Have had a ton of various projects at work and at church. But let's get back to 1 Peter ...
Previously ...
Theology: our new standing in Christ
1. Metaphor of living stones on the Living Stone, 2:4-8
2. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God, 2:9-10
How then shall we live?
1. Good lives, Good deeds, 2:11-12
2. Submission
To authorities, 2:13-17
To masters, 2:18-20
The example of Christ, 2:21-25
In marriage, 3:1-7
For an outline of I Peter 1:1-2:3 go here.
Continuing onward ... I Peter 3:8-22 ...
St. Peter winds up this part of the letter by exhorting the readers with the key behaviors!
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
He had come a long way from those days of Jesus and the 12 disciples. They often bickered and competed with each other. An older, wiser, humbler Peter encouraging the flock!
For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Here Peter reached back to his Jewish roots and cites a portion of a Psalm of David (Psalm 34:12-16) to strengthen the exhortation.
Peter then presses the point home citing what Jesus did ...
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
Great stuff! I picture Peter like a football coach firing up the team with these words.
Then would it be unfair to say, I feel he goes "off the rails" as some of the next few parts are hard for me to understand?!
He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
No problem there. But this ...?
through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.
What is this about? Spirits in prison? Is Jesus preaching to dead people from the past?
UPDATE: In digging around, another option for the meaning of "spirits in prison" is the fallen angels. I don't know which explanation works better. The strength of this view is that humans are body and spirit while angels are only spirit.
And then the following item about linking baptism with salvation?!
In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
I think Peter is pushing the imagery very hard here and it comes out a bit mangled. But the part I do see is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without that, we have nothing. And to the extent baptism is linked to that reality of ressurrection we are saved.
Just my view here as I contemplate the text. I did go check Eugene Peterson's Message rendering of this passage and he seems to be going in this direction as well.
My prayer Lord is that you would help me set apart Christ as Lord in my heart and prepare me to give an answer to everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that I have and to do so with gentleness and reverence. Amen.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
1 Peter 3:1-7
The beginning part of I Peter 3 continues on the theme of submitting to one another.
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Re-read that again. How does it sound to you?
There is no question that when we read Christian Scripture, we are often colored by our knowledge or experience of how teachings have been misused.
Does this passage in any way justify spousal abuse or male domination or any such nonsense in the name of submission?
No way. No how. Can't be defended from what is in here.
Jump in our time machine and wind the clock back nearly 2000 years and read these words with that perspective.
Physical strength would have been at a much higher premium in that time and so for St. Peter to say, "treat them with respect as the weaker partner" would have been radical. The mind set would easily have been, the strong should dominate the weak. But the wisdom of the Scripture say, no to that.
Peter adds, "heirs with you of the gracious gift of life". Co-heirs! That's equality!
And though the word "submit" wasn't used explicitly for the husbands, the idea is there when Peter says, "Husbands, in the same way ... " after a list of encouragements to the wives. Again, mutual submission, respect, consideration ... no way, no how can male domination over women be defended here.
Lord, thank you for the wisdom preserved in Scripture to help us in our lives. It was useful then and it is still true for us today. As a new husband, help me to live up to this admonition of mutual submission, respect, consideration and living holy together with my wife, co-heir of the gracious gift of life you have given us. Amen.
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Re-read that again. How does it sound to you?
There is no question that when we read Christian Scripture, we are often colored by our knowledge or experience of how teachings have been misused.
Does this passage in any way justify spousal abuse or male domination or any such nonsense in the name of submission?
No way. No how. Can't be defended from what is in here.
Jump in our time machine and wind the clock back nearly 2000 years and read these words with that perspective.
Physical strength would have been at a much higher premium in that time and so for St. Peter to say, "treat them with respect as the weaker partner" would have been radical. The mind set would easily have been, the strong should dominate the weak. But the wisdom of the Scripture say, no to that.
Peter adds, "heirs with you of the gracious gift of life". Co-heirs! That's equality!
And though the word "submit" wasn't used explicitly for the husbands, the idea is there when Peter says, "Husbands, in the same way ... " after a list of encouragements to the wives. Again, mutual submission, respect, consideration ... no way, no how can male domination over women be defended here.
Lord, thank you for the wisdom preserved in Scripture to help us in our lives. It was useful then and it is still true for us today. As a new husband, help me to live up to this admonition of mutual submission, respect, consideration and living holy together with my wife, co-heir of the gracious gift of life you have given us. Amen.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
1 Peter 2:18-25
I Peter 2:18-25 ...
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
This is hard to take. Unjust suffering is one of the things we all instinctively recoil from. And so it sounds hard for my ears to hear in this teaching from Peter to bear up under slavery.
Some have criticized Christianity for slavery. Yet, of course, it was William Wilberforce's Christian convictions that compelled him to oppose slavery.
So what gives?
We do have to remember, in one sense, when we read Scriptures, we are stepping into a time machine. When the Apostle Peter wrote this, Christianity was a still an obscure though growing community. Christians were not in a position to change the system at that time. If Peter had called for the abolition of slavery, the slaves he would have wanted to liberate probably would have wound up dead.
Christianity did eventually gain enough followers to have an influence in society but sadly it would be far too long before slavery would be opposed and eventually overthrown.
And even more sadly, today, there are now different forms of slavery. One Christian group dedicated to the fight against 21st Century slavery is International Justice Mission.
Does God understand this kind of suffering and injustice?
Indeed, he does ...
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
And so, God does know. He went through it in Jesus. And it is in his sufferings, we can be liberated. And in his power, we go forth into the world bringing the message of liberation of people's souls by helping them be reconciled to the Great Shepherd and by all means possible, also liberating them from real chains.
Lord, set me free. Break the bonds that hold me to false gods. Help me to see what idols I knowingly and unknowingly bow down to. Pull me away from selfishness. Give me the vision to see injustice and the ears to hear how I can help do something about it. Amen.
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
This is hard to take. Unjust suffering is one of the things we all instinctively recoil from. And so it sounds hard for my ears to hear in this teaching from Peter to bear up under slavery.
Some have criticized Christianity for slavery. Yet, of course, it was William Wilberforce's Christian convictions that compelled him to oppose slavery.
So what gives?
We do have to remember, in one sense, when we read Scriptures, we are stepping into a time machine. When the Apostle Peter wrote this, Christianity was a still an obscure though growing community. Christians were not in a position to change the system at that time. If Peter had called for the abolition of slavery, the slaves he would have wanted to liberate probably would have wound up dead.
Christianity did eventually gain enough followers to have an influence in society but sadly it would be far too long before slavery would be opposed and eventually overthrown.
And even more sadly, today, there are now different forms of slavery. One Christian group dedicated to the fight against 21st Century slavery is International Justice Mission.
Does God understand this kind of suffering and injustice?
Indeed, he does ...
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
And so, God does know. He went through it in Jesus. And it is in his sufferings, we can be liberated. And in his power, we go forth into the world bringing the message of liberation of people's souls by helping them be reconciled to the Great Shepherd and by all means possible, also liberating them from real chains.
Lord, set me free. Break the bonds that hold me to false gods. Help me to see what idols I knowingly and unknowingly bow down to. Pull me away from selfishness. Give me the vision to see injustice and the ears to hear how I can help do something about it. Amen.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
1 Peter 2:13-17
Next up in 1 Peter ...
Is "submit" a bad word?
I suppose people think of someone with a rod beating an innocent person into submission. That's bad! As a side note, if a police officer beat somebody with her stick who was about to commit a murder or some other crime would be justified.
But of course, the idea of submit could be a child taking the parent's word that touching the hot stove is a bad idea. That's good for a child to submit.
image source: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/stnic/images/prop-crozier.jpg
The idea of submission comes up in this part of 1 Peter 2 and in the beginning part of 1 Peter 3.
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
The wisdom of Scripture here says that government's role is to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. There are many ways that can be accomplished.
In American politics, there is an ongoing debate on the proper role of government. Simply put, the left wants more government, the center less and the right even less.
I do not think there is necessarily a "Christian" view of politics at this level. As I see it, the question is to what end (hopefully, a good one!)? And if to a good end, then what means (as long as it is moral) help achieve those ends?
Thus, for me, my political views are shaped by pragmatic concerns once my Christian ethic tells me the end being achieved is appropriate. As an example, making health care more available is a noble goal. Just think of how many hospitals have Christian affiliations! And so what are some practical means to reach that goal of making health care more available? At this point, my perspectives are guided by practical considerations. Since this is a devotional blog, I won't go into this matter any further!
But what happens when a government fails to live up to this role of to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right?
There have been governments that have done the opposite.
Nazi Germany clearly needed to be opposed and it was and it cost millions of lives to defeat that terrible evil. The Iron Curtain needed to be resisted and for much of the 20th Century, those totalitarian governments oppressed, arrested and executed many people. Over time, with determined resistance within and opposition from without, that system collapsed.
And so in St. Peter's day, the Roman Empire reigned strong. I suppose in some areas the local governors were brutal and perhaps in some areas they actually tried to be just. In any case, the admonition here is to start a revolution by a transformed life: doing good ... live free but don't abuse it ... live as servants ... Show proper respect ... love others ... fear God ... honor authorities.
Think that is good advice for me, living in 21st Century America?
How about where you clicked to this blog?
Lord, have mercy on the rulers and authorities in my nation. Whether they call you Lord or not, may they be granted wisdom to govern justly and effectively. There is a lot of frustration among the citizens of America with the government. Some of it quite understandable. Turn our disappointments into a renewed commitment to live rightly in our daily life toward our neighbors. Help us to do good. Help us to use the freedom and opportunities in the USA for good and not just self-interest. Give me a servant heart. Strengthen the impulse within me to be respectful and loving to others. Guide me to fear you and honor and pray for those who rule. Amen.
Is "submit" a bad word?
I suppose people think of someone with a rod beating an innocent person into submission. That's bad! As a side note, if a police officer beat somebody with her stick who was about to commit a murder or some other crime would be justified.
But of course, the idea of submit could be a child taking the parent's word that touching the hot stove is a bad idea. That's good for a child to submit.
image source: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/stnic/images/prop-crozier.jpg
The idea of submission comes up in this part of 1 Peter 2 and in the beginning part of 1 Peter 3.
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
The wisdom of Scripture here says that government's role is to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. There are many ways that can be accomplished.
In American politics, there is an ongoing debate on the proper role of government. Simply put, the left wants more government, the center less and the right even less.
I do not think there is necessarily a "Christian" view of politics at this level. As I see it, the question is to what end (hopefully, a good one!)? And if to a good end, then what means (as long as it is moral) help achieve those ends?
Thus, for me, my political views are shaped by pragmatic concerns once my Christian ethic tells me the end being achieved is appropriate. As an example, making health care more available is a noble goal. Just think of how many hospitals have Christian affiliations! And so what are some practical means to reach that goal of making health care more available? At this point, my perspectives are guided by practical considerations. Since this is a devotional blog, I won't go into this matter any further!
But what happens when a government fails to live up to this role of to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right?
There have been governments that have done the opposite.
Nazi Germany clearly needed to be opposed and it was and it cost millions of lives to defeat that terrible evil. The Iron Curtain needed to be resisted and for much of the 20th Century, those totalitarian governments oppressed, arrested and executed many people. Over time, with determined resistance within and opposition from without, that system collapsed.
And so in St. Peter's day, the Roman Empire reigned strong. I suppose in some areas the local governors were brutal and perhaps in some areas they actually tried to be just. In any case, the admonition here is to start a revolution by a transformed life: doing good ... live free but don't abuse it ... live as servants ... Show proper respect ... love others ... fear God ... honor authorities.
Think that is good advice for me, living in 21st Century America?
How about where you clicked to this blog?
Lord, have mercy on the rulers and authorities in my nation. Whether they call you Lord or not, may they be granted wisdom to govern justly and effectively. There is a lot of frustration among the citizens of America with the government. Some of it quite understandable. Turn our disappointments into a renewed commitment to live rightly in our daily life toward our neighbors. Help us to do good. Help us to use the freedom and opportunities in the USA for good and not just self-interest. Give me a servant heart. Strengthen the impulse within me to be respectful and loving to others. Guide me to fear you and honor and pray for those who rule. Amen.
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