Lesson 51

Study of First Peter Chapter 3

 

Verse 13 begins a new section that runs through 5:11

Exhortations dealing with the believers response to persecution and external pressure. 

 

In 3:13 Peter asks a rhetorical question to stimulate the readers thinking! 

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

 

The rhetorical form gives intensity to the aspect of the unexpectedness of such suffering, since the readers had been doing what was right, yet were still persecuted.  

 

Here the term "harm" includes any hostile and injurious attitude or activity that produces real damage to the object of the persecution.

 

 

- this next phrase is a conditional clause, ean + Aor middle subjunctive;

- this is 3cc indicating that volition is involved, that is your mental attitude à BD

 

- for what is good  (tou/ avgaqou/)  the good = DGP

 

Observations: 3:13

1. This rhetorical question that Peter asks requires a negative answer, NO One!

2. He is not saying or attempting to delude them (or us) that if they are positive to doctrine and consistent in application of it that we will escape the verbal abuse or persecution, the CHP's of life.

 

3. No matter what disaster may strike the believer who has a F/R of truth that disaster, whatever it is,  cannot harm or injure his spiritual integrity and momentum without his/her choice for it to do so!

 

4. The how, it can harm, is by our reacting to it, rejecting doctrine, therefore a failure to apply the F/R of truth we have and what have we done? Put the sin nature in rulership.

 

 

5. The believer who is tenacious toward doctrine is protected having the spiritual resources available and a willingness to use them. 

Prov 16:7; Psa 56:4; 118:6; Rom 8:31-32

 

6. Peter's use of the noun for zealous rather than the adjective implies not merely having the possession of zeal but its active embodiment in the readers' lives. It conveys "the idea of wholeheartedness and singleness of purpose."

 

7. The zealous believer then is the one who is consistently positive to the Word and is uncompromising in its application in their life.

 

3:14  You may indeed suffer, if you do know that you are blessed

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness,

- this is a 4th class conditional statement which is very rare

 

But even if perchance says that there is a possibility that even if you are positive to doctrine and are applying it at every opportunity that you may indeed suffer!

 

Peter has just given us 4 paragraphs dealing with some major areas of God's will for us in various situations all designed to prepare us for living the CWOL.

1. 2:13-17  our mental  attitude towards the national entity, the ruling government; we are under authority of the leaders and must comply with the laws of the land

2. 2:18-25  deals with authority orientation on the job, response to our boss whether good or unfair.

3. 3:1-7  authority orientation in marriage, not arbitrary or dictatorial, the husband has responsibility to show her honor and respect, commanded to love her

4. 3:8-12 in general terms we have some principles for one who desires to love life and realize beneficial days;

 

But even if perchance you should suffer for the sake of righteousness

 

- experiential righteousness is an increment of divine good produced in life as you live out the truth, this is what will become evident at the JSC.

 

There is a key difference between responding to the various situations encountered in life  as we've already noted and what we are seeing here in this context which is suffering that is directly the result of one's living out the truth in their life.

Here the "if" clause is But even if perchance you should suffer for the sake of righteousness

Next we have an incomplete "then" clause you are blessed 

 

Blessed maka,rioj  points to a state which the believer is able to experience in his/her life even amid adverse external circumstances.

 

 

blessed  Grk maka,rioj  or Heb.  asheri  yrev.a;    both are plural nouns that describe the state of happiness, contentment or satisfaction in life;  it is used of a spiritual quality or characteristic in one's life. 

 

 

Need to remember that God vindicates His Word in time as we use the principles and promises in life, blessed in time and He also vindicates His Word in eternity, blessed at the JSC, rewarded based on the use of the Word in time.