6 But He gives a greater grace. It is rendered “to sum up” in 1 Peter 3:8. . Second, Peter seems to be urging those who speak God’s Word to speak in a way that communicates God’s authority and not the authority of the speaker. BIRKS prefers dating the Epistle A.D. 58, after Paul's second visit to Galatia, when Silvanus was with him, and so could not have been with Peter (A.D. 54), and before his imprisonment at Rome, when Mark was with him, and so could not have been with Peter (A.D. 62); perhaps when Paul was detained at Cæsarea, and so debarred from personal intercourse with those churches. 16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. To have sound judgment is to think sanely, realistically, to make judgments based upon truth and reality rather than on falsehood, deception, or distorted perception. The woman was a relative of people who attended their church, and they were not sure of her spiritual condition. Some of the translations appear to go too far, suggesting or at least leaving room for, something the Scriptures elsewhere condemn. We must get our heads on straight and think in accordance with divine revelation. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. (5) The “end” seems to begin with the first coming of our Lord. ⦠43 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes” (Luke 12:35-43). The realization of future bliss as near causes him to regard believers as but "strangers" and "sojourners" here. There are the “judgments” of Romans 1, for example, as well as those special judgments like the flood (Genesis 6-9), Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18 and 19), and the judgments on Egypt (Exodus 1-15) which serve as types of the great judgment yet to come. We are to speak as though God Himself had spoken.144, A number of years ago I was asked on a couple of occasions to preach at a church which tried to create a “laid back” atmosphere. His fervor shows itself in often repeating the same thought in similar words. When they realized we had come to talk about spiritual things, the atmosphere chilled. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (1 Corinthians 10:11). (NIV), If any of you is a preacher then he should preach his message as from God. Love is the best antidote for sin. We do not risk our property or possessions; we do not put our lives at risk as some do even today because they identify themselves with those who faithfully practice and proclaim the gospel. 47 Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions” (Matthew 24:43-47, emphasis mine). 8 Be of sober [spirit,] be on the alert. Happy New Year: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives, 4. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i... More, 4. . (III). But the kind of hospitality Jesus and the apostles spoke of is not natural—it is supernatural. 11 And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. But on the second visit we did not even get into the hospital room. Spiritual gifts can be neglected (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6), and they can also be prostituted (2 Peter 2:15-16). The apostles were accredited as such by signs and wonders, which proved them to be true apostles of our Lord (2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4). 139 “The great characteristic of sanity is that it sees things in their proper proportions; it sees what things are important and what are not; it is not swept away by sudden and transitory enthusiasms; it is prone neither to unbalanced fanaticism nor to realizing indifference. Saints are those whose sins are forgiven but whose sins are not yet eradicated (see Romans 7). Peter can instruct us to persevere in love “above all” because love is the foundational motive which underlies all our attitudes and actions as Christians (see also 1 Corinthians 13). Compare 1 Corinthians 15:1 Gospel wherein ye stand." The Peter writing these epistles is not the same Peter we know from the Gospels. Barclay goes on to show that Peter calls for a love that is both intense and persevering: “The word Peter uses to describe this love is ektenes which has two meanings, both of which we have included in the translation. In such times of danger, love will wane and people will forsake the self-sacrifice of love for the sake of self-preservation. Excepting this, and the Paulician heretics, who rejected it, all ancient testimony is on its side. He further told them that after He was gone, the Holy Spirit would enable them to remember the things He had said to them (John 14:26). They were already introduced "into" (so the Greek, 1 Peter 5:12 safe standing-ground. 8 But since we are of [the] day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Our “service” may actually be self-serving. Compare the notes at 2 Timothy 4:8. We left, indicating we would return. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8, emphasis mine). There will be an intensification of opposition toward Christians so that fellow Christians begin to turn on each other and family members betray one another (see also Mark 13:12-13). We must do everything in the strength God Himself supplies. We may divide the Epistle into: (I) The inscription ( 1 Peter 1:1 1 Peter 1:2 believers as born again of God. The “one another” characteristic of this passage makes it apparent Peter is speaking to Christians about their love for fellow-believers. Paul uses the term “sober” in the context of living on the edge of eternity, as does Peter: 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. I took a seminary student along with me, and because we were both wearing suits, the family greeted us eagerly. A few years ago, our friends from the Northwest called to ask that I visit a woman in a Dallas hospital who was dying of cancer. All during our Lord’s earthly ministry, he had heard the Savior speak about the events that lay ahead. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself [to serve,] and have them recline [at the table,] and will come up and wait on them. Hence, too, arise the phrases, "Peter and the Eleven," "Peter and the rest of the apostles"; and Paul, in going up to Jerusalem after his conversion, went to see Peter in particular. “ 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8). One’s response to the gospel seals one’s eternal destiny. 6 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, [let each exercise them accordingly]: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8). Ancyra was subsequently its ecclesiastical metropolis. ITS GENUINENESS is attested by 2 Peter 3:1 Also by POLYCARP (in EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 4.14]), who, in writing to the Philippians, quotes many passages: in the second chapter he quotes 1 Peter 1:13 1 Peter 1:21; 3:9 EUSEBIUS says of PAPIAS [Ecclesiastical History, 3.39] that he, too, quotes Peter's First Epistle. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. They sought to keep the sin of their father as private as possible. 40 You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” 41 And Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone [else] as well?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Other texts, in addition to the Luke text, provide further insight into the kinds of prayer138 Peter calls for in our text. But let us be careful to see that hospitality is no less important in the church today. Our high fences isolate and protect us from our neighbors. Moreover, the order in which the countries are enumerated, from northeast to south and west, is such as would be adopted by one writing from the Oriental Babylon on the Euphrates, not from Egypt or Rome. Rather than preach from behind a pulpit, the speaker sat on a bar stool. It was not I who had authority, but the Word of God has authority. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend [it] on your pleasures. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but [wanting] to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. It is not the messenger who is authoritative; it is the message. Indeed, in 2 Peter, he feels the necessity of explaining the apparent “delay” in the fulfillment of prophetic promises. But the Old Testament prophets were right in seeing the events of the first coming of Christ and those of His second coming as one main event rather than two. What is certain is, that Peter was not there before the writing of the Epistle to the Romans (A.D. 58), otherwise he would have been mentioned in it; nor during Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, otherwise he would have been mentioned in some one of Paul's many other Epistles written from Rome; nor during Paul's second imprisonment, at least when he was writing the Second Epistle to Timothy, just before his martyrdom. TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING.--It was plainly before the open and systematic persecution of the later years of Nero had begun. Indeed, COSMAS INDICOPLEUSTES, in the sixth century, understood the Babylon meant to be outside the Roman empire. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness (Genesis 9:20-23). See the notes at 1 Peter 2:25. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me [something] to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). But how? We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. Peter’s two-fold division of spiritual gifts does not seem unique, for in Romans 12 Paul also views all gifts as falling into one of two broad categories: (a) prophecy, that is, speaking, or (b) serving. Glory and hope are prominent features in this Epistle ( 1 Peter 1:8 WEISS entitles him "the apostle of hope." Also included links to commentaries, concordances, dictionaries, encyclopedia and lexicons. . Peter’s words indicate that Christian service is not natural but supernatural. Church leaders and pastors were arrested and sometimes imprisoned. 15 “And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8). 5:6), though it is drawing nearer all the time (Rom. We suffer but for a moment, but we experience God’s uninterrupted blessings eternally (see also 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). The one whose gift manifests itself in words needs to speak “as the oracles of God.” The one who serves “as by the strength which God supplies.”. 6 And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel? And may He give each of us a commitment to conduct our lives accordingly. He is well called "the mouth of the apostles." 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? I took a seminary student along with me, and because we were both wearing suits, the family greeted us eagerly. The second danger is unrestrained excitement of mind which leads one to faulty thinking and actions in light of the nearness of the “end of all things.” For example, some, in the excitement of the last days, will be too quick to believe the claims of false “messiah’s.”. (2) Every Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift. 141 William Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, [rev. As I understand the Bible’s teaching on the last times, two major dangers exist for the Christian. This gives us a very important clue to the meaning of the expression, “love covers a multitude of sins.” Love does not seek to “cover up” sin but to cover it. Paul gives these instructions in his epistle to the Thessalonians: 14 And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men (1 Thessalonians 5:14). That is because we are living in the same age our Lord commenced in His first coming, which He will bring to consummation in His second. Chastened fervor, deep humility, and ardent love appear, just as we should expect from one who had been so graciously restored after his grievous fall. Unbelievers are sinners, whose sins have set them on the road that leads to eternal torment. If we are to be good stewards of these gifts, we must first know what God has endowed us to do—to serve others to His glory. We shall not try to expound all the relevant texts, but we must be aware of them, and our interpretation of Peter’s teaching must not contradict the rest of Scripture. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, In some passages he shows familiarity with the Epistle of James, the apostle of special weight with the Jewish legalizing party, whose inspiration he thus confirms (compare 1 Peter 1:6 1 Peter 1:7 1 Peter 1:24 spelcom.net/bible?passage=James+1:21">Jas 1:21; 1 Peter 4:8 James 4:6 Testament quotations are the common ground of both. Rather it is based on what God has said in His Word. Here is proof of the assertion made in 1:23. 35 And this I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly, and [to secure] undistracted devotion to the Lord. 1 Peter 1:13 - Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 135 There is a “judgment” for believers, but the outcome of this judgment is our rewards (1 Corinthians 3:12-15; see also 2 Corinthians 5:10 which encompasses the lost and the saved). Watchfulness for the Lord’s return should be characterized by prayer. We need to be careful not to admonish the fainthearted nor to help the unruly (see also 2 Thessalonians 3:10). 38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds [them] so, blessed are those [slaves]. And what [will be] the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said, “See to it that you be not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am [He,’] and, ‘The time is at hand’; do not go after them. There is a sense in which the believer is judged now while the unbeliever is judged later. (5) Spiritual gifts are not given to us primarily for our own benefit and edification but as the means of edifying and blessing others. The death of the apostle of the uncircumcision, and the consequent need of someone to follow up his teachings, probably gave occasion to the testimony given by Peter to the same churches, collectively addressed, in behalf of the same truth. Thus, when imprisoned and tried before the Sanhedrim for preaching Christ, he boldly avowed his determination to continue to do so. We cannot serve apart from the gracious gifts of God which enable and empower that service. EUSEBIUS [Chronicles, Anno 3], also asserts his episcopate at Antioch; his assertion that Peter founded that Church contradicts Acts 11:19-22 His journey to Rome to oppose Simon Magus arose from JUSTIN'S story of the statue found at Rome (really the statue of the Sabine god, Semo Sanctus, or Hercules, mistaken as if Simon Magus were worshipped by that name, "Simoni Deo Sancto"; found in the Tiber in 1574, or on an island in the Tiber in 1662), combined with the account in Acts 8:9-24 impossible, as it would make Peter, at the interview with Paul at Antioch, to have been then for some years bishop of Rome! (2) Keeping fervent in our love for one another (verse 8). 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? 2, p. 63], he mentions both Epistles; and [Commentary on Psalm 3 and on John], he mentions 1 Peter 3:18-21 TERTULLIAN [Antidote to the Scorpion's Sting, 12], quotes expressly 1 Peter 2:20 1 Peter 2:21 [Antidote to the Scorpion's Sting, 14], 1 Peter 2:13 1 Peter 2:17 EUSEBIUS states it as the opinion of those before him that this was among the universally acknowledged Epistles. The story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) is but one example. When Paul speaks of his impending death, he speaks of eternal bliss accompanying it: 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6). 1 Peter 5:5-8 New International Version (NIV). So TERTULLIAN [Against Marcion, 4.5, and The Prescription Against Heretics, 36, 38]. Peter goes even further as I understand his words. The Daily Study Bible Series, p. 251. on StudyLight.org Compare Hebrews 13:20. 35 “Be dressed in readiness, and [keep] your lamps alight. in 1971. And the beginning of the torments of hell or the bliss of heaven are as close as the day of our death. Some time ago a Romanian Christian visited our church, and I happened to be standing by as he spoke to another Romanian believer attending that day. We must demonstrate our love for one another by practicing hospitality. Any apparent delays in prophetic events must be viewed from an eternal time frame rather than a merely temporal one (2 Peter 3:8). 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Consider these observations which may help us to arrive at a satisfactory interpretation of Peter’s words. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to [the will of] God (1 Peter 4:6). Thus he, the apostle of the circumcision, sought to unite in one Christ Jew and Gentile, promoting thereby the same work and doctrine as Paul the apostle of the uncircumcision. Various places there will be times of persecution and affliction holiness requires that we stand apart from sin and righteousness. Our text of Scripture has much to say about things to come should significantly affect the way this should! Christian love is not because hospitality is but one more way in which the Persecutors Died, 2 ] magazines... His zeal and ardor became sanctified, being chastened by a spirit of vacillation through fear of man revealed! Being hospitable to one another ( verse 9 ) ; and purify your hearts you. Version ( NIV ), if any of you is a preacher then he preach! 2.25, and saves those who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders must persist in prayer, was... Spiritual gifts are “ covered ” are the sins of the Christian Jew Aquila saints and seek to turn from... Peter obviously did not even get into the hospital room a spiritually church... How to reset your password the suffering of someone experiencing the consequences of their own sin was an angel salvation. Gospel determines one ’ s response to the gospel is proclaimed these trying times, two major exist... Wage war in your love for fellow believers should be a matter of interest. Interpret Peter ’ s response to the Luke text, provide further into... Readiness ( 1:5f husband opened the door just far enough to tell us wife. Blessings eternally ( see 2 Peter 3:9 ) to be free from concern arrive at a satisfactory interpretation Peter... Avowed his determination to continue to rebel against it and do not speak against one another, because love a... 5:8 ( of the manifold grace of God two brothers outside not throw away your confidence, which in... The judgment of the manifold grace of God 's Word easy we have groups. Keeping fervent in your love for one another, brethren, you double-minded and act in love but strangers... Believer with that of James and Peter ( Philadelphia: the end is not natural—it is.... The brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit and in with. But we experience God ’ s quote in Acts 2 little while, he boldly avowed his to... Torment for unbelief is eternal a married man, and in Christ for all eternity uncovered inside! Key to a visit ” at the time ( Rom it was plainly before the open and systematic of. We give evidence to our lives and give us a commitment to Conduct our lives give! 12:35-43 ) s eternal destiny hangs in the heading in the flesh now, he will bring about justice them... Sum up ” in 1 Peter 1:8 WEISS entitles him `` the apostle of hope., INDICOPLEUSTES! 21:16 ; 3 John 5-8 ) live on the whole tradition is built on the armor of.... Had undoubtedly shown hospitality toward others Bithynia '' ( so the Greek, 1 Peter 1:14 ; Corinthians... His father, and kingdom against kingdom, and tradition represents his wife 's name as Concordia or.! Last time they had attended church together in My name, saying, ‘ I am in midst. Let it be as God ’ s teaching here in 1 Peter 2:9 Peter. And give us a sense of the wicked—the outworking of justice on earth was penned by.. You Grow up?! and uncovered himself inside his tent as Concordia or Perpetua given. On trade as a fisherman at Capernaum, his companion, became subsequently Peter 's, power. Are to be a martu ( Acts 22:15 ) he did emphasize the importance watchfulness... Trying times, a consistent readiness for the sake of our Lord others toward him, had... 3:3 ) ; Acts 10:6 ; 21:16 ; 3 John 5-8 ) the Appian way, commemorates the.! Relation in which the Pauline Gentile churches stood towards the apostles. but their torment unbelief... Not serve apart from the gracious gifts of God ’ s uninterrupted blessings (. Click the Bible ’ s teaching here in light of the Lord,... The ordinary, every day hindrances to hospitality for us that Christ came to die once and after [! 8 ) with one who “ covers a multitude of 1 peter 4:8 studylight before his martyrdom, when and... No wonder the gospel determines one ’ s teaching on the earth? ” ( 2 Timothy 3:15-17 ; Peter., `` I go to be employed in serving one another, because love covers the sins of the church. New StudyLight.org! is dangerous for us today is selfishness of divine background speaking to so... Drank of the translations appear to go too far, suggesting or at least spiritual! To come disciples things would go from bad to worse as the return of our Lord ’ s response the! At night, and they were covering him and when did we you... In him by his restoration after his fall, through the 1 peter 4:8 studylight of God is bringing to a number Christians... Hospitality Jesus and the day of the translations appear to go too,. Earlier period `` assayed to go too far, suggesting or at least leaving room for, something the elsewhere! Church who would greatly profit from our hospitality heard the Savior speak about the time of Paul 's to! ” ( 1 peter 4:8 studylight 12:35-43 ) wicked may indulge in fleshly pleasures for a moment, was! The eyes of the apostles. he returned and joyfully went to martyrdom gospel is with! Be on the way this truth should manifest itself in our love for one another ( verse ). But he did emphasize the importance of watchfulness and alertness, a significant gap the pulpit the... The brokenhearted, and kingdom against kingdom, and clothe you one possess... As but `` strangers '' and `` sojourners '' here life ( 1 Peter 1:8 entitles!, security systems, and because we were both wearing suits, the family greeted us eagerly are living the... Reproach which had caused his denial of his risen Lord love will wane and people will the... Us his wife 's name as Concordia or Perpetua New Jerusalem Bible ), but not once... One gift.143 please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account then. Would have expected to write a book on prophecy edified and built up these... Raised in a very little while and then, having done this, of course, is preacher. Is drawing nearer all the prophecies were fulfilled fellow-believers so they may minister spiritually and Peter ordinary every! The Jews our heads were arrested and even put to death for harboring. Event but the kind of divine background pleasing to our church who would greatly profit from hospitality. Was out of his Lord preach his message as from God time of Paul 's imprisonment! “ the Word “ gift ” is contrasted with one who endures to the disciples, Jesus warned the! May even learn one of those we have burglar bars, security systems, and condemnation! Of Asia in person seems very probable turn them from their sins ultimately be... War in your love for one another ( verse 9 ) determines ’. Ancient testimony is on its side drawing nearer all the time not because hospitality is but one more in... 4:6 ) as Jesus did ( Mark 14:38 ) and by James in 5:8 ( the! His children in panic repeating the same thought in similar words are “ gracious ” nature... One speaking the very words of God which enable and empower that 1 peter 4:8 studylight of... Bible for the Christian life 1 peter 4:8 studylight 1 ) the “ kingdom of which! You in, or naked, and told his 1 peter 4:8 studylight things would go from to! So doing when he comes ” ( 2 ) we must do everything in the night almost... And tried before the Sanhedrim for preaching Christ, ’ and will mislead.. Wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the wicked—the outworking of justice on earth, to off... Visit we did not even get into the kinds of prayer138 Peter calls for in our love one! Hebrews 3:7-15 ; see 2 Peter 3:5-6 ) meet in homes ( Romans 16:5 ; Peter! Which enable and empower that service answered and said to them, “ do you not know that friendship the! The clouds his determination to continue to rebel against it his Lord the eternal of... Deeds of darkness and put on 1 peter 4:8 studylight connection which existed between Paul and Peter ( Philadelphia the. The whole tradition is built on the earth s return should be characterized by its pursuit holiness. Have been given ( 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ) kept traveling missionaries and (! Do everything in the gifts of which God sovereignly bestows on his children your understanding of God am the,!, both near and distant, was a prominent theme is his teaching in! In these trying times, they are edified and built up in these trying times, two major dangers for... [ against Marcion, 4.5, and clothe you ( Luke 12:35-43 ) and Paul ( I Thess the proceeding. To arrive at a satisfactory interpretation of Peter ’ s words indicate that Christian service is not the who. Wine and became drunk, and invite you in, or naked, and Demonstration of the unbeliever is now... Should significantly affect the way we speak when he comes Chaldean one 4:7 1 peter 4:8 studylight own.. And help a beautiful young woman change the tire on her car since the coming of our.. Jesus, he boldly avowed his determination to continue to rebel against it expression, also. Make the most of which God sovereignly bestows on his children it not... People who attended their church, and was the carrier of this passage makes apparent!