Lesson 53
Study of
First Peter Chapter 3
Review:
3:14b-16
Directives to Those Suffering for Righteousness
Our
response as believers has both a negative and positive possibilities.
Negatively,
we should not yield to the natural
reactions of fear and agitation (v:14b).
Positively,
we should keep Christ central in their lives and make appropriate responses to
their adversaries (vs:15-16).
And do not fear their
intimidation
- intimidation, good
translation of the cognate accusative (fo,boj)
- lit. says the intimidation of
them do not fear; that is the threats reprisals from those who are maligning
them
and do not be troubled,
- here
it refers to mental agitation, letting the external pressures interfere with
the normal thinking process
Observations:
1. The Christian's personal realization of blessing in
suffering for righteousness involves his/her refusal of an inappropriate
response. Do not fear their threats or intimidation.
2. The words are drawn from Isaiah 8:12. The natural
response of fear when suffering is categorically being prohibited in that
context.
3. The negative command, in the aorist tense, prohibits
yielding to any kind of fear, and the articular noun, phobos, strengthens the
concept of the fear being prohibited. Christians should not allow a feeling of
fright and terror to grip them.
4. By applying the faith rest, specifically here to orient
to
- 1
Pet 5:7 also applies here also Phil 4:6-7
5. Having put the situation in His hands then you can
relax knowing He is in control and the situation is in His hands.
6. If you find yourself disoriented, under mental anxiety,
fear you need to do a quick evaluation of your spiritual status, and ensure
that your in fellowship.
3:15a The alternative to mental agitation and fear (i.e. strength
in the life)
but (de.) sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
to set apart Christ speaks of enthroning Christ as the object of supreme,
absolute reverence in one's life, that is as Lord, (ku,rioj) as master, authority
With
the prepositional phrase in your hearts we begin to see the mechanics of just how this is
accomplished.
With
Him as the Lord of our lives, we as Christians will have the grace and strength
to stand firm in the midst of suffering and testing.
But
set apart the Christ as Lord (authority) in your hearts (through the Word)
3:15b A ready answer of the Christian Hope!
always being ready to make
a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in
you,
- being ready adjective not
verb (e[toimoj) ready, with
the sense of being prepared
- to
make a defense (avpologi,a) (acc sg) speaks of
a verbal defense
The
compound noun denotes "a reasoning off or from" by way of removing
misconceptions and answering objections, thus making a defense of one's
position.
As
the personal recipients of God's saving grace, the readers had become Exhibit A
of the nature and power of Christianity as they lived their lives interacting
with others.
Point
is they were to be able to give an intelligent account of what they believed
and had experienced.
This
also implies that Christianity "is not only an experience or a way of life
but that it has a rationale which has been reflected on and can be communicated
to someone else."
to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in
you,
The
focus of the inquiry is for the hope (peri,) lit. concerning the hope h, evlpi,j
Rem:
that hope refers to the confidence you have as a believer that what the
word of God says regarding not only the present, our position and heritage in Christ
but also our future inheritance in Christ is true, something we can count on.
I
think it is significant that the inquiry concerning the readers' Christianity
is designated as "the hope" rather than "the faith,"
as we might have expected.
This
phrase that is in you also reminds us
that it is what is in you, that is resident in your soul that gives you the
capacity to live life with hope and confidence and being ready to give an
account of that hope when asked.
Next Peter reminds us of the manner in which we are give the account of our hope! The personal factors for an
effective witness.
yet with gentleness and reverence; these are the characteristics to be evident when we're
witnessing, giving an account of our hope
The
approach we take or the 'style' we use in defending our hope must be imbued
with the same values that are intrinsic to our life of hope.
The
second characteristic of our witness is reverence (fo,boj) often translated
fear, but is fear in the sense of respect, awe
- As you
express dvpt, the gospel to others you must also respect their right to think
human vpt, cosmic thinking and reject the gospel.
3:15 But set apart the Christ as Lord (authority) in your hearts (through the Word) always being ready to make a defense to
everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with
gentleness and reverence.