IN THE SAME WAY. "As I have instructed servants to submit to their masters." YOU WIVES. Some think Peter assumes his readers have already seen Paul's Letter to the Ephesians. Compare Ephesians 5:21-24; 1 Corinthians 7:13-15. Since women had been treated as slaves or at least _second class citizens,_... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WILL SEE. "Actions often speak louder than words!... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU SHOULD NOT USE. Peter's meaning is: "No amount of ostentatious display can substitute for a gracious Christian personality!" In the Bible, modesty always has to do with "overdressing to the point of being absurd." If what Peter says were taken _literally,_ it would forbid wearing any clothes at... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR BEAUTY SHOULD CONSIST. "Develop a radiant personality! This is the true ageless beauty! It shines out of a gentle and quiet spirit, not one that is loud and quarrelsome! God will not be impressed with your _display,_ but he will value your gentle and quiet spirit!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE DEVOUT WOMAN. "Those devout women of the past whose names are in the Scripture made themselves beautiful in this way!... [ Continue Reading ]
SARAH WAS LIKE THAT. "There is no disgrace or shame in submitting to your husband! Jewish women think of Sarah as _the example_ of a good wife. See how she did! Even if you are married to an unbeliever who objects to your new life in Christ, you must still respect him and submit to him in everything... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU HUSBANDS, ALSO. "Before becoming a Christian, you may have treated your wife as a slave. Do not do this!" WEAKER SEX. Peter does not mean weaker in intelligence or moral character, but weaker in physical strength. This fact made her a second class citizen in the eyes of some. But in Christ's chu... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CONCLUDE. "I have been telling you how to manage your affairs as a religious society." YOU MUST ALL. "You must have a sense of being ONE in Christ! AS BROTHERS. "Treat each other as members of the same family!" BE KIND AND HUMBLE. "Don't quarrel and fight! Instead work for the good of each other!... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT PAY BACK. "Do not take revenge!" INSTEAD. "Pay back evil with good, as Christ taught (Matthew 5:38-42)! In, this way you will help to prevent quarrels and fighting!" BECAUSE A BLESSING. "God promised you a blessing! But he will treat you just as you treat others!... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. Peter paraphrases Psalms 34:12-16 Septuagint. "David also said it was necessary to live this way, to reach that eternal country!" MUST. See 1 Peter 2:1 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DO GOOD. "It is not enough to just turn away from evil. You must actively make a habit of doing good!" Compare Matthew 12:43-45 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD. "When you actively make a habit of doing good, you keep yourself in God's fellowship! He watches over you and hears your prayers!" BUT HE TURNS. "If you do evil, he will turn away from you!... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WILL HARM YOU? "As a general rule, we _reap what we sow._ If you are eager to do good to those who wrong you and forgive even those who will not thank you for it, others will treat you this way also!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVEN. "You may have to suffer for Christ. The hate of evil men may force this upon you. If so, _be happy_!" Compare James 1:2-4 and notes. Peter is saying that God will bless you in this. Compare also Hebrews 12:5-13. DO NOT BE AFRAID. See Luke 12:4-5. DO NOT WORRY. See Matthew 6:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HAVE REVERENCE. Peter expects persecution to intensify, and wants Christians to prepare themselves for it. If a Christian is to stand firm, he must have reverence for Christ in his heart and he is to submit to whatever suffering comes his way, recognizing that Christ is Lord! BE READY. "Christia... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT DO IT. "Whether you are asked to explain your hope by some person or a court of law, do it with gentleness and respect! By doing this, those who accuse Christians of evil conduct will be made ashamed of the things they say against you.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE IT IS BETTER. Compare 1 Peter 2:20 and note. GOD'S WILL. _MacKnight_ says: "The apostle adds this to show that the wicked can do no evil to believers but by the permission of God." Compare Job 1:6-12; 1 Corinthians 10:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CHRIST HIMSELF. "Some are saying that our suffering proves that our cause is bad, and that God is displeased with us. This is not true, as you can see from the fact that Christ himself died for us!" ONCE AND FOR ALL. Peter emphasized the _completeness_ of God's work in Christ. A GOOD MAN FOR BAD... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN. "In his spiritual existence he went and preached through Noah (2 Peter 2:5) to those who are now imprisoned spirits," [Some think Jesus actually went into the world of the dead and preached the Good News to them there. But this and other views cause theological difficulties.]... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE WERE THE SPIRITS. "These _now imprisoned_ were the spirits of those who had not obeyed God, when He waited patiently for them to turn from sin during the days (120 years) that Noah was building the ark." THE FEW PEOPLE. "Out of all those who lived at the time of Noah, only eight were saved. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WAS A FIGURE. "The water of the flood itself, which held them safe in the ark, was a figure pointing to baptism which now saves you!" _Alford_ (Greek Testament) says: "Water saved them, bearing up the ark; it saves us, becoming to us baptism." See Acts 22:16 and note. Baptism is the climax to... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HAS GONE TO HEAVEN. Hebrews 9:24. THE RIGHT SIDE. Hebrews 10:12. RULING. Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:25. The rule of Christ even over angels and heavenly authorities and powers is further proof that he is able to save his people! See Ephesians 1:20-23.... [ Continue Reading ]