1 Peter Class 2 - The New Israel

As we begin this section running from chapter 2:1-10 we will see some very similar teaching from the last class. This is because they are parallel in teaching. We have all ready mentioned Peter’s ability as a great teacher in his methodical repetition but he shows another great technique in presenting both a positive and negative side. It seems to be an aspect of our minds that we learn best when presented with comparisons, light and dark, cold and hot, etc. We will see that that is what he does here. Let’s look at the similarities between 1:13-25 and 2:1-10.

I think this organization is also a mark of the Divine hand. These lessons are so consistent and beautifully laid out that we cannot help but see the Spirit’s work in this teaching and it’s layout.

Verse 1

The words “laying aside” (apotithemi G659) in verse one has the idea of to “put away” or “cast off” as in taking off clothing. Peter has in mind those filthy rags that our old man used to wear before we were baptized into Christ and obtained new garments of white. He had the counterpart in 1:13 where he said to “gird up the loins of your mind”. When this connection is made it can be seen how in tune both Peter and Paul were in the mind of the Spirit by looking at all the similarities in Ephesians 4:22-25,31,

"That ye put off (apotithemi G659) concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; {23} And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; {24} And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. {25} Wherefore putting away (apotithemi G659) lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."

And Paul uses a similar list of evil traits in verse 31,

(Eph 4:31) "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

These character traits of the old man are then:

• “Malice” which by dictionary definition has the meaning of “a desire to harm other.”
• “Guile” has the connotations of trickery, deception and subtlety.
• “Hypocrisies” means to act under a feigned part. Showing yourself for something that you truly are not.
• “Envies” has it’s synonyms in ill will and jealousy.
• Finally “Evil speaking” means defamation of character, backbiting and slander.

These then are the poisons to our brotherly love. It may be very easy for us to think that we are not of such character. That we do not show forth these things in our lives. But the heart of the problem is with our minds. Peter says, “gird up the loins of your minds” while Paul says “be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” Even though we may not be acting out these evil traits it is just as wrong for us to be thinking after this fashion.

• Who here of us has not at one time felt the desire to use malice by giving someone a verbal lashing? Maybe not to strike at them physically but to hurt them mentally and emotionally. 
• Has there not been a time when we haven’t succumbed to guile, the little white lie, so that we might take the easier path or get our own way? Have we just slightly twisted the truth to put us in a better light? Has this type of behavior become more of an unconscious habit?
• Hypocrisies are abundant amongst us as we each try to hide our foibles and imperfections instead of confessing our faults one to another. It really is sad sometimes that we cannot honestly talk with one another and really open up.
• Blocking that path are envies. Do we really feel joy when others succeed? Are there not twinges of jealousy when someone else gets a calling or an accolade which we feel more suited for?
• On the other hand there may be times when we feel so superior over a weaker brother that our minds resort to evil speakings. It’s so easy in our minds to question the motives of others and to frame it with slander and defamation of character. But true love thinks no evil and it would rather give the benefit of the doubt to good motives in certain matters.

When these things affect our minds then they will doubtless effect the relationships with our brothers and sisters. They will eat like a cancer and destroy not only us but the body of Christ. 

Verse 2

"Newborn" (artigennetos G738) has the meaning of "just now born" and it's the only place used in scripture. Looking at the qualities in verse one it is obvious the lesson that no newborn has these characteristics. The being "born again" (1:23) will be evident in our behavior as newborn babes. It will also give us a "desire" (epipotheo G1971) or an intense craving for the word of God like a newborn craves the mother's nourishing breast. It’s one of most amazing things about a child right out of the womb that within minutes they can be instinctively seeking for milk. This desire for the word of God is the most fundamental trait we can develop in our attitude toward Scriptures. A baby that will not drink milk is a worrisome thing to it's parents and so we are too if we do not develop that taste for the things of God.

“Milk” is good and we all still need milk in our diets but if that is the only thing we eat then we would be poor adults physically. The same is true in a spiritual sense. The whole idea is that we "are to grow" by it. When we become adults we progress onto meat. Something more solid in our diet. Now I don’t believe this means that the meat is studies in Revelation or such like. A study in Revelation would be great but scripturally what the meat pertains to is the “personal use”, that is, the spiritual application of the Word in our lives. This seems to be Paul’s implication to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3,

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. {2} I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. {3} For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

On one hand you have babes on milk who still have envy, strife, etc., and then you have mature disciples in Christ who have put away all these things. One is still carnal the other is spiritual for they have learned by the Word of God how to love the brethren. How frustrating it must have been for Paul to admonish the Corinthians who had not put off all the evil traits listing by Peter in 2:1. The teaching is similar in Hebrews 5:13-14,

“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. {14} But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Milk is the first principles while the meat is the application of the principles in our lives. Meat is for those who have put their learning to use. They have experience to be able to apply it in their judgments between good and evil. So we can see Peter’s application here for these believers to move on in their spirituality, to grow up.

Verse 3

Now the next verse in Peter sounds like a question but it would be better translated like the Diaglott, “since you have tasted the kindness of the Lord” or the RSV, “for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” It is not a question but a statement. We all have tasted of the good milk of the Lord. The allusion is drawn from Psalm 34 of which we’ll have more to talk about later for it seems to be one of Peter’s favorite Psalms.

(Psa 34:8) "O taste and see that the LORD is good:."

The King James has the word “gracious” which is not the usual Greek word for grace that is “charis”. This is the Greek word “chrestos” and has more of the idea of kindness. Now it is said in scripture that God is “kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35) yet this kindness Peter talks about is far above that for it is the goodness of God that has lead us to repentance. It is that quality which measures his long-suffering. That goodness of the Lord we can taste in his Word.

Verse 4-5

There is a dramatic shift here in these verses as we see the subject change from babes and milk to stones and buildings. There is a connection here though which bears out a natural Jewish thought between children and houses. 

• When Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham for the reason to obtain children through her (Gen. 16:2) the literal Hebrew means, “that I may be built through her.”
• When the promises were made to David and God said he would build him a great house he did not have in mind a structure but his seed.
• The connection is also shown in Psalm 127 where it says, “Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it” and then a few verse later it says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord.”
• In fact the Hebrew word for “son” comes from a root meaning “to build” and therefore the sons were seen as “builders of the family name.”

So when we take this turn in Peter we might not think it so strange. In fact it brings us to the true meaning of this “living stone”, Jesus Christ. As Christ is a living stone so too are we to be living stones. It is certainly a strange term. How can a stone be living? The association that Paul makes in Ephesians 2:19-22 to stones in the temple refers to the body of Christ as growing together. 

(Eph 2:19-22) "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; {21} In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

So Peter also has mentioned that we too should be growing and refers to these living, growing believers in Christ as a holy temple. So they are living because they are growing together in love. It’s not that we “are built up” but rather as the NIV or Rotherham’s has it as we “are being built up”. This is still a work in progress on a personal and ecclesial level. Each one of us is being built up in our own faith and at the same time we are being molded and fitted to the grand design of God’s ecclesial body. We each have our own unique place in these walls with the Apostles as the foundation and Christ as the cornerstone.

So if we are still growing and still being built up does this mean that we are not now a dwelling for God, that we are not now priests, that we do not now offer up spiritual sacrifices? The answer is no. We are all these things as Peter also stresses in verse 9. It’s not like a building we know today that cannot be inhabited while it’s under construction. It is still an habitation of God through the Spirit.

You’ll notice that these three categories listed here describe the complete service of the temple. You have the “spiritual house” which is the temple, and the “holy priesthood” along with the “spiritual sacrifices”. What else is there in the service? So we have here a complete spiritual fulfillment of the practices of the Law found in Christ and those who are in Christ.

So how are we then a “spiritual house” or the temple of God today? The temple was God’s dwelling place and as we’ve already seen in Ephesians that we are to be an habitation of God through the Spirit. This then is a term of God manifestation. That God dwells in us, or makes his abode with us, when we keep his words and do them. When Jesus said (John 14:2), “In my Father’s house are many mansions (or abiding places)” and we are told later that this refers to people for Jesus says,

(John 14:23) "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

The Father’s house is then a spiritual house of believers. And this process brought about by the spirit is nothing mysterious and ephimeral but simply the process of hearing, understanding and applying the word of God so that we love him and are sanctified by the truth.

Two times Paul mentions the aspect of this spiritual temple to the Corinthians. The first one is in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17,

(1 Cor 3:16-17) "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? {17} If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

And the second is 1 Corinthians 6:19,

(1 Cor 6:18-19) "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. {19} What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Everything in the tabernacle was sanctified by the sprinkling of blood. So this is the same process we have all ready talked about from 1 Peter 1:2 as the sanctification of the Spirit and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. We are made the temple of God, that is the indwelling of the Spirit, is through the word of truth. Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.

Whereas the temple aspect is more personal in how we conduct our lives in holiness the aspect of how we are an “holy priesthood” today demands a more outward looking approach. The main functions of the priests were to teach and to make intercession for the people. Malachi 2:7 states it this way,

“The law of truth was in his [Levi’s] mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. {7} For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”

So the first requirement for the priest was knowledge so that they might have the law of truth in their mouths. So we too as an “holy priesthood” must continue to strive for knowledge and understanding. But knowledge for knowledge’s sake was not the purpose of the priest. The purpose was to “turn many away from iniquity”. As priests then we are forced to preach with compassion to those who are ignorant and out of the way. This is a very high and lofty title given to none other but us, dear brother and sisters. Think what that means to be a priest? You have special accesses to God that the normal person does not have. Your prayers come up through our high priest Jesus the Christ. Don’t our prayers mean so much for those who need salvation? Do you look on those in the world as wandering sheep in such dire need of your help, your consolation, your instruction? This to me is a great motivation to help us reach out more in our gospel proclamations.

Finally, what sort of “spiritual sacrifices” do we offer today? Hebrews 13:15-16 offers some examples,

(Heb 13:15-16) "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. {16} But to do good and to communicate (i.e. fellowship) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

So there are many things that either are offered to God or require unselfish actions that constitute spiritual sacrifices. Other examples might be our prayers (Psa. 141:2; Rev. 5:8) or giving of material means (Phil. 4:18) but the height of the spiritual sacrifice is ourselves, our whole being. This is what Paul terms a “living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:2).

Verses 6-8

What Peter does in this next section running from verses 6 to 8 is to take three Old Testament references and apply them to Christ.

1. The first of these in verse 6 is the cornerstone taken from Isa. 28:16.
2. There is also the rejected stone (vs. 7) of Psa. 118:22 which was used by the Lord himself (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17). Peter accuses the Jews with the same verse in Acts 4:11.
3. Finally there is the stone of stumbling (v. 8) from Isa. 8:14.

All these passages fit well together to fulfill Peter’s point that we are built on a perfect corner stone. That perfection was rejected by those who were disobedient. The word “disobedient” has the idea of “willful unbelief” and it comes from a root meaning “unpersuadable.” If we are the opposite, that is moldable and believing, then we shall not be ashamed. Peter here is preparing his readers for his next topic of those who would be rejected for the name of Christ. As it was with our Lord so it will be for us. They rejected his message and they will reject ours as well for it is the same message. Although for the moment we may suffer shameful ordeals we know if we but continue in belief that we shall not be confounded (that is, ashamed). We are built on a rock that cannot be moved.

Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews. They just couldn’t get their head around the concept of a suffering Messiah. They had built up so many misconceptions and preconceived ideas about how their Saviour was to appear that they completely rejected him at his appearing. Isn’t this the greatest danger of the human mind that can cause rejection of the truth. It’s simple pride that constrains us to accept that we may be wrong. There are many stumbling blocks in life but may it never be said of us that we “stumbled at the word”.

Verses 9-10

“But ye are a chosen generation.” Peter makes a quick change here to contrast the true believers against the disobedient. The term “generation” means offspring and is translated as “race” (RSV) or “people” (NIV). The next three phrases are taken straight from Exodus 19:5-6 where God stressed Israel's importance over all the nations as His chosen people. Now Peter is stressing that it is the believers in Christ who have been given this position by Divine choice to inherit the promises and privileges (Eph. 2:12). As the law's functions of temple, priest and sacrifice were replaced in verse five now Israel as a nation is replaced in it's capacities. We then are spiritual Israel, the true Israel.

Peter has all along been dropping these hints. Let’s look back now and pick up on some of them.

We then are now a “royal priesthood”. Royal because we are king priests after the order of Melchizedek. Just as Jesus was born king of the Jews and as of yet has not received his kingdom, so we to, in Him, will be made to rule and perform our priestly functions which we are now practicing. We are a “holy nation” for we have been called out of all nations to form the body of Christ. We are also a “peculiar people”. The word “peculiar” means purchased. Purchased, or redeemed, by the blood of Christ.

Even the next line “that ye should show forth the praises of him” is a phrase used of Israel in Isaiah 43:21. All these terms used and the implications of them should be staggering for us. Behold the wondrous grace of God. Who are we of all people to have such a privilege of being now God’s people. There is no room to boast because we have been grafted into that tree (Rom. 11). Can we attain to that spiritual development above which Israel failed?

Verses 11-12

The next two verses 11 and 12 now make a nice transition into Peter’s next line of thought. There is a transition from general exhortation to more direct applications.

"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."

If you’ve ever been to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language then you know a little more acutely what it means to be a stranger. You feel out of place, not comfortable, knowing things are different. That’s how we should feel in this world. The world is a place where all it’s customs of the flesh should be foreign to us.

The world would try to influence us to accept the lusts of the flesh as only natural and that there is nothing wrong with self indulgence. Peter would direct us otherwise to be on the watch and constantly asserting self control to overcome temptation. For most people there is no “war”. They have surrendered and lost. They have been completely conquered. Woe to us if there is no battle in our lives. We must put on the full armor of God and be ready to resist the devil, the fleshly lusts.

When I think of warfare I see soldiers equipped with artillery, tanks, jet fighters. All of them trained to attack with aggression and violence. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal though, they are spiritual. In a great contrast, as soldiers of Christ, we are to be submissive. Pride has to fall. As Peter goes on to express his words in practicality we do not find him exhorting the brethren to lash out and avenge at the sight of wrong doing. We see him instructing them, and us, to be subject, submissive, doers of good, obedient, peaceful which are weapons that will disarm any opponent.

This brings us to verse 12 which is really the key exhortation for all of us in this book. The main reason we suffer persecutions with submission while maintaining holiness is so that we might win many to Christ. We will impress nobody if we are antagonistic, prideful and angry. We may have the truth but if we present it incorrectly then we do a disservice to God and Christ. Our lives by action and word are under scrutiny by all those around us. The word “behold” means to inspect or watch and it is the intensive form of the verb signifying very close scrutiny. People who live a fleshly life may cause hardships for the believers yet deep inside you know they respect a person who is consistently good, moral and humble.

Peter in many places shows how well he assimilated his Lord’s teachings. We do not have time to dig up all of these but this one is hard to pass up. There are several allusions here to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:11-16,

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely (1 Pet. 2:12), for my sake (1 Pet. 2:13). {12} Rejoice, and be exceeding glad (1 Pet. 1:6): for great is your reward in heaven (1 Pet. 1:4): . . . {16} Let your light so shine (1 Pet. 2:9) before men, that they may see your good works (1 Pet. 2:12), and glorify your Father (1 Pet. 2:12) which is in heaven."

So in these next three examples of subjection to governments (2:13-17), slaves to masters (2:18-20) and wives to unbelieving husbands (3:1-6) we see the focus is to endure suffering so that the persecutors might eventually be turned and glorify the Father.

Verse 13-15

First then is submission to governments.

"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:"

The word “ordinance” is translated as “creation” in every other place it is used in the KJV. The RSV has “institution”. So it really means every government, of what ever type it is or where ever it is in the hierarchy. It does not apply to all the laws though as Peter showed in Acts 5:29, “that we ought to obey God rather then man” when the authorities demanded that they stop preaching in the name of Jesus Christ. Nonetheless the laws that do not contradict the commands of Christ are to be strictly followed whether it’s the speed limit or paying our taxes. Why? It’s for “the Lord’s sake”. If we confess that we are imitators of Christ then the proof is in our actions. People will scrutinize you and judge God and his Word by the things that you do. I always find it remarkable when a car goes whizzing by on the freeway and there’s one of those fish stickers on the back. Hopefully that never happens with a car that has a Christadelphian bumper sticker. At work many people use profanity and being around it day by day it would be easy to give in once in awhile at a disappointment or mistake and let loose with a choice word. But it only takes one time to negatively impress somebody. It’s so easy to make a withdrawal and ten times harder to make a deposit of good.

It’s not our tarnished image that matters but God’s. This is what God manifestation is all about. When we sin it is his image that is tarnished. When we do good then all the honor is for him. Paul also emphasizes this fact in Titus 2:5 when he tells the young sisters,

"To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

And young men,

(Titus 2:7-8) "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, {8} Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

This then is the same as Peter’s “putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” And Paul also instructs servants for the same reason.

(Titus 2:9-10) "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; {10} Not purloining (i.e. not keeping back), but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."

So then all that’s at stake here has nothing to do with ourselves but with how our God is perceived. We all love the Lord. We love his word. We would want people to see the true beauty in it. Therefore we should be above reproach in all things so that we do not bring shame upon the name.

Verses 16-17

Paul continues in Titus 3:1-2,

"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, {2} To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men."

What is said here in verse 2 is what I believe Peter means in 2:17 by “honor all men.” It might be in our heads as such righteous people that we can judge and speak bad about others who are not like us. We may think it all right then being “free” to use that as a cloak for malice. It’s easy to make a disparaging side remark to a worldly colleague about somebody else that rubs us wrong. Yes, they may be worldly but that gives us no license for putting them down and treating them like dirt.

It’s hard to grasp how to “honor” some men when they act the way they do. But this is not honor for who they are but honor for who they can become. We can show them honor by showing them a gentle and meek spirit. It’s not an attitude that automatically brings scathing judgments but one that shows a pattern of how to live righteously.

As an aside, there is an interesting pattern in these four phrases of verse 17,

1. “Honour all men.” The world - men.
2. “Love the brotherhood.” Spiritual - men.
3. “Fear God.” Spiritual - magistrates.
4. “Honour the king.” The world - magistrates.

Verse 18

Next as an example for us in submission are servants to masters,

(1 Pet 2:18) "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward."

This is definitely something you would never hear in our day with all it’s humanistic reasoning. Servants were not only to obey the nice masters, but also obey the froward. The word “froward” means “warped, perverse and crooked.” You’d get a lot of upset people if you said things like this in the workplace of today. Now I’m not saying we should continue in an unfavorable work environment but when we do have these situations it means we cannot answer back, we can’t argue, we can’t demand our rights, we can’t go on strike. Too often we might say or think, “If he’s going to treat me like that then I’m not going to do it.” Or we might not put our all into doing a good job. Both Peter and Paul show us that this is wrong and in all things we should work as unto the Lord. Even a perverse manager will judge our God by the quality of our work.

Verses 19-20

(1 Pet 2:19-20) "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."

How many of us are willing to be wronged when we are right? We should rightly expect it when we’ve done wrong but what if we haven’t done anything wrong then how do we react? Our society instills in us the ideals of humanism that we all have rights. Nobody should be mistreated and if that happens then the victim has every right to prosecute and seek compensation for the wrong done to him. It’s the American way to sue somebody for even the slightest injustices. We all want justice in the world yet how much better a place it would be if everybody patiently accepted suffering wrongfully. It would be terrible to see all those unemployed lawyers on the street.

This though is thankworthy, acceptable or commendable with God. It’s according to his will and he is very pleased when we act after the pattern of his Son. We are brought low yet God is glorified. We will leave this example of Christ for our exhortation tomorrow but let it just be said here how important this is. If God, through his own Son, showed this pattern of submission in a sinless man who had every right to be saved from such persecution then how much more is it important for us to also take on such humility in all our dealings within the brotherhood and to all men.