1 PETER
ITS GENUINENESS is attested by 2 Peter 3:1 Also by POLYCARP. Simon, Or Simeon, was a native of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, son of Jonas or John. With his father and his brother Andrew he carried on trade as a fisherman at Capernaum, his subsequent place of abode. He was a married man, and tradition represents his wife's name as Concordia or Perpetua. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA says that she suffered martyrdom, her husband encouraging her to be faithful unto death, "Remember, dear, our Lord." His wife's mother was restored from a fever by Christ.
JEROME [On Illustrious Men, 1] states that "Peter, after having been bishop of Antioch, and after having preached to the believers of the circumcision in Pontus, &c. [plainly inferred from 1 Peter 1:1 in the second year of Claudius went to Rome to refute Simon Magus, and for twenty-five years there held the episcopal chair, down to the last year of Nero, that is, the fourteenth, by whom he was crucified with his head downwards, declaring himself unworthy to be crucified as his Lord, and was buried in the Vatican, near the triumphal way." EUSEBIUS [Chronicles, Anno 3], also asserts his episcopate at Antioch; his assertion that Peter founded that Church contradicts Acts 11:19-22 His journey to Rome to oppose Simon Magus arose from JUSTIN'S story of the statue found at Rome (really the statue of the Sabine god, Semo Sanctus, or Hercules, mistaken as if Simon Magus were worshipped by that name, "Simoni Deo Sancto"; found in the Tiber in 1574, or on an island in the Tiber in 1662), combined with the account in Acts 8:9-24 impossible, as it would make Peter, at the interview with Paul at Antioch, to have been then for some years bishop of Rome! His crucifixion is certain from Christ's prophecy, John 21:18 John 21:19 DIONYSIUS OF CORINTH (in EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 2.25]) asserted in an epistle to the Romans, that Paul and Peter planted both the Roman and Corinthian churches, and endured martyrdom in Italy at the same time. So TERTULLIAN [Against Marcion, 4.5, and The Prescription Against Heretics, 36, 38]. Also Caius, the presbyter of Rome, in EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 2.25] asserts that some memorials of their martyrdom were to be seen at Rome on the road to Ostia. So EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 2.25, and Demonstration of the Gospel, 3.116]. So LACTANTIUS [Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died, 2]. Many of the details are palpably false; whether the whole be so or not is dubious, considering the tendency to concentrate at Rome events of interest [ALFORD]. What is certain is, that Peter was not there before the writing of the Epistle to the Romans (A.D. 58), otherwise he would have been mentioned in it; nor during Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, otherwise he would have been mentioned in some one of Paul's many other Epistles written from Rome; nor during Paul's second imprisonment, at least when he was writing the Second Epistle to Timothy, just before his martyrdom. He may have gone to Rome after Paul's death, and, as common tradition represents, been imprisoned in the Mamertine dungeon, and crucified on the Janiculum, on the eminence of St. Pietro in Montorio, and his remains deposited under the great altar in the center of the famous basilica of St. Peter. AMBROSE [Epistles, 33 (Edition Paris, 1586), p. 1022] relates that St. Peter, not long before his death, being overcome by the solicitations of his fellow Christians to save himself, was fleeing from Rome when he was met by our Lord, and on asking, "Lord, whither goest Thou?" received the answer, "I go to be crucified afresh." On this he returned and joyfully went to martyrdom. The church called "Domine quo vadis" on the Appian Way, commemorates the legend. It is not unlikely that the whole tradition is built on the connection which existed between Paul and Peter. As Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision," wrote Epistles to Galatia, Ephesus, and Colosse, and to Philemon at Colosse, making the Gentile Christians the persons prominently addressed, and the Jewish Christians subordinately so; so, vice versa, Peter, "the apostle of the circumcision," addressed the same churches, the Jewish Christians in them primarily, and the Gentile Christians also, secondarily.
1Peter 1
1 From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To God's church who are pilgrims [in the world] and are scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
Pilgrims: Not like the Puritans that came to New England, but the term means sojourners, or “nomadic” peoples like the ancient Hebrews (Abraham). The early church had many traveling members that had no real home.
2 God the Father knew you long ago and chose you to live holy lives with His Spirit's help so that you are obedient to Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. May good will and peace fill your lives!
Spirit' Greek pnuema – not a personage, but the essence of God.
3 Praise be to God and Father of our LORD(Yahweh) Jesus Christ who by His (Jesus') mercy that God (The Father) has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in the heavens for you,
KJV-in heaven--Greek, "in the heavens," where it can neither be destroyed nor plundered. It does not follow that, because it is now laid up in heaven, it shall not hereafter be on earth also.
5 since you are guarded by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
6 So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8 Although you have never seen Him (Jesus), you love him. You don't see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words
9 Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your lives (psychē).
KJV-Souls. Greek psyche meaning living being. Same as Hebrew “nephesh” in the Old Testament. Souls, are not immortal, for the soul (psyche) that sins, it shall die.” Souls die. The word simply means the essence, or spark of life that God gives all living beings in order to breath in life! Animals, plants and humans all breath that same breath of life (Eccl 3:19). The doctrine of the “Immortal Soul” is Greek in origin and comes directly from Satan's first lie to Eve (Gen 3:4)
10 The prophets carefully researched and investigated this salvation. Long ago they spoke about God's kindness that would come to you.
11 So they tried to find out what time or situation the Spirit of Jesus kept referring to whenever he predicted Christ's sufferings and the glory that would follow.
Here Christ “owns” the Spirit! The Holy Spirit! You see the Holy Spirit is what Jesus and the Father are made of, like we are made of flesh and blood, God is made of Holy Spirit! That is why in some cases the Bible says “the Father's Spirit” and other Christ's Spirit.
KJV Spirit of Christ . . . in them--( Acts 16:7 , in oldest manuscripts, "the Spirit of Jesus"; Revelation 19:10 ). So JUSTIN MARTYR says, "Jesus was He who appeared and communed with Moses, Abraham, and the other patriarchs." CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA calls Him "the Prophet of prophets, and Lord of all the prophetical spirit."
Suffering Christ= See Isa. 53
12 They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News (Gospel) has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
13 Therefore, hold your pants and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ!
14 Because you are children who obey God, don't live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn't know any better.
15 But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life.
16 (It is written) Scripture says, "Be holy, because I am holy."
17 So if you call on your Father, to whom you pray – know He has no favorites when He judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth.
18 Realize that you weren't set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed.
19 Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections.
20 God chose him for this purpose long before the world began, but in final days, He is sent to the earth for all to see. And He does this for you.
21 Through Him you have come to trust and believe in God who raised Him (Christ) back to life and gave Him glory. So that your faith and hope are in God.
The raising of Jesus by God is the special ground of our "believing": (1) because by it God declared openly His acceptance of Him as our righteous substitute; (2) because by it and His glorification He received power, namely, the Holy Spirit, to impart to His elect "faith": the same power enabling us to believe as raised Him from the dead. Our faith must not only be IN Christ, but BY and THROUGH Christ. "Since in Christ's resurrection and consequent dominion our safety is grounded, there 'faith' and 'hope' find their stay" [CALVIN].
22 Since you have purified your lives (psyche) by obeying the truth in sincere love of the church, so see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts.
KJV-through the Spirit--omitted in the oldest manuscripts
23 For having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
In the End Times, at His coming, we are “Born Again” Completely. Today, we are impregnated and are growing in our spiritual life, but we are NOT yet a completed new being! In the next verse it is made plain that we are still flesh and not spirit! John 3:3-5 , "born of water and the Spirit": as there is but one Greek article to the two nouns, the close connection of the sign and the grace, or new birth signified is implied. The word is the remote and anterior instrument; baptism, the proximate and sacramental instrument. The word is the instrument in relation to the individual; baptism, in relation to the Church as a society ( James 1:18 ).
24 All flesh (sarx) is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,
sarx Greek: flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts.. the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God
25 but the word of the LORD(Yahweh-Jesus) lasts forever." This word is the Good News (Gospel) that was told to you.
It is certain from scripture that Simon Peter was one of the first of those whom our Lord called to be his disciples and followers, that he was a person of excellent endowments, both natural and gracious, of great parts and ready elocution, quick to apprehend and bold to execute whatever he knew to be his duty. When our Saviour called his apostles, and gave them their commission, he nominated him first in the list; and by his behavior towards him he seems to have distinguished him as a special favorite among the twelve. Many instances of our Lord's affection to him, both during his life and after his resurrection, are upon record. But there are many things confidently affirmed of this holy man that are directly false: as, That he had a primacy and superior power over the rest of the apostles-that he was more than their equal-that he was their prince, monarch, and sovereign-and that he exercised a jurisdiction over the whole college of the apostles: moreover, That he as the sole and universal pastor over all the Christian world, the only vicar of Christ upon earth-that he was for above twenty years bishop of Rome-that the popes of Rome succeed to St. Peter, and derive from him a universal supremacy and jurisdiction over all churches and Christians upon earth-and that all this was by our Lord's ordering and appointment; whereas Christ never gave him any pre-eminence of this kind, but positively forbade it, and gave precepts to the contrary. The other apostles never consented to any such claim. Paul declares himself not a whit behind the very chief apostles, 2 Co. 11:5 and 12:11. Here is no exception of Peter's superior dignity, whom Paul took the freedom to blame, and withstood him to the face, Gal. 2:11. And Peter himself never assumed any thing like it, but modestly styles himself an apostle of Jesus Christ; and, when he writes to the presbyters of the church, he humbly places himself in the same rank with them: The elders who are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, 5:1. See Dr. Barrow on the pope's supremacy.
The design of this first epistle is, I. To explain more fully the doctrines of Christianity to these newly-converted Jews. II. To direct and persuade them to a holy conversation, in the faithful discharge of all personal and relative duties, whereby they would secure their own peace and effectually confute the slanders and reproaches of their enemies. III. To prepare them for sufferings. Matthew Henry
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1 Peter 2
1 So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing.
2 You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk,
3 now that you have had a taste of the LORD's kindness. Psalms 34:8
4 Come to Him (Jesus), who is the living cornerstone {of God's temple}. He was rejected by the men, but he is precious to God (The Father) who chose him.
Jesus NOT PETER is the STONE!
5 You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Christians are both the spiritual temple and the priests of the temple. There are two Greek words for "temple"; hieron (the sacred place), the whole building, including.the courts wherein the sacrifice was killed; and naos (the dwelling, namely, of God), the inner shrine wherein God peculiarly manifested Himself, and where, in the holiest place, the blood of the slain sacrifice was presented before Him. All believers alike, and not merely ministers, are now the dwelling of God (and are called the "naos," Greek, not the hieron) and priests unto God ( Revelation 1:6 ). The minister is not, like the Jewish priest (Greek, "hiercus"), admitted nearer to God than the people, but merely for order's sake leads the spiritual services of the people. Priest is the abbreviation of presbyter in the Church of England Prayer Book, not corresponding to the Aaronic priest (hiereus, who offered literal sacrifices). Christ is the only literal hiereus-priest in the New Testament through whom alone we may always draw near to God. Compare 1 Peter 2:9 , "a royal priesthood," that is, a body of priest-kings, such as was Melchisedec. The Spirit never, in New Testament, gives the name hiereus, or sacerdotal priest, to ministers of the Gospel. (Jamieson)
6 That is why Scripture says, "I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, and the person who believes in Him (Jesus) will never be ashamed."
7 This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don't believe: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,
8 a large rock that make people stumble, the stone that makes them fall." The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.
9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God (Father and Son). You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of the Godhead, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10 Once you were not God's (Father and Son) people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.
Adapted from Hosea 1:9 Hosea 1:10 , 2:23 . Peter plainly confirms Paul, who quotes the passage as implying the call of the Gentiles to become spiritually that which Israel had been literally, "the people of God." Primarily, the prophecy refers to literal Israel, hereafter to be fully that which in their best days they were only partially, God's people. (Jamieson)
11 Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very lives (souls).
12 Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.
Live by example!
13 Place yourselves under the authority of every human institution to please the LORD (Jesus). Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority.
14 Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
15 God(the Father) wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right.
16 Live as free people, but don't hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God (Father and Son).
17 Honor everyone. Love your brothers and sisters in the faith. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
18 You who are servants must accept the authority of your masters. Do whatever they tell you -- not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh.
Servants--Greek, "household servants": not here the Greek for "slaves." Probably including freedmen still remaining in their master's house. Masters were not commonly Christians: he therefore mentions only the duties of the servants. These were then often persecuted by their unbelieving masters. Peter's special object seems to be to teach them submission, whatever the character of the masters might be. Paul not having this as his prominent design, includes masters in his monitions. (Jamieson)
19 God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering.
20 What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 He (Christ) never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
24 He (Jesus) personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds!
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 Peter 3
WIVES and HUSBANDS – Family Relations:
1 Wives, likewise, place yourselves under your husbands' authority. Some husbands may not obey God's word. Their wives could win these men {for God} by the way they live without saying anything.
2 Watching their pure, godly behavior.
3 Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.
4 Rather, beauty is something internal that can't be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which the Godhead considers precious.
5 After all, this is how in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
6 as Sarah did. Sarah obeyed Abraham and spoke to him respectfully. You became Sarah's daughters by not letting anything make you afraid to do good.
7 Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives as those who share God's life-giving kindness so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.
8 Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble.
9 Don't pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you, or ridicule those who ridicule you. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.
10 For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." Psalms 34:12
13 Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good?
14 But even if you suffer for doing what is good, you are still blessed. Don't be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don't get upset.
15 But dedicate your lives to the LORD (Jesus) as God (the Godhead). Always be ready to defend your confidence [in God] when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect.
16 Keep your conscience clear. Then when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed of themselves.
17 After all, if it is God's will, it's better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong.
18 This is true because Christ suffered once for our sins. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through His(the Father's) Spirit.
OR: quickened by the Spirit The oldest manuscripts omit the Greek article. Translate with the preposition "in," as the antithesis to the previous "in the flesh" requires, "IN spirit," that is, in respect to His Spirit. "Put to death" in the former mode of life; "quickened" in the other. Not that His Spirit ever died and was quickened, or made alive again, but whereas He had lived after the manner of mortal men in the flesh, He began to live a spiritual "resurrection" ( 1 Peter 3:21 ) life, whereby He has the power to bring us to God. Two ways of explaining 1 Peter 3:18 1 Peter 3:19 , are open to us: (1) "Quickened in Spirit," that is, immediately on His release from the "flesh," the energy of His undying spirit-life was "quickened" by God the Father, into new modes of action, namely, "in the Spirit He went down (as subsequently He went up to heaven, 1 Peter 3:22 , the same Greek verb) and heralded [not salvation, as ALFORD, contrary to Scripture, which everywhere represents man's state, whether saved or lost, after death irreversible. As Christ suffered even to death by enemies, and was afterwards quickened in virtue of His "Spirit" (or divine nature, Romans 1:3 Romans 1:4 , 1 Corinthians 15:45 ), which henceforth acted in its full energy, the first result of which was the raising of His body ( 1 Peter 3:21 , end) from the prison of the grave and His soul from Hades; so the same Spirit of Christ enabled Noah, amidst reproach and trials, to preach to the disobedient spirits fast bound in wrath. That Spirit in you can enable you also to suffer patiently now, looking for the resurrection deliverance.(Jamieson)
19 In it he also went to proclaim His victory to the spirits kept in prison.
20 Those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
the Greek word kyrusso is used, translated "made a proclamation," the only occurrence of the word in 1 Peter. In other passages in 1 Peter when the redemptive proclamation of the gospel is intended, the word used is euaggelizo (1 Pet 2:9, 4:6; pronounced euangelizo in English). So the term translated "preached" in some versions of 3:19 should more correctly be rendered "made proclamation" (so New Revised English Bible, above, NASB, NRSV, as opposed to the NIV). This means that the purpose of Christ's activity was not to convert imprisoned spirits but to announce his vindication through his death and resurrection (3:18). This means that the gospel "was preached" in the past to people who are now dead, not that it was preached now by Christ to those who are in the realm of the dead. The NRSV seems to render it along the same lines. This is also more obviously the meaning in 3:19 that gives an example from the past. In other words, preaching (euaggelizo) to those who are now dead was made in the past to call them to repentance and eternal life, while the death of Jesus is a proclamation (kyrusso) of condemnation to those who are now dead who had earlier refused to respond to that preaching. This strongly suggests that we cannot on the basis of 1 Peter make a case for the proposition that the dead may still respond to the gospel and be saved. In light of this evidence, there does not seem to be any biblical support, and very little support in early Christian tradition beyond the later highly questionable concept of purgatory, that Jesus descended into hell and preached to those who had already died with the goal of calling them to repentance beyond the grave.
21 Baptism, which is like that water, now saves you. Baptism doesn't save by removing dirt from the body. Rather, baptism is a request to God for a clear conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
1 Peter 4
1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning.
2 And you won't spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.
3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of this evil world--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
4 Unbelievers insult us now because they are surprised that we no longer join them in the same excesses of wild living.
5 They will give an account to the One who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 After all, the Gospel (Good News) was preached also to those who are now dead {when they were yet alive}, It was told to them so that although their bodies were punished with death, they could still live in the Spirit as the Godhead (Theos) does.
This is a hint of the “second chance” that God proclaims that those who are not Christians will someday have AFTER the millennium. Also note that the state of these people are DEAD, not living in hell!
7 The end of everything is near. Therefore, practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray.
8 Above all, love each other warmly, because “love covers a multitude of sins.” Proverbs 10:12
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
( Romans 12:13 , Hebrews 13:2 .) Not the spurious hospitality which passes current in the world, but the entertaining of those needing it, especially those exiled for the faith, as the representatives of Christ, and all hospitality to whomsoever exercised from genuine Christian love. (Jamieson)
10 Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others.
11 Whoever speaks must speak God's sayings {found in the Old Testament}. Whoever serves must serve with the strength God supplies so that in every way God receives glory through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.
the Greek article is wanting; thus English Version, "as the oracles of God," namely, the Old Testament, would be "right," and the precept be similar to Romans 12:6 , "prophesy according to the analogy of the faith." But the context suits better thus, "Let him speak as (becomes one speaking) oracles OF GOD." His divinely inspired words are not his own, but God's, and as a steward ( 1 Peter 4:10 ) having them committed to him, he ought so to speak them. Jesus was the pattern in this respect ( Matthew 7:29 , John 12:49 , 14:10 ; compare Paul, 2 Corinthians 2:17 ). Note, the very same term as is applied in the only other passages where it occurs ( Acts 7:38 , Romans 3:2 , Hebrews 5:12 ), to the Old Testament inspired writings, is here predicated of the inspired words (the substance of which was afterwards committed to writing) of the New Testament prophets. (Jamieson)
12 Dear friends, don't be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don't feel as though something strange is happening to you,
13 but rejoice as you share Christ's sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory.
14 Be happy if you are insulted in the name of Christ {as Christians}, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you.
15 If you suffer, you shouldn't suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker.
16 If you suffer for being a Christian, don't feel ashamed, but praise God for being called that name.
a Christian--the name given in contempt first at Antioch. Acts 11:26 , 26:28 ; the only three places where the term occurs. At first believers had no distinctive name, but were called among themselves "brethren," Acts 6:3 ; "disciples," Acts 6:1 ; "those of the way," Acts 9:2 ; "saints," Romans 1:7 ; by the Jews (who denied that Jesus was the CHRIST, and so would never originate the name Christian), in contempt, "Nazarenes." At Antioch, where first idolatrous Gentiles (Cornelius, Acts 10:1 Acts 10:2 , was not an idolater, but a proselyte) were converted, and wide missionary work began, they could be no longer looked on as a Jewish sect, and so the Gentiles designated them by the new name "Christians." The rise of the new name marked a new epoch in the Church's life, a new stage of its development, namely, its missions to the Gentiles. The idle and witty people of Antioch, we know from heathen writers, were famous for inventing nicknames. The date of this Epistle must have been when this had become the generally recognized designation among Gentiles (it is never applied by Christians to each other, as it was in after ages--an undesigned proof that the New Testament was composed when it professes), and when the name exposed one to reproach and suffering, though not seemingly as yet to systematic persecution. (Jamieson)
17 The time has come for the judgment to begin, and it will begin with God's family. If it starts with us, what will be the end for those who refuse to obey the Good News of God?
18 If it's hard for the person who has God's approval to be saved, what will happen to the godless sinner?
19 Those who suffer because that is God's will for them must entrust themselves to a faithful creator and continue to do what is good.
1 Peter 5
Instructions for Church Leaders:
1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you:
2 Be shepherds over the flock God has entrusted to you. Watch over it as God does: Don't do this because you have to, but because you want to. Don't do it out of greed, but out of a desire to serve.
3 Don't be rulers over the people entrusted to you, but be examples for the flock to follow.
4 Then, when the Chief Shepherd (Jesus) appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 You younger men, accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble."
from Proverbs 3:34 .
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you.
7 Turn all your anxiety over to the Godhead (Theos) because He(both Christ and the Father) cares for you.
8 Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.
9 Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering.
10 God(Father and Son), who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to His eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while.
11 Power belongs to Him forever. Amen.
12 I've written this short letter to you and I'm sending it by Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother. I've written to encourage you and to testify that this is God's genuine good will. Remain firmly established in it!
13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen by God, and my son Mark send you greetings.
Rome?
14 Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
The oldest manuscripts omit "Jesus."
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