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1 Peter 2:11-25 Citizens and servants 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. |
Margin notes: "I beseech you." (2:11) - "I beseech" is an interesting phrase. It doesn't mean "I ask" or "I suggest." It means "I beg." Peter believed it was so critical to our eternal life that he begged us to resist temptation. "Strangers and pilgrims." (2:11) - Remember, 1 Peter was addressed to believers who fled their homes to escape persecution. Most Bible scholars believe that "strangers and pilgrims" refer to these Christian refugees. However, some scholars feel that Peter is making the larger point that all Christians are "strangers" in this world. They are "ambassadors" for Christ while their true homes are in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:20; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:13). "Abstain from fleshly lusts." (2:11) - "Give up worldly desires." How? Read Galatians 5:16. "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles." (2:12) - Means live honestly, be a good role model to non-believers and "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16)." Peter will repeat this message in 1 Peter 3:16. "Whereas they speak against you as evildoers." (2:12) - "They may accuse you of wrongdoing." "They shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (2:12) - "They will see and glorify God on Judgment day." Why? See Philippians 2:15. "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man." (2:13) - Obey civil laws (Romans 13:1, Titus 3:1), except when they conflict with God's Law (Acts 5:29). "For a cloke of maliciousness." (2:16) - "As a cover for wickedness." "Love the brotherhood." (2:17) - "Love fellow Christians." "Fear God. Honour the king" (2:17) - "Respect God, honor your civil leader." From Proverbs 24:24:21. "Be subject to your masters with all fear." (2:18) - "Submit to your masters with respect." See also Ephesians 6:5-8 and Colossians 3:22-24. "Not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." (2:18) - "Not just the good and kind (masters), but also the harsh ones." "This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." (2:19) - "This is praiseworthy, if a person who believes in God endures grief, or suffers wrongfully." "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults." (2:20) - "For what glory is there when you are beaten for your wrongs." "If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." (2:20) - Means having patience pleases God. "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." (2:22) - This paraphrase is from Isaiah 53:9. It is a prophecy of Jesus' death, written 700 years before He was crucified. "When he was reviled, reviled not again." (2:23) - "When he (Jesus) was insulted, he did not insult his tomentors back." Just as He taught in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27. "Committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." (2:23) - While on the cross, Jesus Christ committed Himself to God (Luke 23:46). "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." (2:24) - Christ took the punishment for our sins when He was nailed to the cross. "By whose stripes ye were healed." (2:24) - Jesus' wounds healed us. "Ye were as sheep going astray." (2:25) - See Psalm 119:176 and Isaiah 53:6. "Bishop of your souls." (2:25) - "Guardian of your souls." |