Study of First Peter Chapter 2                           Lesson 29

Review:

 

 

 

Intro 2:13-17 

Begin some specific applications that are good works related to DI #5 the national entity.

 

This section of the letter clarifies what it means to function obediently as God's people in a hostile world.

 

 

Next in 2:18-25  Our good works in the work environment.

- an excurses in this section in 2:21-25 that speaks to what is to motivate us in life!

In 3:1-7 Good works in the marriage relationship.

3:8-12  Have an appeal to unity of thinking and purpose in the assembly.

3:13 - 5:16  Godly living in the face of undeserved suffering!

 

Some background, isogogics.

1. Need to remember that Peter is writing during the rule of the Roman Emperor Nero who ruled from 54-68.

 

 

 

2. Nero of course is most generally remembered for the burning of Rome in 64 AD. for which he blamed the Christians.

- It was generally believed at the time that Nero himself had set the fire for his own entertainment.

 

3. Most all of the provincial rulers/governors were both cruel and corrupt.

 

4. One principle that we must remember as we consider these sections on authority is to not look at the individual but keep in mind the authority of the position.

 

At the beginning I mentioned that this first one had to do with DI#5 so I should clarify what I'm referring to.

  1. Definition: Divine institutions are those institutions established by God for the preservation and benefit of mankind in general, believer and unbeliever alike.

 

  2. The Divine Institutions

#1 - Capacity of Choice = volition (not a new concept; where is it found?)

- Gen 2:16-17 - clearly shows that man has the capacity for choice!

 

#2 - Marriage > Gen 2:18-25

 

 

#3 - Family > Gen 1:28 provide care and training for progeny.

 

#4 - How do we keep one sinner from sticking a knife under the 5th rib of another sinner?

 

#5 - God has established nationalism not internationalism.

 

2:13  Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution,

 

u`pota,ssw;  vb. u`potagh,; n.  Both of these are words refer to submission, subjection; 

  - 1 Pet.  2:13; 2:18; 3:1; 3:5; 3:22; 5:5

 

In secular Greek, outside the Bible it was primarily used with a military connotation;   u`po to be under;    ta,ssw to order;  therefore to place in an orderly fashion under authority; to line up under;

 

Observations on the use of hupotasso

1. Paul uses it several ways, to indicate submission to those who are worthy of respect because of personal virtue or position held.

 

2. It is used in a few contexts where it speaks of an enforced submission; many are like Eph 1:22  [speaks of Christ's supreme rule;]

 

3. Luke uses it of the demons being subject to the disciples in Christ's name; Lk 10:17; 20

 

4. Most of the passages do not speak of enforced submission but of a voluntary submission;  esp. when used in the middle voice;  and it speaks of one who chooses to subject or subordinate themselves to someone;

 

5. A good example that it implies a responsive obedience;  voluntary submission; Jas 4:7

 

6. In many passages it is a recognition of God's order.

 

7. One thing that we must remember is that authority and order never indicates that the one submitting, or who is under authority is in any way inferior. 

 

8. Too often today it seems, the idea is that to be under the authority of someone is to be inferior!  Not So!!

 

9. What it simply means is that God has established order!

- Ex: When we talk about the Trinity;  F, S, H/S; and we often refer to them as the 1st person, the 2nd persons, the 3rd person of the Trinity;

 

- Authority indicates not superiority but order!

 

10. For any man who thinks that the authority he has as head of the home, bonifide, is to be dictatorial, that it gives him the right to get his way all the time; is out in left field biblically.

 

 

 

     11. Sample passages for u`pota,ssw indicating the voluntary submission:

a. Of Christ, as a child; willingly submitted to parental authority that was appropriate for Him as a child;  Lk 2:51

 

b. Of governing authorities  Rom 13:1; 1 Pet 2:13

 

c. true even of harsh leaders;  1 Pet 2:18;  Titus 2:9

 

d. of the wife;  Col 3:18; 1 Pet 3:1;  Eph. 5:21

 

 

Why are we do be submissive, to have respect for authority?

for the Lord's sake   dia + acc of kurioj because of the Lord!