Monday: 1st Peter 4
Tuesday: 1st Peter 5
Wednesday: 2nd Peter 1
Thursday: 2nd Peter 2
Friday: 2nd Peter 3
Saturday: 2nd Chronicles 1
Tuesday: 1st Peter 5
Wednesday: 2nd Peter 1
Thursday: 2nd Peter 2
Friday: 2nd Peter 3
Saturday: 2nd Chronicles 1
Sunday: 2nd Chronicles 2
Introduction to 1st Peter 4-5
Chapter 4
He then talks about living for the promise and the example of Christ, saying, “Christ suffered in his body. Be like Christ in your attitude toward suffering. If you can endure suffering for Christ then you can endure temptation. Christians who suffer for Christ don’t sin anymore.”
And he talks about the former lifestyle and the future judgment, saying, “You used to live as pagans, sinning all the time in every way. Those who are still pagans are surprised by your holy lives and feel threatened by your holiness – that’s why they abuse you. But one day they will answer to the one who judges the living and the dead. The Gospel was even preached to those who have already died so that a just judgment would be given to all – so that all might live by the Spirit and not by flesh alone.”
He then talks about how the key to Christian community in the end times is mutual love. He poses, “Why should you live holy lives of sobriety and prayer? …Because the end of all things is near.” And he says, “Love is greater than sin – so love each other! Don’t whine about having to give to others – give because you truly love them! God has given different gifts to everybody – so use what God gave you! Speakers should speak with the voice of God. Servants should serve with the strength of God. In this way, all things that we do will bring praise to God through Christ at work in us. All glory and power go to him forever! Amen!”
With this letter is an unusual reference to Jesus’ descent into the Underworld. Only the Book of Acts describes Jesus’ postresurrection ascent into heaven (Acts 1:10-11), and only the Petrine epistles explicitly refer to a tradition about Jesus’ postmortem descent into the Underworld. According to a common interpretation, the “imprisoned spirits” are the “sons of God” (presumably angels) who “fell” from heaven when they trespassed divinely set boundaries by mating with the fair “daughters of men,” thus producing “the heroes of old, men of renown” (Gen:1-4). Although Genesis says nothing about the divine “sons” subsequent fate, extrabiblical tradition states that God had confined these rebels in a dark and fiery prison, where they awaited the final judgment (1 Enoch 6-10). The author of 2 Peter apparently adopts that tradition, declaring that “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but consigned them to the dark pit of hell” (2:4). The word here translated as “hell” is Tartarus, which in Greek myth is the subterranean dungeon housing fallen gods. In some views, 1 Peter’s cryptic allusion to preaching “the Gospel” to “the dead” (4:6) refers to Jesus’ “harrowing of hell,” when he descended into the Underworld to offer a message of redemption to persons who had perished before his death and resurrection had made salvation possible.
After this, Peter discusses the responsibilities of a church and its elders in the midst of trials. First, he talks about suffering and glory, saying, “Don’t be surprised by the fiery trial surrounding you. Rejoice that you can suffer as Christ suffered and experience his glory more fully when he is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
He then talks about suffering in general as a Christian, saying, “If you do suffer, it better not be because you are a criminal, or even an obnoxious person. And if you suffer as a Christian (a derogatory term back then), don’t be ashamed, because you are wearing the name of Christ. God is bringing judgment on his house, this world, and that judgment starts with us. If it’s hard for the righteous to be saved, then do you think it’s easy for sinners? God hasn’t given up, so don’t you give up.”
And he talks about the former lifestyle and the future judgment, saying, “You used to live as pagans, sinning all the time in every way. Those who are still pagans are surprised by your holy lives and feel threatened by your holiness – that’s why they abuse you. But one day they will answer to the one who judges the living and the dead. The Gospel was even preached to those who have already died so that a just judgment would be given to all – so that all might live by the Spirit and not by flesh alone.”
He then talks about how the key to Christian community in the end times is mutual love. He poses, “Why should you live holy lives of sobriety and prayer? …Because the end of all things is near.” And he says, “Love is greater than sin – so love each other! Don’t whine about having to give to others – give because you truly love them! God has given different gifts to everybody – so use what God gave you! Speakers should speak with the voice of God. Servants should serve with the strength of God. In this way, all things that we do will bring praise to God through Christ at work in us. All glory and power go to him forever! Amen!”
With this letter is an unusual reference to Jesus’ descent into the Underworld. Only the Book of Acts describes Jesus’ postresurrection ascent into heaven (Acts 1:10-11), and only the Petrine epistles explicitly refer to a tradition about Jesus’ postmortem descent into the Underworld. According to a common interpretation, the “imprisoned spirits” are the “sons of God” (presumably angels) who “fell” from heaven when they trespassed divinely set boundaries by mating with the fair “daughters of men,” thus producing “the heroes of old, men of renown” (Gen:1-4). Although Genesis says nothing about the divine “sons” subsequent fate, extrabiblical tradition states that God had confined these rebels in a dark and fiery prison, where they awaited the final judgment (1 Enoch 6-10). The author of 2 Peter apparently adopts that tradition, declaring that “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but consigned them to the dark pit of hell” (2:4). The word here translated as “hell” is Tartarus, which in Greek myth is the subterranean dungeon housing fallen gods. In some views, 1 Peter’s cryptic allusion to preaching “the Gospel” to “the dead” (4:6) refers to Jesus’ “harrowing of hell,” when he descended into the Underworld to offer a message of redemption to persons who had perished before his death and resurrection had made salvation possible.
After this, Peter discusses the responsibilities of a church and its elders in the midst of trials. First, he talks about suffering and glory, saying, “Don’t be surprised by the fiery trial surrounding you. Rejoice that you can suffer as Christ suffered and experience his glory more fully when he is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
He then talks about suffering in general as a Christian, saying, “If you do suffer, it better not be because you are a criminal, or even an obnoxious person. And if you suffer as a Christian (a derogatory term back then), don’t be ashamed, because you are wearing the name of Christ. God is bringing judgment on his house, this world, and that judgment starts with us. If it’s hard for the righteous to be saved, then do you think it’s easy for sinners? God hasn’t given up, so don’t you give up.”
Chapter 5
Peter continues to discuss the responsibilities of a Church in the midst of trials. First, he addresses the elders. Here, the text refers directly to the Apostle Peter’s witnessing of Christ’s suffering, hinting that those in the church whose memories go farther back ought not to forget what they and the Apostles witnessed. The elders of the church are called to be “shepherds of the flock” just as Christ called Peter to “feed his sheep.” He says, “Take care of church because you love the church – not because you have to do it. When Christ, the Chief Shepherd, appears you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
He then addresses the rest of the Church, saying that younger people should also submit to the elders and be humble and trust God, saying, “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, and he will lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
He then discusses the topic of warfare against the devil, saying, “Be on the alert! The devil is out to get you! He’s like a prowling lion waiting to eat you! You can resist him and stand firm in faith because you know that your brothers and sisters around the world are also suffering.”
He then offers a closing Benediction:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
He also makes some concluding remarks, explaining first the purpose of his letter, and noting that Silas helped write it. This letter was meant to encourage the believers.
And he offers his final Greetings, saying, “She who is in Babylon (Rome), chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
He then addresses the rest of the Church, saying that younger people should also submit to the elders and be humble and trust God, saying, “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, and he will lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
He then discusses the topic of warfare against the devil, saying, “Be on the alert! The devil is out to get you! He’s like a prowling lion waiting to eat you! You can resist him and stand firm in faith because you know that your brothers and sisters around the world are also suffering.”
He then offers a closing Benediction:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
He also makes some concluding remarks, explaining first the purpose of his letter, and noting that Silas helped write it. This letter was meant to encourage the believers.
And he offers his final Greetings, saying, “She who is in Babylon (Rome), chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
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