royal priesthood united with the royal priest, Jesus Christ.
A royal priesthood is not only a priesthood that belongs to and serves the king, but is also a priesthood which exercises rule. This will ultimately be fulfilled in Christ’s future kingdom (1 Cor. 6:1-4; Rev. 5:10; 20:6).
With privilege comes a twofold responsibility, sacrifice and intercessory prayer. The sacrifices of the believer are his body (Rom. 12:1-2), his praise to God (Heb. 13:15), his substance (Rom. 12:13), and his service (Heb. 13:6). The Christian ought also to pray on behalf of others (Col. 4:12).
Should shew forth the praise of him who hath called you: Not only are New Testament believers a chosen generation and a royal priesthood to show forth His praises now, but they will continue to hold these offices in the everlasting future as well (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14; Revelation 1:6; 5:10).
This is one of the most encouraging Scriptures in all the Bible. God has chosen us to become His sons. This generation of people upon whom the end has come, are chosen of God to be priests unto Him. We are His family. Jesus is High Priest, and we are priests.
All believers in Christ are of the house of Israel. Christians are the spiritual house of Israel. Jews are the physical house of Israel. Christians are this holy nation. We are a peculiar people as far as the world is concerned. We are separated unto God. The marvelous Light is Jesus.
Before we come to Christ, we are walking in darkness. When Jesus takes up habitation inside of us, we are filled with His Light. He is the Light of the world. When we are filled with Jesus, we have all Light dwelling within us.
1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past not a people, but now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
The people of God: The ideas of this verse come from (Hosea 1:6-10; 2:23; Romans 9:23-26), where the reference is explicitly to the calling of a people made up of Jews and Gentiles.
All Gentiles were thought of as dogs by the Jewish people, before Christ came and made them a people. This then, is speaking of Gentiles who have become spiritual Israel. The law was not given to Gentiles. They were not considered God’s people. Jesus Christ is available to all mankind. His mercy, not only endures forever, but endures to all mankind.
Now have obtained mercy: God generally has temporal mercy and the compassion of common grace on His creation as a whole (Psalm 145:9; Lam. 3:22). Paul made reference to this when he said that God is the Savior of all men. But God has eternal mercy on His elect church by forgiving their sins and eliminating their judgment (Rom. 9:15; Titus 3:5).
In the Old Testament, the prophet Hosea promised that Israel, though remaining outside of God’s blessings for a long period of time, would eventually come under God’s mercy. God’s dealing with Israel was somewhat of a pattern for His dealings with the believers under the New Covenant, who previously were outside God’s covenant, but have been brought under the mercy of God by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:4-13).
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Strangers and pilgrims: In this section, Peter called his readers to a righteous life in a hostile world. Christians are strangers in a secular society because their citizenship is in heaven. There are 3 perspectives from which Christians can look at their obligation;
In (verses 18-25), Peter shows how Christ set the example by living a perfect life in the midst of His hostile environment.
Strangers in the verse above, is speaking of people who are not native to the land. He is probably speaking to Jews about the Gentile believers in this instance.
Abstain from fleshly lusts: Perhaps more literally hold yourself away from fleshly lusts. In order to have an impact on the world for God, Christians must be disciplined in an inward and private way by avoiding the desires of the fallen nature (Gal. 5:19-21), where fleshly lusts (include much more than sexual temptations).
Which wage war against the soul: War, i.e. to carry on a military campaign. Fleshly lusts are personified as if they were an army of rebels or guerrillas who incessantly search out and try to destroy the Christians’ joy, peace and usefulness (4:2-3).
The warfare a Christian is in is between the spirit and the flesh.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: So that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Galatians 5:16 I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Conversation honest: This is rich in meaning and implies the purest, highest, noblest kind of goodness. It means lovely, winsome, gracious, noble, and honorable. Having been disciplined in the inward and private side, the Christian must outwardly live among non-Christians in a way which reflects that inward discipline.
Evildoers: The early Christians were falsely accused of rebellion against the government with such false accusation as terrorism (burning Rome), atheism (no idols or emperor worship), cannibalism (rumors about the Lord’s supper), immorality (because of their love for one another), damaging trade and social progress, and leading slaves into insurrection (Acts 16:18-21; 19:19, 24-27).
We see from this verse, that he is speaking to the Jews about the Gentile believers. The Jews who are Christians should set an example for the Gentile believers since they were familiar with the law of God and had more background in serving God than the Gentiles had.
Peter is telling them to live good wholesome lives with good works following, so that the Gentiles could see their good work and praise God for their works. There seemed to be a little feuding between the Gentile believers and the Jewish believers. Peter was trying to make them realize how important it was to get along with each other.
Day of visitation: A common phrase in the Old Testament (Isa. 10:3; Jer. 27:22), warning of God’s visitation, His drawing near to people or nations in either judgment or blessing. In the New Testament visitation speaks of redemption (Luke 1:68; 7:16, 19:44).
Peter was teaching that when the grace of God visits the heart of an unbeliever, he will respond with saving faith and glorify God because he remembers the testimony of believers he had observed. Those who don’t believe will experience the visitation of His wrath in the final judgment.
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
Submit yourselves: Submit is a military term meaning to arrange in military fashion under the commander, to put oneself in an attitude of submission. As citizens in the world and under civil law and authority, God’s people are to live in a humble, submissive way in the midst of any hostile, godless, slandering society (21-21; Jer. 29:4-14; Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1; 1 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 10:32-34).
The ordinance of man here, is speaking of laws passed by the local, regional, or national government. Submit yourselves in this instance, means to keep the laws of the land. We have discussed before, the only time it is correct not to keep the law of the land, is when it is in opposition to the higher laws of God.
For the Lord’s sake: Though the Christian’s true citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), he still must live as an obedient citizen in this world so that God will be honored and glorified. Rebellious conduct by a Christian brings dishonor on Christ.
We keep the laws of the land because God told us to. It is also, so God will not be ridiculed for the actions of His people. God is the one who makes someone ruler or king. When we go against those in authority, we are actually questioning the judgment of God.
1 Peter 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
There is no law against doing good. God orders all things in heaven and in earth. In that sense, God put the governor in office. These ruling authorities have within their power to punish those who do evil. The only thing that could come from doing well is praise.
Governors: Christians are to live in obedience to every institution of civil and social order on earth. This includes obedience to the national government (verse 13, king), the state government, the police, and judges. Only when the government tries to force a Christian to do what is against the law of God explicitly stated in Scripture, should he refuse to submit (Acts 4:18-20; 5:28-29; Titus 1:6; 3:1-2).
1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Silence … foolish men: Here is the purpose for our submission to authority in order that we should avoid condemnation and win commendation that shuts the mouth of those obstinately set against the faith that are looking for reasons to criticize believers.
Christians are instructed of God to not take vengeance on their enemies. In fact, they are to do good to those who persecute them. We see in the following Scripture, in Jesus’ own words, just what we are to do.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
The argument will stop, if the Christian refuses to speak evil or take vengeance.
Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Foolish men have no way to continue, when you refuse to answer back.
1 Peter 2:16 As free, and not using liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Believers should enjoy their freedom in Christ, but ought not to put on a veil or mask of freedom to cover what really is wickedness. Christian freedom is never to be an excuse for self-indulgence or license. (1 Cor. 7:22; 8:9-13; 2 Thess. 3:7-9).
Maliciousness means badness, depravity, malignity, or trouble. The liberty, spoken of above, is the fact that the sin of the Christian died on the cross. We should not use that to mistreat others. If we are servants of God, we will do the will of God and not our own will.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor all . Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Honor: Highly esteem is the idea and it refers not just too obedient duty but inner respect.
Christians must not be elevated up because of the knowledge that the Holy Spirit of God has given them. Honor all men, just means that because someone is not a Christian, you should not be disrespectful to him.
Notice the difference in the brotherhood. Brothers in Christ are all part of the family of God, the church. They are to love each other as members of a family. The message changes even more speaking of God. We are not only to love God as the Father, but to have reverent fear of Him, as well.
Honor is to be shown for the office of the king. All who are in office are not to our liking, but we are commanded of God to honor the office.
1 Peter 2:18 Servants, subject to masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
Servants, be subject: One’s Christianity does not give the right to rebel against one’s superior in the social structure, no matter how unfair or harsh he may be.
Servants in the verse above, actually means household servants and is not speaking of slaves that the master owns. The master, in this case, would be the employer. It seems from this, even if the boss is not a good boss, you still must do what he asks, without grumbling, if you continue to work for him.
Your option would be to get another job, if you could not live with the requirements. There would never be a time when it would be right to be disloyal to the boss. Every job we do, even a lowly one, must be done the best we can as unto the Lord, if we are Christians.
Verses 19-20 Acceptable with God: Favor with God is found when an employee, treated unjustly, accepts his poor treatment with faith in God’s sovereign care, rather than responding in anger, hostility, discontent, pride, or rebellion (Matt. 5:11).
1 Peter 2:19 For this thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
To endure hardship of any kind, in the name of the Lord, is to be praised.
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with , that we may be also glorified together.
1 Peter 2:20 For what glory , if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer , ye take it patiently, this acceptable with God.
Buffet here, means to rap with the fist. Whatever the punishment was, if it is for something the servant has done wrong, he should not be glorified for facing the punishment. He deserved whatever it was for his own bad behavior. On the other hand, it is glory to the person receiving the punishment and to God, if the punishment is not for a misdeed, but for the name of the Lord.
Jesus suffered the pain and the humiliation of the cross. He was not guilty of any sin, but took the punishment for our sin. He said it brought glory to the Father and to Himself. We know that many of the early apostles suffered greatly for the name of the Lord. Both men and women were martyred in the name of the Lord. Their reward in heaven will be great.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Were ye called: The call, as always in the New Testament epistles, is the efficacious call to salvation (verse 9; 5:10; Rom. 8:30). Peter’s point is that a person called to salvation will, sometimes at least, have to endure unfair treatment.
Commendable behavior on the part of the believer in the midst of such trails results in the strengthening and perfecting of the Christian on earth (5:10; James 1:2-4), and his increased eternal capacity to glorify God (Matthew 20:21-23; 2 Cor. 4:17-18; 2 Tim. 2:12).
The following is what Jesus said about this very thing.
Luke 9:23-24 And he said to all, If any will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Not many of us can follow in the steps of Jesus. The road is too difficult.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Leaving us an example, the word example literally means writing under. It was writing put under a piece of paper on which to trace letters, thus a pattern. Christ is the pattern for Christians to follow in suffering with perfect patience. His death was efficacious, primarily, as an atonement for sin (2 Cor. 5:21); but it was also exemplary, as a model of endurance in unjust suffering.
1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
This was a (quote from Isaiah 53:9). He was the perfect example of patience endurance in unjust suffering because He was sinless, as the prophet said He would be (1:19).
The perfect Lamb of God (Jesus Christ), was totally free from sin. Not only did he not sin by commission, but He did not sin by speaking, as well. He took our sin upon His body on the cross, and clothed us in His righteousness. His Words were Truth. He spoke no evil Words. He is the Word of God.
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed to him that judgeth righteously:
Reviled: To revile is to pile up abusive and vile language against someone. Though verbally abused, Christ never retaliated with vicious words and threats (3:9; Matt. 26:57-65; 27:12-14; Luke 3:7-11).
Committed himself: This means to hand oneself over to someone to keep. Christ was delivered to Pilate (John 9:11); Pilate handed Him over to the Jews (John 19:16); Christ handed over Himself to God, suffering in surprising silence, because of His perfect confidence in the sovereignty and righteousness of His Father (Isa. 53:7).
Jesus did not look forward to the pain and humiliation of the cross, but submitted to the will of the Father. Look with me at the following Scriptures, where He submits to the will of the Father.
Matthew 26:41-42 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed willing, but the flesh weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Jesus did not speak in His own defense. He could have destroyed all of them, with one Word from Him, but He didn’t. He submitted to the cruelty of the cross to save His people.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Bare our sins. Christ suffered not simply as the Christian’s pattern (verses 21-23), but far more importantly as the Christians substitute. To bear sins was to be punished for them (Numbers 14:33; Ezek. 18:20). Christ bore the punishment and the penalty for believers, thus satisfying a holy God.
This great doctrine of the substitutionary atonement is the heart of the gospel. Actual atonement, sufficient for the sins of the whole world, was made for all who would ever believe. Namely, the elect. (Lev. 16:17; 23:27-30; John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:19; 1 Timothy. 2:6; 4:10; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:9-10).
We have been seeing, in the verses above, that we are to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. We are to patiently endure hardships and sufferings that come from following Him. This is where the similarity ends. No Christian, regardless of how good he is, can suffer for the sin of the people. Their blood is not pure, and will not do away with sin.
Jesus had no sin of His own. He was pure in every way. He was the unleavened Bread. He was free from sin, yet He took our sin upon His body on the cross, so that our sin would die. Sin, for the Christians, died on the cross. We are no longer servant to sin. Jesus defeated sin on the cross. We are no longer under the curse of the law.
Being dead to sins: This is true by the miracle of being in Christ. We died to sin in the sense that we paid its penalty, death, by being in Christ when He died as our substitute.
Live unto righteousness: Not only have we been declared just, the penalty for our sins paid by His death, but we have risen to walk in new life, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In return, Jesus gave us His righteousness. We are clothed in the white linen garment, washed in the blood of the Lamb. We are righteous in the sight of the Father, because we have taken on the righteousness of Christ. These stripes were much more than just a whipping. The whip used, literally tore the flesh from His body. His suffering was for our healing.
By whose strips ye are healed: From Isaiah 53:5 (see below), through the wounds of Christ at the cross, believers are healed spiritually from the deadly disease of sin. Physical healing comes at glorification only, when there is no more physical pain, illness, or death (Rev. 21:4).
Isaiah 53:5 But he wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Returned: Means to turn toward, and refers to the repentant faith a person has at salvation.
Shepherd and Bishop: Bishop means Overseer. Christ is not only the Christian’s standard (verses 21-23), and substitute (verse 24), but He is also the Christian’s Shepherd (5:4; Isa. 53:6; John 10:11). In the Old Testament, the title of Shepherd for the Lord was often messianic (Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24; John 10:1-18).
Beyond that, Shepherd and Overseer were the most appropriate descriptions of Christ for Peter to use in order to comfort Christians who were being persecuted and slandered (verse 12). These two terms are also used for human spiritual leaders. Shepherd is the word for pastor, and Overseer is the word for Bishop (Eph. 4:11, Titus 1:7). Both referring to the same persons who lead the church (Acts 20:28).
The great Shepherd (Jesus Christ), lay down his life for His sheep. He would have done it, if only one had been lost. We remember the parable about the 99 sheep who were still in the fold, and the one lost sheep. The Shepherd left the 99 and went and found the one lost.
Three times Jesus had asked Peter, Lovest thou me? Three times, Peter had told Him he did love Him. Three times, He told Peter, Feed my sheep. Jesus is the chief Shepherd. All other shepherds are subordinate to Him.
He is the great Bishop (overseer), of our soul. He is our Advocate with the Father. Like any good Shepherd, His first concern is for His sheep. He is the guardian of our soul.
Verses 1-6: Peter's teaching on a wife's submission to her husband is similar to Paul's (in Ephesians 5:22-24). Disobedient or unsaved husbands are to be won over by the "conversation" (literally, "behavior"), of the wives. The woman is to emphasize her inner qualities, not just her outer appearance (verse 3). The references to "adorning" are not prohibitions against jewelry and dress; so much as they are a caution against merely beautifying the external, while neglecting the soul.
1 Peter 3:1 "Likewise, ye wives,[be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;"
"Likewise": (In chapter 2), Peter taught that living successfully as a Christian in a hostile world would require relating properly in two places; the civil society (2:13-17), and the workplace (2:18-25). At the start of this chapter, he added two more places: the family (verses 10:7), and the local church (verses 8-9).
"Be submissive": Peter insisted that if Christians are to be a witness for their Lord, they must submit not only to the civil, but also to the social order which God has designed.
"Own husbands": Women are not inferior to men in any way, any more that submissive Christians are inferior to pagan rulers or non-Christian bosses (Gal. 3:28). But wives have been given a role which puts them in submission to the headship which resides in their own husbands (Eph. 5:22; Col. 3:18; Titus 2:4-5).
"If any obey not the word": Since obedience has been used in this letter to refer to believers and disobedience to non-believers, this is a non-Christian husband. In a culture in which women were viewed as lower than men, the potential for conflict and embarrassment in the marriage of a believer and unbeliever was significant, even as it is in contemporary society. Peter did not urge the Christian wife to leave her husband (1 Col. 7:13-16), to preach to her husband ("without a word"), or to demand her rights ("be submissive").
We have discussed in previous lessons that the husband is the head of the family. The husband and the wife are one flesh, not spirit. We see a very good example of that very thing here.
The wife who lives a godly life before an unbelieving husband will probably win him to Christ. Women who are Christians have a major role in the winning of their households to Christ. At the time this was written, the customs of the people had the wife in a very subordinate role. It was not the intention of Peter to go against the customs of the people.
Wives, who are peacemakers, hold the family together. The husband is the head of the family, but the wife is the heart. The husband builds the house; the wife makes it a home.
Women, do not nag your husband to become a Christian, which will run him off. Show him the love that is in you that was placed there when you became a Christian. He will almost certainly come to Christ, if he can see Christ in you.
1 Peter 3:2 "While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear."
"Chaste conversation": Purity of life with reverence for God is what the unsaved husband should observe consistently.
Just because the wife is a Christian, and perhaps her husband is not, does not give her the right to rule over him. Show him that you respect his authority in the home. Christians respect authority, as we have been reading about.
1 Peter 3:3 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;"
"Outward": Peter was not here condemning all outward adornment. His condemnation is for incessant preoccupation with the outward to the disregard of one's character (verse 4; 1 Timothy 2:9-10). But every Christian woman is specially to concentrate on developing that chaste and reverent Christ like character.
The beauty of woman should not be an outward beauty, but the beauty of Christ within her. All of these things spoken of above draw attention to the flesh of the woman. True beauty comes from within.
1 Peter 3:4 "But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
"Meek and quiet spirit": Here is beauty that never decays, as the outward body does. "Gentle" is actually "meek or humble", and "quiet" describes the character of her action and reaction to her husband and life in general. Such is precious not only to her husband, but also to God.
Notice the use of the word "man" above. You see, most of the time when the word "man" is used, it means mankind, not someone of the male gender.
Christianity is having a brand new heart. The heart of the Christian has been washed in the blood of Jesus. Beautiful actions and words come from a heart stayed upon God. Women and men are saved the same way. They must confess with their mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the grave.
1 Peter 3:5 "For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"
Again, we see the example of the role of women in the home regarding their husbands. Certain Old Testament saints (particular Sarah, verse 6), are models of inner beauty, character, modesty, and submissiveness to their husbands (Prov. 31:10-31).
We also know there were several women who changed the course of their society by their stand for God. Esther risked her life to save her people. Deborah was one of the more prominent judges in the Old Testament.
Judges 4:4 "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time."
She led her people (with her general), to victory over their enemies.
Judges 4:9 "And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh."
Deborah, who was married to Lapidoth, was in great authority in the land. Her authority, in God, did not alter the fact that her husband was in authority over her flesh. Her husband was not a weakling, by any means. "Lapidoth" means lightning strikes.
Huldah was a very prominent prophetess in the land who sent the message of God to her king and saved her people. The role of a woman and her husband is one thing, but the role of a woman with her God is entirely different. The spiritual calling always takes precedent over the flesh calling.
The woman's role pertaining to her husband has to do with the customs of the land. Her relationship to God is spiritual in nature. There is no problem with women subjecting themselves to their husbands in the flesh. It is the same thing as women and men (who are Christians), subjecting themselves to Christ in the spirit.
1 Peter 3:6 "Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement."
"Not afraid with any amazement": There are potential fears for a Christian woman who sets out to be submissive to her unsaved husband, as to where such submission might lead. But Peter's instruction to the wife is not to be intimidating or fearful, but as a principle, she is to submit to her husband. This precludes any coercion to sin, disobedience to God's Word, or imposition of physical harm (Acts. 4:18-20; 5:28-29; Titus 1:6).
Notice lord is not capitalized in the verse above. Sara's Lord is God. This again, is speaking of the authority the husband has over the wife in the family. Women took their names. They did not take mans' names. Sara obeyed Abraham, because he was her husband.
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."
"Likewise, ye husbands": Submission is the responsibility of a Christian husband as well (Eph. 5:21). Though not submitting to his wife as a leader, a believing husband must submit to the loving duty of being sensitive to the needs, fears and feelings of his wife. In other words, a Christian husband needs to subordinate his needs to hers, whether she is a Christian or not. Peter specifically notes consideration, chivalry and companionship.
"As unto the weaker vessel": While she is fully equal in Christ and not inferior spiritually because she is a woman (see Gal. 3:28), she is physically weaker, and in need of protection, provision and strength from her husband.
"Heirs together of the grace of life": Here the "grace of life" is not salvation, but marriage, the best relationship earthly life has to offer. The husband must cultivate companionship and fellowship with his wife, Christian or not (Eccl. 9:9).
"Prayers be not hindered": This refers specifically to the husband's prayer for the salvation of his wife. Such a prayer would be hindered if he were not respectful of her needs and fellowship.
We now see that in the things of God they are the same. The woman is heir with faithful Abraham, because of her belief in Christ. The same is true of the husband. The wife, as the weaker vessel, is in the stature of the woman. She is generally of smaller stature than her husband.
Marriage, in the sense of the world, is a contract to live together and raise a family. It is a contract to be physically one. They two are one flesh. In the sense of the believers, marriage is a holy union. The marriage symbolizes the relationship with Christ and His church.
One of the very important aspects of prayer is the prayer of agreement. If husband and wife agree and are in harmony, this activates the prayer. Look what Jesus said about this.
Matthew 18:19 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."
God wants husbands and wives (on the earth), to act as a single unit. Pulling apart gets you nowhere. Working together gets the job done.
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous:"
"Be ye all of one mind": Be harmonious, from two Greek words, meaning "to think the same," "to be like-minded". The idea is to maintain inward unity of heart. All Christians are to be examples and purveyors of peace and unity, not disruption and disharmony (John 13:35; verse 17; Rom. 12:16; 15:5; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:1-2).
This has jumped from husband and wife to the relations of brothers in the church. The power on the day of Pentecost was the fact that they were of one accord. A church body should be a family. They should be more concerned with the needs of their brothers and sisters than they are with their own needs.
The song "Family of God" says it so well. The love that God puts in the heart of the Christian overlooks the faults of others. That kind of love is unconditional. Christians should be quick to forgive, knowing that God forgave them. Forgive that you might be forgiven.
1 Peter 3:9 "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
"But contrariwise blessing": "Blessing" means "to speak well of," "to eulogize." The blessing that a Christian is to give to the reviler includes finding ways to serve him, praying for his salvation or spiritual progress, expressing thankfulness for him, speaking well of him and desiring his well-being (2:23; Lev. 19:18; Prov. 20:22; Luke 6:38).
Look, with me, at what Jesus said about this.
Matthew 5:44-45 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
The fact that we do not take vengeance on those who abuse us is what separates us as being a Christian.
"Ye are thereunto called": A person to whom God has given undeserved blessings instead of judgment should seek the blessing he will receive when giving a free gift of forgiveness to someone who has wronged him (verse 21; Matt. 18:21-35).
1 Peter 3:10 "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:"
"For he that will love life, and see good days": Peter employed apt scriptural confirmation of his exhortation (in verse 9), by quoting (from Psalm 34:12-16). The believer has been granted the legacy to enjoy his life (John 10:10). In this section, Peter gave straightforward advice on how to experience that rich joy and fullness of life, even in the midst of a hostile environment.
The world's idea of good days and the Christian's view of good days are totally different. The world thinks to gain great wealth at any cost is the good life. The Christian is storing up his treasures in heaven. The tongue can kill, or make alive. It is a forceful weapon.
The truly good life is the life where you have no regrets. There are no evil cutting words to take back. Usually that sort of regret comes when a person has had too much to drink, and has said things he did not intend to say. Speak healing words from a heart of love.
1 Peter 3:11 "Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it."
The word "eschew" means avoid, (in the verse above). The Christian should be searching for peace. Jesus (our Leader), is King of Peace. To be filled with Jesus is to be filled with peace.
1 Peter Chapter 3 Questions
1 Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil."
The following Scriptures says the feeling of God toward His own and the people of the world.
John 9:31 "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."
James 5:16 "Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
This certainly does not mean that God will not hear a prayer of repentance. God will listen to the prayer of anyone when they repent. He does see the actions of all of us everyday. He listens more to His own than He does to those who have refused Him.
There is a Christian song that speaks of the all-seeing eye of God. Not anything escapes His view. God will not force Himself upon anyone. He will wait for us to come to Him.
1 Peter 3:13 "And who [is] he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
"Who is he that will harm you": It is unusual for people to mistreat those who are zealous for good. Even a hostile world is slow to hurt people who are benefactors of society, who are kind and caring (4:12), but it does happen (verse 14).
The devil cannot harm a Christian without first getting permission from the Lord. When persecution comes, it is to make the Christian strong. The blood of Jesus defeated the devil on the cross. Christians are covered in the blood of Jesus. Some translations say "if ye be zealous of that which is good". Both statements mean we have put our trust in the Lord.
1 Peter 3:14 "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;"
Happy or "blessed" is the idea here for "privileged" or "honored" (Matthew 5:10).
In this life Christians have tribulation, or persecution. Tribulation makes them strong. It is a very strange thing to explain, but the church grows the most during the worst persecution. True Christianity will rise above the problems of life and go on.
1 Peter 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
"Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts": The meaning is "set apart in your hearts Christ as Lord." The heart is the sanctuary in which He prefers to be worshiped. Live in submissive communion with the Lord Jesus, loving and obeying Him, and you have nothing to fear.
"An answer" (Greek apologetics, "a defense of one's belief's"). The Christian faith is to be defended by a reasonable apologetic with "meekness and fear."
Peter is using the word in an informal sense (Phil. 1:16-17), and is insisting that the believer must understand what he believes and why one is a Christian, and then be able to articulate one's beliefs humbly, thoughtfully, reasonably, and biblically.
This just means to be totally committed to the Lord in your heart. You are what your heart is. The last part of this just means that we must be ready to witness to everyone about what the Lord has done in our lives. The witness of the saved brings others to the Lord.
We should not be arrogant when we are witnessing to others. When we minister to someone, it must be done in love. The following Scriptures tell us exactly what to say to those we minister to.
Matthew 10:18-20 "And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak." "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
"The hope that is in you": Salvation with its anticipation of eternal glory.
Regardless of who we are speaking to, we must put our trust in God that we will say what they need to hear.
1 Peter 3:16 "Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
"A good conscience" refers to a clear conscience, that is, one void of offense.
The conscience accuses (Rom. 2:14-15), by notifying the person of sin by producing guilt, shame, doubt, fear, anxiety, or despair. A life free of ongoing and unconfessed sin, lived under the command of the lord, will produce a "blameless conscience" (Acts 24:16). This will cause your false accusers to feel the "shame" of their own consciences (2:12, 15).
This is saying to me that we Christians should be totally honest in all that we do. When we lie down to sleep at night, we should have lived today with no regrets. We should do good all the days of our lives, regardless of what the world around us is doing.
When we continue to speak absolute truth in love, those who have been speaking evil of us will soon feel guilty and repent. We must set a very high standard of Christianity. When the world looks, we must not even give the appearance of evil.
1 Peter 3:17 "For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."
In the "Will of God" we are sometimes called on to "suffer" for well-doing as a testimony to others.
Jesus suffered for doing good, not evil. Christians should be followers of Christ. If He suffered, we will suffer. Paul counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ. We learn from history that Peter was even pleased that He would be crucified like Jesus was.
If we suffer for evil we have done, we have no reward, and we deserve the punishment. If we suffer for Christ, great is our reward in heaven.
Verses 18-22: "That he may bring us to God" means in order that Christ might bring us to, or give us access to, God. Since Christ has opened up the way to God there is no longer the need of a priesthood; rather, each individual believer is himself a priest.
1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"
Peter wished to encourage his readers in their suffering by again reminding them that even Christ suffered unjustly because it was God's will (verse 17). Ultimately, Christ was marvelously triumphant to the point of being exalted to the right hand of God while all of those demon beings who were behind His suffering were made forever subject to Him (verse 22). God also caused Peter's suffering readers to triumph.
"Hath once suffered for sins": Under the old Covenant, the Jewish people offered sacrifice after sacrifice and then repeated it all the next year, especially at the Passover. But Christ's one sacrifice for sins was of such perpetual validity that it was sufficient for all and would never need to be repeated.
Jesus Christ (who knew no sin), took upon his body, the sin of us all. He had no sin of His own. He was the Righteous One. He gave us in return His righteousness, which justified us before the Father. The Spirit of God dwelled within the flesh of man in the form of Jesus Christ.
"The just for the unjust": This is another statement of the sinlessness of Jesus (Heb. 7:26), and of His substitutionary and vicarious atonement. He, who personally never sinned and had no sin nature, took the place of sinners (2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21). In doing so, Christ satisfied God's just penalty for sin required by the law and opened the way to God for all who repentantly believe (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Jesus gave His flesh on the cross in full payment for our sin. His Spirit went to the Father in heaven. He said "Father, into thy hands, I commend my Spirit." His Spirit, which is eternal, went to the throne of God. Jesus, the Word of God, is alive.
"Quicken by the Spirit": This is not a reference to the Holy Spirit, but to Jesus' true inner life, His own spirit. Contrasted with His flesh (humanness), which was dead for 3 days, His spirit (deity), was alive, literally "in spirit" (Luke 23:46).
1 Peter 3:19-20 "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;" "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water."
The Spirit of Jesus went into the place of imprisonment of the spirits departed from this earth and preached to those who had not had an opportunity to accept, or reject, Him. Every person has his opportunity to accept, or reject, Jesus as their Savior.
They were disobedient, because they did not know of God. The church had not been established at this time, spoken of as Noah's day.
Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord, and God saved Noah and his wife, his three sons, and their wives. These 8 people would repopulate the earth. The "number eight" means new beginnings. God does not leave the slightest detail out.
1 Peter 3:21 "The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"
Peter is teaching that the fact that 8 people were in the ark and went through the whole judgment, and yet were unharmed, is analogous to the Christian's experience in salvation by being in Christ, the ark of one's salvation.
"Baptism ... by the resurrection of Jesus Christ": Peter is not at all referring to water baptism here, but rather a figurative immersion into union with Christ as an ark of safety from the judgment of God. The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God's acceptance of Christ's substitutionary death for the sins of those who believe (Acts 2:30-31; Rom. 1:4).
"Baptism doth also now save us": does not mean that water baptism is essential to salvation. Since it cannot wash away the "filth of the flesh," baptism shows the "answer of a good conscience toward God." In other words, baptism is a conscious testimony to one's faith in the "resurrection of Jesus Christ" because it symbolizes our resurrection with Him.
"Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh": To be sure he is not misunderstood; Peter clearly says he is not speaking of water baptism. In Noah's flood, they were kept out of the water while those who went into the water were destroyed. Being in the ark and thus saved from God's judgment on the world prefigures being in Christ and thus saved from eternal damnation.
"But the answer of a good conscience toward God" (answer = appeal): The word for "appeal" has the idea of a pledge, agreeing to certain conditions of a covenant (the New Covenant), with God. What saves a person plagued by sin and a guilty conscience is not some external rite, but the agreement with God to get in the ark of safety, the Lord Jesus, by faith in His death and resurrection (Rom. 10:9-10; Heb. 9:14; 10:22).
"Water baptism" is an outward show of the death of the body and rising from that watery grave to new life in Christ. The real baptism, that saves us, is the transformation that takes place in our heart. We must turn our heart over to Jesus. Water baptism is very important. It confirms to the world, what has gone on in our heart.
Jesus defeated sin for the Christian on the cross. He defeated death, when He rose from the tomb.
1 Peter 3:22 "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."
"Right hand of God": After Jesus accomplished His cross work and was raised from the dead, He was exalted to the place of prominence, honor, majesty, authority and power (Rom. 8:34; Ephesians 1:20-21; Phil. 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3-9; 6:20; 8:1; 12:2). The point of application to Peter's readers is that suffering can be the context for one's greatest triumph, as seen in the example of the Lord Jesus.
We can see from the following verses the extent to which His authority extends.
Ephesians 1:20-21 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places]," "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"
Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, because He has completed His work of salvation. The only time the Bible mentions Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father, is when he stood to greet His servant Stephen home.
1 Peter Chapter 3 Continued Questions
1 Peter 4:1 "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;"
In light of the triumphant suffering and death of Christ, Peter's readers should also be willing to suffer in the flesh, knowing that it potentially produces the greatest triumph.
We discussed in the previous lesson that it should be our joy to be willing to suffer for Christ, if it be necessary. Christ suffered the cruelty of the cross of Calvary for us. We can do no less for Him. If it be necessary to suffer for Him, we should be willing.
"Arm yourselves with the same mind", means to keep your thoughts stayed upon Him. When we are willing to suffer in the flesh for Christ, we have put Him ahead of all the flesh desires. The desire of the flesh is where sin originates.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
The Christians should be armed (terminology that realizes a battle), with the same thought that was manifest in the suffering of Christ, namely that one can be triumphant in suffering, even the suffering of death. In other words, the Christian should voluntarily accept the potential of death as a part of the Christian life (Matt. 10:38-39; 2 Cor. 4:8-11).
Peter would have his opportunity to live this principle himself, when he faced martyrdom (see John 21:18-19).
Willingly suffering for Christ in our flesh is putting Christ ahead of everything else.
"Hath ceased from sin": The perfect tense of the verb emphasizes a permanent eternal condition free from sin. The worst that can happen to a believer suffering unjustly is death, and that is the best that can happen because death means the complete and end of all sins.
If the Christian is armed with the goal of being delivered from sin, and that goal is achieved through his death; the threat and experience of death is precious (Rom. 7:5, 18; 1 Cor. 1:21; 15:42, 49). Moreover, the greatest weapon that the enemy has against the Christian, the threat of death, is not effective.
1 Peter 4:2 "That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
Live ... to the lusts of men": If the goal of the Christian's life is the freedom from sin which comes at death, then he should live the remainder of his life on earth pursing the holy will of God rather than the ungodly lusts of the flesh.
My main message, other than the importance of salvation, in these lessons is simple. We must make Jesus Christ, not only our Savior, but our Lord. When we make Jesus, Lord of our life, we are not living for the flesh. We are controlled by Jesus' Spirit. We have turned our will over to the will of God.
1 Peter 4:3 "For the time past of [our] life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:"
"Lasciviousness ... abominable idolatries": Lasciviousness "sensuality" describes unbridled, unrestrained sin, an excessive indulgence in sensual pleasure. "Revellings" has the idea of an orgy. The Greek word was used in extra biblical literature to refer to a band of drunken, wildly acting people, swaggering and staggering through public streets, wreaking havoc.
Thus, the pleasures of the ungodly are described here from the perspective of God as despicable acts of wickedness. Though Peter's readers had indulged in such sins before salvation, they must never do so again. Sin in the believer is a burden which afflicts him rather than a pleasure which delights him.
Gentiles in the verse above, is speaking of worldly people who have not received Jesus as Savior. Everyone was like this, before they received Jesus as their Savior. The will of the world (Gentiles), is to please the flesh and its lust for sin. All the sins above are caused by lust of the flesh. Christians are to separate themselves away from this type of life style. We are to be a peculiar people, as far as the world is concerned.
1 Peter 4:4 "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [you]:"
"They think it strange": The former friends are surprised, offended and resentful because of the Christian's lack of interest in ungodly pleasures.
Christians are in the world, but not of the world. The things the world calls pleasure does not interest the Christian. The world lives to please their own flesh. They cannot understand someone who has ceased to be selfish, and they are always thinking of self. They speak evil about you, because they do not understand why you are not caught up in this sinful way of life.
"The same excess of riot": This refers to the state of evil in which a person thinks about nothing else. The picture here is of a large crowd running together in a mad, wild race, a melee pursing sin.
1 Peter 4:5 "Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead."
"Give account": This verb means "to pay back." People who have "pursued a course of lewdness" (verse 3), and who "malign": believers (verse 4), are amassing a debt to God which they will spend all eternity paying back (Matt. 12:36; Rom. 14:11-12; Heb. 4:13).
All of mankind will stand before Jesus to be judged. Each of us, as an individual, must give an account of the life he lives here on the earth. The dead in Christ shall rise first, and we which remain shall be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. After that comes the judgment.
"Give account to him that is ready to judge the quick (living), and the dead": God is prepared in His time to bring the living and the dead, all generations, before Him to give an account of their deeds (Rom. 14:12).
All the unsaved, (currently alive or dead). Those guilty of walking in wickedness (verse 3), will be summoned before the Great White Throne to face the judge, Jesus Christ (John 5:22; Revelation 20:11-15).
Those who have not chosen Jesus as Savior will be sent to eternal damnation. Those who live for Jesus will inherit eternal life in heaven. It is Jesus Christ who is Judge.
1 Peter 4:6 "For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
"To them that are dead": The preaching of the gospel not only offers a rich life (3:10), a ceasing from sin (verse 1), and a good conscience (3:21), but also an escape from final judgment. Peter had in mind believers who had heard and accepted the gospel of Christ when they were still alive, but who had died by the time Peter wrote this letter.
Some of them, perhaps, had been martyred for their faith. Though these were dead physically, they were triumphantly alive in their spirits (Heb. 12:23). All their judgment had been fully accomplished while they were alive in this world ("in the flesh"), so they will live forever in God's presence.
In the passage above, the two were separated into the living (those who had heard the gospel and received Jesus as their Savior), and the dead (those who had not heard nor received Jesus as Savior). To be condemned to hell, they must reject Jesus as their Savior.
That is why it is so important for all to hear the good news of the gospel. They must choose for themselves whether they will be condemned to hell, or live eternally in heaven. Jesus passes the judgment, but actually we make that decision for ourselves. Those who receive Jesus as Savior must live the godly life, walking in the footprints that Jesus left for us.
1 Peter 4:7 "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
"The end of all things": The Greek word for "end" is never used in the New Testament as a chronological end, as if something simply stops. Instead, the word means a consummation, a goal achieved, a result attained, or a realization.
Having emphasized triumphant suffering through death, Peter here begins to emphasize triumphant suffering through the second coming of Christ (1:3; 2:12), which is the goal of all things. He is calling believers to live obediently and expectantly in the light of Christ's return.
"Is at hand": The idea is that of a process consummated with a resulting nearness; that is, "imminent." Peter is reminding the readers of this letter that the return of Jesus Christ could be at any moment (Rom. 13:12; 1 Thess. 1:10; James 5:7-8; Rev. 22:20).
"Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer": In the Apostolic Age, as now, there was a constant expectation that the consummation, or the end of the age, was at hand. That is as it should be. Believers should always conduct their lives with seriousness, watchfulness and prayer, for no one knows the day or the hour when Christ may return.
This implies here to not be swept away by emotions or passions, thus maintaining a proper eternal perspective on life. The doctrine of imminent return of Christ should not turn the Christian into a zealous fanatic who does nothing but wait for it to occur. Instead, it should lead the believer into a watchful pursuit of holiness. Moreover, a watchful attitude creates a pilgrim mentality (2:11).
It reminds the Christian that he is a citizen of heaven only sojourning on earth. It should also remind him that he will face the record of his service to God and be rewarded for what stands the test at the judgment seat of Christ, which follows the return of Christ to rapture His church (see 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 4:1-5; 2 Cor. 5:9-10).
Every generation since the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, has felt that the coming of the Lord was near. It is even more apparent today that we are living near the coming of Christ. Peter's instruction, in face of this, is to get serious about God and stay ready. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in every decision you make.
A mind victimized by emotion and passion, out of control, or knocked out of balance by worldly lusts and pursuits, is a mind that cannot know the fullness of Holy Communion in prayer with God (3:7). A mind fixed on His return is purified (1 John 3:3), and enjoys the fullness of fellowship with the Lord.
1 Peter 4:8 "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
"Fervent": means "to be stretched," "to be strained." It is used of a runner who is moving at maximum output with taut muscles straining and stretching to the limit (1:22). This kind of love requires the Christian to put another's spiritual good ahead of his own desires, in spite of being treated unkindly, ungraciously, or even with hostility (1 Cor. 13:4-7; Phil. 2:1-4).
The word that was translated charity here is the same word translated charity (in 1 Corinthians chapter 13). It means God's kind of love. The kind of love spoken of here is unselfish love. This love is not because of what it might bring in return, but is a love so great that it loves the unlovable.
Give and it shall be given to you. God forgives those who are quick to forgive others. God knows you have love one for another, when you are charitable to others. Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it also unto me." You cannot do anything directly for God. The only way you can do for God, is by doing for His people.
"Charity shall cover the multitude of sins" (quoted from Prov. 10:12). It is the nature of true spiritual love, whether from God to man or Christian to Christian, to cover sins (Rom. 5:8). This teaching does not preclude the discipline of a sinning, unrepentant church member (Matthew 15:15-18; 1 Cor. 5). It means specifically that a Christian should overlook sins against him if possible and always be ready to forgive insults and unkindnesses.
1 Peter 4:9 "Use hospitality one to another without grudging."
"Use hospitality one to another": The Greek word means "love of strangers." Love is intensely practical, not just emotional. In Peter's day, love included opening one's home and caring for other needy Christians, such as traveling preachers. It also included opening one's home for church services. Scripture also teaches that Christians should be hospitable to strangers (Exodus 22:21; Deut. 14:28-29; Heb. 13:12).
Hospitality was actually a necessity in those days. The ministers who travelled from town to town had to stay with the people they were ministering to. We find a very good example of that in the following Scriptures.
Luke 9:1-5 "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases." "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." "And he said unto them, Take nothing for [your] journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece." "And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart."
Look at the terrible thing Jesus said to do, if the people the apostle stayed with did not receive them.
"And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them."
1 Peter 4:10 "As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
"Hath received the gift": A spiritual gift is a graciously given supernaturally designed ability granted to every believer by which the Holy Spirit ministers to the body of Christ. The Greek word (charisma), emphasizes the freeness of the gift. A spiritual gift cannot be earned, pursued or worked up. It is merely "received" through the grace of God (1 Cor. 12:4, 7, 11, 18).
The categories of spirituals gifts are given (in Rom. 12:3-8 and 1 Cor. 12:4-10). Each believer has one specific gift, often a combination of the various categories of gifts blended together uniquely for each Christian.
The abilities that the Lord has given each of us to minister with are not our own ability, but a gift of the Spirit that has been given us of God. This is called gifts of the Spirit. These gifts will be given to us several at a time as we need them to minister with.
"Minister the same one to another": Spiritual gifts were used, not for the exaltation of the person with the gift, but in loving concern for the benefit of others in the church (1 Cor. 12:7, 13).
"Good stewards": A steward is responsible for another's resources. A Christian does not own his gifts, but God has given him gifts to manage for the church and His glory.
That is what Christians are today. We are keepers of the grace of God toward man on this earth. Here's a few Scriptures on the gifts of the Spirit. To get the whole picture, begin with verse 1 and read all of it.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit." "And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord." "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;" "To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;" "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:" "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
"Manifold grace of God": This emphasizes the vast designs of God for these gifts.
1 Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
"Speak ... minister": Peter is implying that there are two categories of gifts: speaking gifts and serving gifts. Such distinctions are clear in the lists (in Romans 12 and 1 Cor. 12).
The message is not our own. We are speaking for Jesus Christ, if we are Christians. We are like ambassadors for Christ. We represent Him to the unsaved world. We are sent by Him, with His message, to reconcile the world to Jesus Christ. An "ambassador", just represents the one he is sent by.
They do not get the glory for the job they do. The glory goes to the person who had the plan that sent them to negotiate. Since it is not our message, that we bring, it is not our glory for that message, but the glory goes to God. The praise should go to Jesus Christ and the Father. He is exalted ruler for all of eternity. The "Amen" means, so be it. It is as if this statement is a prayer.
1 Peter 4:12 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:"
"The fiery trial": Peter probably wrote this letter shortly before or after the burning or Rome and at the beginning of the horrors of a 200-year period of Christian persecution. Peter explains that 4 attitudes are necessary in order to be triumphant in persecution:
"Some strange thing happened" meaning to fall by chance. A Christian must not think that his persecution is something that happened accidentally. God allowed it and designed it for the believer's testing, purging, and cleansing.
We know there are trials that face us all. It is not how many trials we have or even how bad the trials are that counts, it is how we handle the trials. If you look through the Bible at all the prophets and men and women of God, you will find they all faced trials. It is not unusual for trying times to come. It rains on the just and on the unjust. It is important how we handle that problem.
1 Peter 4:13 "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
The Christian who is persecuted for his faith is a partner in the same kind of suffering Jesus endured, suffering for doing what is right (Matt. 5:10-12; Gal. 6:17; Phil. 1:29; 3:10; Col. 1:24).
"When his glory shall be revealed": Believers who are persecuted for their faith are partakers of the same kind of suffering the Savior endured for obeying and serving God with faithfulness, loyalty and love. When Christ returns, we shall "appear with him in glory" (Col 3:4). While Jesus is presently glorified in heaven, His glory is not yet fully revealed on earth.
All will rejoice, but especially those who have been persecuted and martyred will more fully understand "that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).
"Glad also with exceeding joy": That is, exult and rejoice with a rapturous joy (James 1:2). A Christian who is persecuted for righteousness in this life will have overflowing joy in the future because of his reward. Such an awareness of future joy enables him also to "rejoice" at the present time (Luke 6:22).
These are problems that come from serving the Lord, spoken of here. Paul thought it an honor to suffer for Christ. We should feel the same way. God cannot trust all of us with suffering for Him. Some would fold up under great trials. Others get stronger in that trial.
When the suffering is in the name of the Lord, it should thrill us that God can trust us with that big a problem.
1 Peter 4:14 "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
"Reproached for the name of Christ": Insulted and treated unfairly for being a representative of all that Christ is, and for the public proclamation of the name of Christ (Acts 4:12; 5:42; 9:15-16; 15:26).
"Happy are ye": Not a general, nondescript happiness so much as a specific benefit, in the suffering triumphantly for Christ shows God's approval.
This is speaking of being persecuted for the fact that you are a Christian, or because you are working for Christ. We find that when we love God enough to be persecuted for Him, He will greatly reward us.
"Spirit of glory": That is, the Spirit who has glory, or who is glorious. In the Old Testament, the glory of God was represented by the Shekinah light, that luminous glow which signified the presence of God (Exodus 33:14 - 34:9).
"Resteth upon you": When a believer suffers, God's presence specially rests and lifts him to strength and endurance beyond the physical dimension (Acts 6:8 - 7:60; 2 Cor. 12:7-10).
The suffering of Job, in the Old Testament, was great. He did not turn against God. He became even more faithful during the problem. We know there was a time when God said, it is enough. God mightily blessed Job; in so much that his later state was better than it had been before all the troubles came. Read the book of Job to get the full impact of this.
1 Peter 4:15 "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters."
"As a busybody": Someone who intrudes into matters that belong to someone else. Peter is dealing with matters that would lead to persecution, such as getting involved in revolutionary, disruptive activity or interfering in the function and flow of government. It might also refer to being a troublesome meddler in the workplace.
Generally, a Christian living in a non-Christian culture is to do his work faithfully, exalt Jesus Christ, and live a virtuous life, rather than try to overturn or disrupt his culture (2:13-16; 1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:11).
1 Peter 4:16 "Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
"Christian": In the early days of the church, "Christian" was a derisive term given to those followers of Christ (Acts. 11:26; 26:28). Eventually, followers of Christ came to love and adopt this name.
There is no shame in serving God. Even if a person is imprisoned for the cause of Jesus Christ, he should not be ashamed, but count it his duty to uphold Christ. We should count it an honor to be allowed to suffer for Christ.
1 Peter 4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
"Judgment ... house of God": Not condemnation, but the purging, chastening, and purifying of the church by the loving hand of God. It is far better and more important to kingdom work to endure suffering as the Lord purges and strengthens the church, that to endure the eternal sufferings of the unbeliever in the lake of fire. And, if God so strongly and painfully judges His church which He loves, what will be His fury on the ungodly?
The "house of God" is speaking of the believers in Christ, or the church. We know that God expects our lives to be clean. Jesus is coming back for a church that is without spot or wrinkle. God will shake the church, so that those who are playing church will be shaken out. Only the true believers in Christ will remain.
We Christians must remember, that to whom much is given, much is required. Christians must separate themselves from the world and its lust. We are to live wholesome lives as an example for the world to follow. God must begin at the church, because we are in full knowledge. God judges his own in the hope they will turn from their evil ways back to Him.
The church is the bearer of the Light to the darkened world. If the Light of the world becomes dark, the darkness would become great. We know that the Christians are sons of God. The answer to what the end is for those who do not accept Jesus as Savior is simple but harsh. They are headed for an eternity in hell.
1 Peter 4:18 "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
(Quoted from the LXX of Prov. 11:31), and reinforces the point that if the justified sinner is saved only with great difficulty, while enduring suffering, pain, and loss, what will be the end of the ungodly (2 Thess. 1:4-10)?
The word "scarcely" indicates to me that the Christian has more to do than walk the isle of a church and go and be baptized in water to be saved. Salvation is a daily walk through life with Jesus. The temptations of life must be overcome each day of our life. To be the righteous, you must have, at some time in your life, accepted Jesus as your Savior.
This would cause you to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. The righteous scarcely being saved, indicates to me, it is possible to walk away from God and not be truly saved. Here is what Jesus said in the parable of the soils:
Matthew 13:20-22 "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;" "Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
This does not mean just committing a single sin would cause you to be lost. It means to me turning away from God and choosing to go back into your sinful way of life. The ungodly and the sinner will stand before Jesus to be judged lost.
1 Peter 4:19 "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."
"Commit the keeping of their souls" or "Entrusting" which is a banking term meaning "to deposit for safe keeping."
Many believe inflicting suffering upon themselves is pleasing to God. This is not what this Scripture is saying. This says if you suffer from outside causes for the will of God, you are pleasing the God who created you.
Mark 13:13 "And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
There is a battle to be fought. We must fight for Jesus even until death if we are to be a good soldier fit for the kingdom.
"Faithful Creator": Peter uses the word "Creator," to remind the readers of this letter that when they committed their lives to God, they were simply giving back to God what He had created. As Creator, God knows best the needs of His beloved creatures (2:23; 2 Tim. 1:2).
1 Peter Chapter 4 Questions
Verses 1-5: This section introduces the charge to the elders (Greek, presbuterous), a term borrowed from Israel (Exodus 18:21), to describe the men who ruled in the church (1 Tim. 3). The term is synonymous with bishop (Greek episkopos), and is a term often overlapping for pastor in some forms of Protestant church government.
A crown of glory is promised to faithful pastors. When the chief Shepherd shall appear: The rewards will be realized when Jesus returns for His church.
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
The elders which are among you I exhort: Times of suffering and persecution in the church call for the noblest leadership. The elder is the same leader as the shepherd (verse 2), and Guardian (2:25), or overseer. The word elder emphasizes their spiritual maturity. As in almost all other uses of the word (with the exception of Peter’s reference to himself here and John’s in 2 John 1 and 3 John 1), Peter wrote in the plural, indicating it was usual to have a plurality of godly leaders who oversaw and fed the flock.
Elder … witness … partaker of the glory: Peter loaded this exhortation to the elders with some rich motivation.
Partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Peter, apostle, elder (pastor), and eyewitness of Jesus’ sufferings, had also briefly beheld the transfigured person of Jesus Christ, His face shining as the sun and His garment as white as the light (Matt. 17:2).
He, with James and John, had a fleeting glimpse of Jesus’ effulgent majesty. When His glory is fully revealed at His return, those who have suffered for Him and those who have faithfully served Him will share forever His eternal glory (Rev. 2:10; 3:12, 21).
Peter is speaking to those who have some authority in this verse. He separates them out from the average Christian, because their responsibility is greater. He is aware that they are not only responsible for themselves, but for the Christians in their congregation. Peter related to them because of the great responsibility of the church placed upon him.
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight , not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Feed the flock of God: After the motivation (verse 1), comes the exhortation (verses 2-4). Since the primary objective of shepherding is feeding, that is teaching, every elder must be able to teach (John 21:15-17). Involved with the feeding of the flock is also protecting the flock (Acts 20:28-30). In both duties, it must be remembered that the flock belongs to God, not to the pastor. God entrusts some of His flock to the pastor of a church to lead, care for, and feed (verse 3).
He is not speaking of physical food, but the food of the Word of God. They are not to minister because of obligation to do so, but from love of the brethren. The minister must desire to help others. This should be his motivation for ministering, and not because they are compelled to do it. Ministry is not an occupation, it is a call.
Not by constraint, but willingly: Specifically, Peter may be warning the elders against a first danger, laziness. The divine calling (1 Cor. 9:16), along with the urgency of the task (Rom. 1:15), should prevent laziness and indifference. (2 Cor. 9:7).
Not for filthy lucre: False teachers are always motivated by a second danger, money, and use their power and position to rob people of their own wealth. Scripture is clear that churches should pay their shepherds well (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 1 Tim. 5:17-18); but a desire for undeserved money must never be a motive for ministers to serve.
Those who minister because of the salary they receive are not in the ministry for the right reason. The call of God on ministers’ lives should be so great that they would minister if there was no payment for it at all. We all know they need a salary to live, but it should not be their reason for ministering.
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over heritage, but being examples to the flock.
Neither as being lords over: This is the third major temptation for a pastor:
In this context; lording it over means to dominate someone or some situation. It implies leadership by manipulation and intimidation. Rather, true spiritual leadership is by example (see 1 Tim. 4:12).
The high priest and the priest’s office in the temple had been used many times to rule over the people. This is not the way Jesus taught the leaders of the Christians to be. The greatest among you should be the servant, is what He taught.
The ministers should not glory in their authority, but should live godly lives before the people as an example of how the people were to live. The requirements for those in authority are greater than for the average Christian, because they are operating in knowledge.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth not, to him it is sin.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Chief Shepherd shall appear: Jesus Christ, the chief Shepherd (John 10:11; Heb. 13:20), will return to reward His faithful under shepherds with a crown of glory that fadeth not away. This special reward for faithful, godly spiritual leaders is one of five crowns mentioned in Scripture for living, faithful service (1 Cor. 9:25; 1 Thess. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10, 3:11).
Notice the word receive in the verse above. The crown belongs to Jesus, but He puts it on our head. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Anything He gave you would be for all of eternity. When Jesus (Chief Shepherd), appears means at the coming of Christ.
Crown of glory: All the crowns describe certain characteristics of eternal life.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the Humble.
Submit yourselves unto the elder: The elders are the pastors, the spiritual leaders of the church (verse 1). The church members, especially the young people, are to give honor, deference, and respect to spiritual leadership. Submission is a fundamental attitude of spiritual maturity (1 Cor. 16:15; 1 Thess. 5:12-14; Titus 3:1-2; Heb. 13:7, 17). Lack of submission to the elders not only makes the ministry difficult, but also forfeits God’s grace (as noted in the quote from Prov. 3:34).
This is saying that the Christian, who has been one for a long time, has probably studied the Word of God more than one who is a new Christian. It would be best for the new Christian to learn from the elder.
Be clothed with humility: To clothe yourselves literally means to tie something on oneself with a knot or a bow. This term was often used of a slave putting on an apron over his clothes, in order to keep his clothes clean. Humility is literally lowly mindedness, an attitude that one is not too good to serve.
Humility was not considered a virtue by the ancient world, any more than it is today. Those who believe they already know everything cannot be helped. They are too proud to receive help. To humble yourself before God is the first step to receiving from God.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Under the mighty hand of God: This is an Old Testament symbol of the power of God working in the experience of men, always accomplishing His sovereign purpose (Exodus 3:19-20; Job 30:20-21; Ezek. 20:33, 37; Micah 6:8). The readers of Peter’s letter were not to fight the sovereign hand of God, even when it brought them through testing.
Moses was one of the humblest men who ever lived, and we know that God exalted Moses greatly. Moses was the only one God revealed Himself to by bringing Moses to the mountain top for 40 days at a time to fellowship with.
Peter remembered the Lord Jesus’ statement (in Luke 14).
Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Exalt you in due time: God will lift up the suffering, submissive believers in His wisely appointed time. One of the evidences of lack of submission and humility is impatience with God in His work of humbling believers.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Casting all your care upon him: This verse partly quotes and partly interprets (Psalm 55:22). Casting means to throw something on something, as to throw a blanket on a donkey (Luke 19:35). Christians are to cast all their discontent, discouragement, despair, and suffering on the Lord, and trust Him for knowing what He’s doing with their lives (1 Sam. 1:10-18).
Along with submission (verse 5), and humility (verses 5-6), trust in God is the third attitude necessary for victorious Christian living.
If the problem is too big for God to handle, it is far too big for me to handle. We see how foolish it is on our part to try to take the cares of the world upon our own shoulders. God is able to take care of you and me. This is a beautiful promise from the Old Testament.
Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
The righteous are His, because they have put on the righteousness of Christ.
Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Be vigilant: Strong confidence in God’s sovereign care does not mean that the believer may live carelessly. The outside evil forces which come against the Christian demand that the Christian stay alert.
The roaring lion, here, is speaking of the devil. The devil would love to catch us unaware (not vigilant). We must be like the 5 wise virgins who stayed ready to meet their master. This does not mean that you must stop living. It means that we must keep our sound mind operating at full capacity. We should not take drugs, or get drunk on alcohol and let our guard down.
Satan and his forces are always active, looking for opportunities to overwhelm the believer with temptation, persecution, and discouragement (Psalms 22:13; 104:21; Ezek. 22:25). Satan sows discord, accuses God to men, men to God, and men to men.
He will do what he can to drag the Christian out of fellowship with Christ and out of Christian service. And he constantly accuses believers before God’s throne, attempting to convince God to abandon them (Job 1:6-12; Revelation 12:10).
Be vigilant, ever watchful, lest you be caught unprepared to meet Jesus. Notice as a roaring lion. The old devil is not a lion; he is just trying to pretend that he is. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The devil would like to ruin your life. Do not let him.
1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Steadfast in the verse above, means rock-like firmness. We see then, that our strength to withstand the devil must be in the name of Jesus, and in the power of His shed blood. We must stand firmly on the Rock who is Jesus Christ. The problems of the world may be swirling around us, but the knowledge that we are built on the Rock will help us have enough faith to stand.
Resist means to stand against. The way to resist the devil is not with special formulas, or words directed at him and his demons, but by remaining firm in the Christian faith. This means to continue to live in accord with the truth of God’s Word. As the believer knows sound doctrine and obeys God’s truth, Satan is withstood (Eph. 6:17).
The same afflictions: The whole brotherhood, the entire Christian community, is always going through similar trials brought on by the roaring lion that never stops trying to devour believers (1 Cor. 10:13).
The world is built on the sand, and when the storms come, they fall. Our faith in the power of Jesus will keep us from harm. He (Jesus), fought the devil with the Word of God. We must fight the devil the same way, with the Word of God.
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle .
After that ye have suffered a while: Christians are to live with the understanding that Gods purposes realized in the future require some pain in the present. While the believer is being personally attacked by the enemy, he is being personally perfected by the Lord, as the next phrase attests (1:6; 2 Cor. 1:3-7).
Who hath called us: As always in the New Testament epistles, an effectual, saving call.
It is by God’s grace we are saved, not of our own doing. The grace offered to every person by the crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary, requires nothing to receive, except to believe in Jesus Christ.
In this life, we will have tribulation (suffering). These troubles come to make us strong in the Lord. The trials that we overcome establish us in the faith. We grow in the grace of the Lord every time we face a problem and overcome it by the Word of God.
Perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle: These four words all speak of strength and resoluteness. God is working through the Christian’s struggles to produce strength of character. (In verses 5-14), Peter elucidated briefly, but in wonderful richness, those attitudes which are necessary for the believer to grow in Christ to effective maturity. These include:
1 Peter 5:11 To him glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Him here, is the Lord Jesus Christ. The glory is not ours, since we did nothing to receive the grace, but believe. The glory is God’s. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth;
1 Peter 5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
Silvanus is the same person as Silas in Acts. Paul and Silas were imprisoned together for the gospel. It is believed that he probably was the one who brought this letter. Faithful brother means that he was a fellow Christian. The last words of Peter here, explain that the letter was brief, but was to exhort (call near), them in the grace of God. Peter knew first-hand that this was the true grace of God that saves us all.
Silvanus Silas, was the one who traveled with Paul and is often mentioned in his epistles. He was a prophet (Acts 15:31), and a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37); he was apparently the one who wrote down Peter’s words and later took this letter to its intended recipients.
1 Peter 5:13 The at Babylon, elected together with , saluteth you; and Marcus my son.
Church is the assembly of the believers and refers to a church in Rome (Rev. chapters 17 â€" 18).
Marcus my son: Mark, called John Mark, was the spiritual son of Peter. Tradition indicates that Peter helped him write the Gospel of Mark (Acts 12:12). This is the same Mark who once failed Paul (Acts 13:13; 15:38-39; Col. 4:10), but later became useful again for ministry (2 Tim. 4:11).
1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
The kiss, spoken of here, is not a passionate kiss. This was a kiss of fellowship between brothers, or sisters and brothers in Christ. This was a kiss (probably on the cheek), of brotherly love. Notice, who the peace is with. It is with those who are in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the King of Peace. If we have Jesus in us, we are full of peace.
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