Day 353: 1 Peter 1-3

(The second epistle in this mini-section that contained four separate authors was written by Peter from Babylon around 60 AD. This would place this letter around the same time as Paul's earliest epistles (Romans and 1 Corinthians). While Paul went west towards Rome and focused on the Gentiles, Peter went east focused on the Jews. Peter used logic to present Doctrine from an emotional perspective. The purpose of this letter was to exhort believers to stand firm in all types of suffering.

1 Peter 1
¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

(Peter, an Apostle, wrote a letter to believers (elect) from foreign countries throughout Asia Minor: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These areas were mentioned in Acts 2:9.)

² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

(When we become believers we are sanctified of the Spirit and begotten again (born anew) by Christ's resurrection.)

⁴ unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

(The inheritance we now are heir with is incorruptible, undefiled, will not fade away, and is reserved in heaven.)

⁵ who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(…and is kept by God's power. We have access to this inheritance through faith unto Salvation.)

⁶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,
⁷ that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

(Suffering was the main theme of this letter. Peter stated in the sixth verse: Rejoice in temptations that try your faith. They are much more precious than gold that perishes. The riches of our faith being grown are spiritual and incorruptible. Remember, fire burns up dross and purifies precious metals.)

⁸ whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
⁹ receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

(Our faith (belief in something: we cannot see and/or that has not happened yet) results in the Salvation of our souls.)

¹⁰ Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

(The grace that is here now was prophesied about in Jeremiah 31:33.)

¹¹ searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.

(The Spirit of Christ spoke of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow through the prophets. Peter established that the Messiah's suffering resulted in glory.)

¹² To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

(This sentence from Peter sounded like Ephesians 3:10-11, our dispensation revealed a plan that not even the spiritual realm was aware.)

¹³ Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

(In this verse, the Greek word for "mind" was dianoia. It was composed of two Greek words that meant "the channel through which the Mind/Soul operates"...which is the conscious brain! The word "brain" is a relatively new word and was created more than a thousand years after the New Testament was written. Prepare your conscious brain, be sober, and hope (faith) to the end for the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Christ in our conscious brain.)

¹⁴ as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance:

(…as obedient children (by grace), not being led by the flesh.)

¹⁵ but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;

(This is still the same sentence as verse 13 which began with Peter telling us to focus on "girding the loins of our conscious brains." He that called you is holy, so you will be holy in all manner of living (actions/do). Some people want to interpret this verse as meaning God calls every believer holy and there is nothing the believer can do to cease from being holy. Actually, we know "holy" means Right and Just. God alone is Holy. However, believers make a choice, with their conscious brain, to allow God (Holy Spirit) inside to guide their actions, which is grace. When we choose to allow God to work through us, the result is Righteousness unto Salvation, which is holy. We are only holy when we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us...)

¹⁶ because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

(Peter referenced Leviticus 11:44 to show we are only holy as an effect of God, because God alone is holy and God works through believers.)

¹⁷ And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:

(Doctrine: Everyone will be judged according to their works, what they choose to let out through their hearts.)

¹⁸ knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;
¹⁹ but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ:

(Doctrine: Christ was the Passover Lamb. His blood is the source of our Salvation.)

²⁰ who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,
²¹ who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

(Doctrine: Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest (made to appear) in the last times for us, that by Him we believe in God.)

²² Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:

("...your obedience to the truth" is grace: the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. God would direct us to love other believers.)

²³ having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

(Doctrine: Those who are obedient to the truth have been begotten again (born anew) by the word of God (Jesus) which lives forever.)

²⁴ For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:
²⁵ But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.

(Peter referenced Isaiah 40:6-8. The Word of God is spiritual and lives forever.)

(Theme of Chapter 1: Peter introduced his main theme of suffering. Peter established the long term benefit of grace through faith: eternal Salvation.)




1 Peter 2
¹ Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
² as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

(Peter presented the long term benefit of being a believer in the first chapter. Here, Peter began listing the short term things we ought to do if we want to receive the long term benefit: As newborn babes (with humility) desire the sincere milk of the word so you may grow.)

³ if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious:
⁴ unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,
⁵ ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

(The word sacrifice meant "to kill flesh." Peter equated the current behavior that was in line with receiving the long term benefit as sacrifice.)

⁶ Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

(Peter referenced Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22. Christ is the Chief Corner Stone. Those who believe on Christ will not be put to shame.)

⁷ For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;
⁸ and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

(Peter referenced Isaiah 8:14. Peter showed the Jews that it was prophesied that Christ would be rejected by God's people.)

⁹ But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

(The Israel nation was chosen to show the praises of God who called them out of darkness and into His light.)

¹⁰ who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

(Peter referenced Hosea 1:9-10. God's people includes the Gentiles. Every person has the opportunity to be God's people.)

¹¹ Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;
¹² having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

(Peter appealed to the Jews' behavior relative to (in the presence of) the Gentiles. Peter stated that the suffering from Gentiles speaking against them ought to be seen as an opportunity to become their good work, something that would get Rewarded in eternity.)

¹³ Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
¹⁴ or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.

(Submit to the ordinances of man "for the Lord’s sake." However, you ought not to forsake God by following man-made ordinances. The point being that not following God's ordinances would obviously prove to everyone you were an unbeliever, especially if you rationalize this choice by saying you were following an ordinance from man that contradicted God's ordinance. Not following man's ordinances when they did not contradict God's ordinances would be giving unbelievers reason to speak against believers.)

¹⁵ For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
¹⁶ as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

(Following man's ordinances that did not contradict God's ordinances ought to silence ignorant and foolish men who are trying to afflict you.)

¹⁷ Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

(Perfect summary: Hold God in the highest respect (First Command), love believers (Second Command as an effect of the First Command), give honor to everyone else.)

¹⁸ Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
¹⁹ For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.
²⁰ For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

(Servants (employees), be subject to your masters (supervisors), even the bad ones because when you endure this affliction it is acceptable (charis - grace) with God. Peter brought up his main theme of suffering to say that men who were toward God would endure wrongful griefs and sufferings.)

²¹ For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:
²² who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

(We ought to suffer well because Christ, who did no sin, suffered for us and gave us an example for us to follow.)

²³ who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

(When Christ suffered, He committed Himself to God who judges Righteously. Christ suffered the ultimate injustice, and He never defended Himself.)

²⁴ who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

(Christ bore our sins so that now we are dead to sin and we ought to "live unto righteousness," which is by grace. Next, Peter referenced Isaiah 53:6...)

²⁵ For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

(Theme of Chapter 2: We ought to suffer well wrongful griefs and sufferings in the short term if we actually have the causes that lead to the long term benefit of eternal Salvation. Handling suffering well ought to also lead to convert unbelievers.)




1 Peter 3
¹ In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;
² beholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear.

(This was a specific application (Marriage) of the theme from the previous chapter. Peter facilitated Marriage the way God intended it to be; the way it ought to be. Premise: The husband should be teaching his wife God's Word. The wives were exhorted to live by the word so that if their husbands did not, they may be won by the conduct of the wives.)

³ Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;
⁴ but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

(Reason: Women should focus on the spiritual (meek and quiet spirit) and not the physical.)

⁵ For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

(Peter's support for his premise and reason...)

⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

(Peter referenced Genesis 18:12 when Sarah called Abraham "lord." Next, Peter focused on the husbands...)

⁷ Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

(Husbands give honor to their wives who are heirs together of the grace of life so that your prayers are not hindered. If husbands and wives (one flesh) are not honoring each other they could be hindering their prayers because they are not in agreement.

The verse said that men were to honor their wives as unto the weaker vessel. Peter did not say that women were the weaker vessel. Peter was giving the husbands a practical example of how they could lead their wives. The men reading this ought to see it as Peter saying that men should be lifting up (leading) these vessels. The emphasis of this verse ought to be put on husbands honoring their wives, not on the descriptive term "weaker vessel.")

⁸ Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:
⁹ not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

(Verses 8-9 were effects of fellowship. Verses 1-7 dealt with the most intimate form of fellowship: Marriage. These verses covered how all believers ought to interact with all believers.)

¹⁰ For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:
¹¹ And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.

(Peter referenced Psalm 34:12-16. The Eyes and Ears of God are towards the Righteous but His Face is against those who do evil.)

¹³ And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

(Peter rhetorically asked: "Who would do you harm if you are motivated towards doing good?" Next, Peter considered there could be someone like this and responded through an if...)

¹⁴ But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;

(Even if you suffer because you are motivated to do good, realize you are blessed. You will be Rewarded.)

¹⁵ but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:

(Set God apart in your heart and in humility and respect. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason (why) of the hope (faith) that is in you. We ought to know the why behind what we believe so we can give an answer at any time to every man.)

¹⁶ having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.
¹⁷ For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.

(Peter essentially stated that if you were going to suffer it might as well be for well-doing rather than evil-doing.)

¹⁸ Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

(Christ suffered for sins: the Just (Jesus/God) for the unjust (man). Christ was the ultimate example of suffering for well-doing.)

¹⁹ in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,

(Doctrine: Jesus preached to the angels in tartarus (compartment of hell) while His physical body was in the grave.)

²⁰ that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

(This was a reference to Genesis 6. The angels that impregnated earthly women prior to the Flood were imprisoned in tartarus. Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives were saved through water, not by water. They were saved by the ark through water...)

²¹ which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

(The Flood was a representation of baptism. Baptism does not save us. We are saved by believing in the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah and continuing to allow His influence through the Holy Spirit guide us. Baptism represented the death and burial of the sinful man and what came through the water was the saved man.)

²² who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

(Theme of Chapter 3: Peter addressed specific applications of handling suffering well.)

Day 354