Digging Deeper Bible Reading

Week 100

Monday, 1 Peter 1:1 – 25

One verse in the first of Peter's letters lets us in on at least one possible behind-the-scenes situation. Some scholars have protested that though I Peter has been accepted as an epistle of the apostle Peter from the very earliest times, he probably did not have a command of Greek grammar that is obvious throughout the text. However, they forget that God's word was not composed in a vacuum by solitary writers taking God's dictation in the feeble lamplight of New Testament times. In chapter 5, Peter cites Silas as the one through whom he is writing. From other mentions of Silas, experts believe that he was a scribe well trained in Greek. What a picture of everyday ministry this gives us. Peter and Silas writing together—Peter communicating the ideas to Silas and Silas busily writing them down in a language that Peter could speak, but lacked great confidence in writing.

From passages found in I Peter regarding letters written by Paul while in prison, we can be pretty sure that this epistle dates no earlier than A.D. 60, and since Peter was martyred in Rome around A.D. 67 or 68, we have a timeframe of no more than seven years or so. This was around thirty years after Jesus' resurrection.

Peter begins his letter to the church at large with a synopsis of the faith. Twice he refers to being “born again.” To Peter, being saved was that marvelous—we are no longer who we were before, but have been spiritually born a second time by the power of God. We are renewed for service to Him.

 In verse 2, Peter cites the triune nature of God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In verse 3, he confirms that we are saved by the grace of God and that our salvation is proven true by the resurrection of Chris t. We are sprinkled by the blood of Christ, which has saved us from eternal damnation (vs.2, 18-19).

Unlike Peter, those to whom he wrote had never seen Jesus, but they accepted the witness of others who had, and rejoiced in the Savior that they knew they would one day see in person. Peter cites the prophets who also did not see the Savior, but predicted His coming, understanding that their place was to convey this promise to God's people. Peter's readers, like us, did await the coming of their Savior—His Second Coming. In verses 13-16, he reminds them and us that as believers we have a task in life to perform while we wait. It is much like Paul's description of running the race. We are saved; we await Jesus' return; and while here we are to seek God's will in our lives.

Tuesday, 1 Peter 2:1 – 25

Peter urges us to thirst for God's word instead of the temptations of this world. As the children of God, we come to Jesus, the Cornerstone of the church and the Rock of salvation that cannot be changed or supplanted.

Anyone rejecting God's Son will suffer damnation ( vs.8 ), and this is part of the reason that we are to behave well in the world. We are to live blamelessly ( though as sinners we cannot do this entirely ) not for our own salvation, but as examples for those who do not believe and are destined to hell if they do not receive Him as Savior ( vs.12 ).

Verses 13-20 explain that we are to be submissive to those who rule us in our various roles even if they are unjust ( vs.18 ). Why? Peter says that by seeing our behavior, those to whom we submit may be drawn to God. In those days, just as today, unbelievers took every opportunity to criticize and condemn Chris tians, and therefore Jesus. This seems to be one of Satan's most successful ploys against the unsaved.

The actions of Christians standing against abortion and homosexuality in our nation are examples of what can be done in our battle against sin in a Godly manner that draws people to Christ or in an ungodly manner that drives people away from Him. Some Chris tians resort to hatred, breaking the law, and even to violence in their efforts to represent Chris t in these areas. The result has sadly been an opportunity for the world to condemn Chris tians as unloving, unlawful “extremists.” Our sometimes-hateful attitude toward homosexuality is another example of Chris tians at times acting in ways that can offer the world excuses for not accepting Chris t.

Are homosexuality and abortion acceptable to God? Of course not, but how we battle these social tragedies in our nation can either draw unbelievers closer to Chris t, or offer them reasons to stay away. Do we offer loving alternatives, or do we merely send the message of condemnation? One commentary sums it up well in its words on verse 15 (“ silence the ignorance of foolish men ” - NASB .) It says, “ Good citizenship counters false charges made against Chris tians and thus commends the gospel to unbelievers ” ( also applies to vs.12 ).

We do not remain silent in the midst of sin, but Christ is our example as we set out to combat wickedness in our world. We need to constantly seek what He would do when confronted with the modern situations that we face. What would He say to the one trapped in homosexuality ( or adultery, or hatred, or false belief, or self-centeredness, or lying, or any other sinful lifestyle ), or to the woman who feels unable to cope with the prospect of motherhood? Jesus is our guideline for behavior in a world seemingly ruled by the ungodly ( verses 21-25 ).

Wednesday, 1 Peter 3:1 - 4:19

In chapter 3, Peter continues his teaching on submissive living. Both wives and husbands are to show one another love, honor, and understanding. The encouragement to wives that their behavior could draw an unbelieving husband into the kingdom can be equally applicable to a husband's behavior toward an unbelieving wife. It should be mentioned again, however, that “submissive” living does not include suffering abuse at the hand of either husband or wife.

“Submissiveness” is an interesting word in today's society. It has become something undesired that is considered a weakness or a giving up of one's rights. God intends this character quality to result in harmony within the church and within families. It implies listening, understanding; interest, putting the other person's needs ahead of our own, and caring about the feelings of others, as well as being willing to give up our own way for the sake of another. When only one party involved in a relationship is expected to show a submissive attitude, an imbalanced relationship can result, but God's word is consistent in applying submissive responsibilities to all members of a church or family, young and old, female and male. In our modern vernacular, we could use the terms “cooperation,” “teamwork”, “partnership,” or “equality” as synonyms for God's concept of submissiveness. We submit one to the other in love, wisdom, and humility.

Peter continues that we should all be ready to “make a defense” or “give an answer” concerning the gospel ( vs.15 ). “Why do you believe what you believe?” is a question that all of us should be prepared to answer. Not only is it important for us as believers to know our faith, but our answers can influence others. What effect would it have on you to ask someone to explain what is supposedly the most important thing in his or her lives, only to hear the answer, “I never thought about it” or “I'm not sure” or “I'll put you in contact with my pastor”? The challenge presented by Peter to his original readers was even greater for they could quite possibly at some time in their lives have to give answer to authorities with the power of life and death over them.

Chapter 4 begins by returning to the thought of 3:18. Because Jesus suffered, we should not be discouraged or weakened in our faith by suffering. Unlike Peter's first readers, we will probably never be asked to physically suffer for Christ, but we can identify with verse 4 in which Peter cites the rejection that Christians often suffer for not continuing in the same lusts and passions as the world. Following up on this in verse 6 Peter assures his readers that even though believers die just as unbelievers, the believer has heard the gospel of Christ and lives on with God. The difficulty of salvation for the believer in verse 18 is not a hardship that we suffer, but a hardship that God suffered in sending His Son to die in our behalf.

Thursday, 1 Peter 5:1 – 14

Peter ends his first epistle with exhortations to the elders of the church and to those who will one day take on their task. The elders are to lead by example and not lord it over the flock. They must be eager for the task and not serving only for financial reward. Leading a church is not at all a typical “job”; it is a calling from God. Both of the groups Peter addresses must serve in humility before God. “I” is not a word that should flow easily from a church leader.

In verse 7, whether one of the elders or one the laypersons of the church, we are reminded that God is able to take care of us in any circumstance. We can leave our problems in His hands and pursue caring for one another's needs.

All of us in our service to one another and to God must be vigilant against Satan's wiles. That can be a challenge in a world that pretty much rejects Satan's existence, but Peter reminds us of the evil one's reality and danger. We are to “resist” Satan, implying that we don't need to go on the offence against this one who seeks to dominate the planet. Our best offence against Satan is to shout the gospel to a world in desperate need.

Verse 10 reassures us that in our suffering, we do not establish ourselves. It is God who uses that suffering to lead us into spiritual maturity and strength.

Friday, 2 Peter 1:1 - 2:22 

Second Peter was probably written between A.D. 65 and 68. It can be no later than 68 because we know that Peter was martyred in the reign of Nero who was himself murdered in that year. Peter was the perfect man to speak to us of sin and forgiveness, especially in the area of living one's faith. When confronted after Jesus' arrest Peter had denied that he had ever known Him. It was God, not Peter, who had renewed his life after this and appointed him as a leader of the early church. It is easy to visualize his pain as he wrote in 2 Peter regarding the early forms of Gnosticism ( the claim that a special knowledge of evil and good—the material world and the spiritual world—was necessary for salvation ) that were gaining a foothold in the faith. He knew personally what Jesus had said of Himself; he had been at Jesus' Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared and knew the witness of the Father concerning His Son ( 1:17-18 ). He knew that any claim that the power of man to understand God could add to his salvation was false and dangerous.

In chapter one Peter frequently uses the word “knowledge.” He does this to draw attention to the contrast between the true knowledge of God through faith in Christ and the false knowledge claimed by some pseudo-leaders in the church. “Knowledge” of God meant to realize that “everything pertaining to life and godliness” is ours by God's will through His power and grace ( vs.1-2 ). It is through the gift of faith that He grants us knowledge of Himself, and by that God-given knowledge we learn how to be obedient to Him. In short, Peter is telling his readers that though God has given us a mind to use in service to Him, knowledge of God is attainable only through faith in Christ and His revelation.

Peter emphasizes the character of a Christian heart and the service that we give to one another, hinting that the false teachers were of a more arrogant, conceited breed of “servant.” He expands on this in chapter two. In verse 16, Peter reminds readers that he was an eyewitness of the Savior and did not come with “cleverly devised tales” ( NASB ). Verse 20 implies that the false teachers were twisting the prophecies of Jesus to fit their own plan.  

Even modern Christians sometimes fall for the cleverly devised tales of false teachers; some to the tales of reincarnation; others to tales of religions that are headed to the “same God” as Christianity; some fall victim to Satan's claim that Jesus really wasn't God, or that He wasn't really raised from the dead. In recent times we have even seen people swept into cults that eventually cost them their lives. We may be what some call more “sophisticated” after 2,000 years, but we are still tempted to wander from the truth of the gospel.

Chapter two is an open condemnation and description of the false teachers about whom Peter warns. At times of danger for the church there is no room for political correctness. Peter knew that his time on earth was short and he was not about to allow these wicked men to proceed without censure. Woven within his words is an encouragement to those who were being tempted to follow these apparently alluring individuals. As Peter describes God's ability to punish the false teacher, he also cites God's ability to deliver the faithful from temptation ( vs.5-9 ).

Saturday, 2 Peter 3:1 – 18

Peter ends his writing with words on the coming judgment at the last day. Probably even more today than in Peter's time we hear the sneers of some asking where this Jesus might be. Why hasn't He returned? Peter reminds us that the natural world itself testifies to God's steadfast and eternal work; to His reliability in all of His promises.

The last day will be one of terror for those who do not know Jesus. It is not because of God's inability that the day of judgment is postponed, but due to His patience and His desire that all of humanity have the opportunity to worship His Son and accept His gift of salvation. Those who twist Scripture to their own purpose, and who deny the coming judgment or the promise of a new earth and heavens ( vs.13 ) are pursuing their own destruction on that last day ( vs.16 ).

As God's people, we are to resist false teachers, whatever their “new” concept or denial of the faith. God enables us to do this through His strength and knowledge, not our own. Peter refers to Paul in verse 15. If we take Peter and Paul together as we close the letters of the former, it is clear that we are not only to resist the efforts of Satan as the last days approach, but we are also given the task of spreading the good news of salvation in Jesus the Christ throughout our communities and our world.

Copyright © 2004 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church