Study of First Peter                                        Lesson 21

Review:  

 

 

 

2:2  With vs:2 Peter establishes an analogy to make a point related to our attitude towards the Word and the importance of spiritual growth.

 

- like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word,

 

 

Then he gives us another command;   we are to long for something in the same manner as the newborn longs for nourishment.

 

long for    evpipoqe,w  (Aorist act imperative 2nd pl)  a word which means to crave, to intensely desire, and its directed towards an object.

 

The Object is indicated by the next phrase;

the pure milk of the word  have 2 adjectives to describe the milk

 

 

- First adjective:  pure   without deceit, pure, uncontaminated

 

- Second adjective is  logiko,j  which is translated here word, but the word refers to what is rational, reasonable, pertaining to reason/thinking. 

 

Notice that this word ends in -ikoj  which emphasizes that this word describes a characteristic of ability or fitness. 

Therefore would translate this word "spiritual" which describes our ability or fitness for service and function in life related to the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

 

- Milk  ga,la  is used here to refer to what nourishes, for the new born it’s what provides the necessary growth

- For the believers Peter is addressing what is it that provides the necessary growth in life as believers? 

It’s a knowledge of the Word which gives us spiritual wisdom and understanding.  That is spiritual growth as a believer.

 

 

so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

- this is a purpose clause, describes the goal for feeding on the pure spiritual food of divine viewpoint - spiritual growth

 

 

- but like Paul in Phil 2:12 where he exhorted them to carry their salvation to its logical goal and objective.  Peter is doing the same thing here!

 

Summary 2:2

1. The majority of those believers that Peter is writing to are not new believers.

 

 

2. Peter's focus is that  even though you may not be a new believer your positive volition towards the Word, that is your desire to hear the Word should be just as intense and tenacious as the new born baby is to be fed regularly.

 

 

3. Peter first exhorts us to clear the deck, putting aside those sins that will readily disrupt relationships within the local church.

 

4. We can set up an equation that describes what Peter is exhorting here:

putting aside  + intensely desiring the pure spiritual milk  = growth

 

5. Since we have been born again by an eternal imperishable seed we should have an intense desire to pursue the truths of the Word of God which will provide us a strong foundation for daily living.

 

6. Your personal appetite for the divine nourishment of the Word is directly reflected in your life and the decisions you make each day if it forms the frame of reference from which you make the necessary decisions.

 

 

<2:3> An incentive for spiritual growth

if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

 

if  = 1cc (ei + indicative mood of verb) = if and its true

you have tasted   here used figuratively to taste or to savor

 

- That longing for the truth of the Word has as its stimulus, its motivation in a past experience, that is, the tasting of the kindness of the Lord.

 

 

- So what is Peter referring to? 

 

 

 

the kindness   crhsto,j  basic meaning - being well adapted to fulfill a purpose, i.e. useful, suitable, excellent, kindness or goodness;

 

 

 

- Look at Titus 3:4-7 

 

 

Observations

1. This verse is quote from Psalm 34:8.

 

 

2. Jesus Christ tasted death for everyone Heb 2:9.

 

 

3. The one who tastes of the goodness in action of the Lord will not taste death.       John 8:51,52

 

 

4. Peter's challenge here in this transition from an emphasis on what Christ has done for us  to sustain us so that we can grow to an emphasis on our foundation as believers should whet our appetites to feed more and more on Him.