Panorama of the

New Testament(Part 2)

Suffering

C. 1 Peter 2:13-5:14 – Suffering1. 1 Peter 2:13-17 – Submitting to your government.

a. 1 Peter 2:13-14 – We submit to our governing authorities because all authority is ultimately from God.

b. 1 Peter 2:15 – We submit to our governing authorities because we want our testimony to silence the ignorant people who misunderstand Christianity.

c. 1 Peter 2:16-17 – We submit to governing authorities because as truly free people we give honor to everyone including our brother in Christ, God and the government.

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2. 1 Peter 2:18 – Peter spoke on submitting to human masters (employers in our modern day). The slave was to submit to an overbearing or unreasonable master in the same way he would to a kind master.

3. 1 Peter 2:19-25 – Christ submitted Himself to suffering.a. 1 Peter 2:19-23 – He endured unjust

treatment.

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1) 1 Peter 2:19 –Enduring undeserved suffering with grace was a characteristic of Christ’s life.

2) 1 Peter 2:20 – No glory comes to God if we endure self-induced misery without complaining, but when we patiently and calmly endure unjust suffering, we glorify God. Job is an example of this.

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3) 1 Peter 2:21 – We have been called to suffer unjustly just as Christ suffered unjustly.

4) 1 Peter 2:22-23 – Christ never sinned. He never threatened or hated anyone due to His unfair treatment.

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b. 1 Peter 2:24-25 – Christ endured undeserved punishment on our behalf.1) 1 Peter 2:24a – Jesus endured

unimaginable hostility when He bore our sins in His own body on the cross. He kept entrusting Himself to the Father. We are called to follow His example.

2) 1 Peter 2:24b – Christ died for us so that we too might die to sins and live to righteousness. Romans 6:6, 10-11

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3) 1 Peter 2:25 – If we stray, which we constantly do, we are to glorify God by returning in reliance on the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. 1 John 2:1a) If we have sinned we should name

our sin in confession to our loving Father. 1 John 1:9

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b) We should then learn to walk by means of simple childlike faith in Christ who loves us and gave Himself for us. Galatians 2:20

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4. 1 Peter 3:1-7 – Both the husband and wife should submit to God.a. 1 Peter 3:1a – Although we know almost

nothing about his wife, Peter was married. Mark 1:30, 1 Corinthians 9:5

b. 1 Peter 3:1b-2 – A married woman whose husband (saved or unsaved) is disobedient to the word of God, can influence him toward God without words through submissive conduct.

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c. 1 Peter 3:3-4 – Life is not about external conduct; it is about what is in the heart. A quiet and gentle spirit is an imperishable quality that is precious to God.

d. 1 Peter 3:5-6 – Sarah is as an Old Testament example of a woman who quietly submitted to a disobedient-to-the-word husband. Because Sarah trusted God, she was able to submit to Abraham in a fearful situation.

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e. 1 Peter 3:7 – Husbands should seek to understand their wives and live with them accordingly. They should be considerate of them since they are both heirs of the gift of life. The success of the prayer life of a couple depends on this issue.

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5. 1 Peter 3:8-22 – Peter addressed the blessings that come through suffering.a. 1 Peter 3:8-12 – Peter addressed how to

be a blessing even through sufferings.1) 1 Peter 3:8-9 – In the church we bless

one another to the degree we support each other in gentleness, humility and unity. Philippians 4:5-7

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2) 1 Peter 3:10-12 – Peter quotes an Old Testament passage to reiterate the fact that blessing comes as we lovingly care for one another.

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b. 1 Peter 3:13-17 – Peter addressed how to suffer for doing what is right and how to suffer when we do something wrong.1) 1 Peter 3:13-14 – Remember that if

you suffer for what is right it becomes a blessing from God for your sake. So don’t fear difficulties. Romans 8:28

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2) 1 Peter 3:15 – Instead of being fearful, we should set apart Christ as Lord in our thinking so that we are prepared to explain our hope to enquirers with gentle confidence.

3) 1 Peter 3:16-17 – Keeping a pure conscience is vital so that if we suffer, we suffer for His glory and not as just punishment for our wrongdoing.

Suffering

c. 1 Peter 3:18-22 – Peter reminded us that Christ suffered for our good.1) 1 Peter 3:18 – Christ’s sacrifice was

completely sufficient for the salvation of all mankind. Sadly, not all humanity trusts in his sacrifice to be saved.

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2) 1 Peter 3:19-20a – Jesus made a proclamation to the spirits (uncertain here whether they were angelic or human spirits) who were particularly disobedient in Noah’s day.

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3) 1 Peter 3:20b – In Noah’s day, God brought eight people safely through the flood. These souls were identified with Noah in the Ark. That was a dry baptism since those who got wet died in the judgment. This is comparable to spiritual baptism.

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4) 1 Peter 3:21-22 – The spiritual baptism done the Holy Spirit the moment we believed in Christ identified us with Christ forever. That is the baptism that saves us. It is a baptism done without hands. It is done by God Himself.

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6. 1 Peter 4:1-11 – Be willing to suffer or sacrifice for the sake of love and unity.a. 1 Peter 4:1-2 – We need to have the

same kind of thinking Christ had in His human sufferings. God knows that our sanctification comes as we suffer in our fleshly bodies. Practical holiness is acquired through suffering. Hebrews 5:8

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b. 1 Peter 4:3 – We waste too much time living according to the flesh. Now is the time to live according to the Spirit. Romans 13:11-14

c. 1 Peter 4:4-5 – Old friends may not understand why you don’t join in their sinful conduct and might even speak evil against you but remember they are going to give an account to God someday.

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d. 1 Peter 4:6 – Because of the coming judgment, the good news was preached during the lifetimes of the now dead so that even though they died as all men die, they will live on in their spirit as God lives. The good news is that because of Jesus we will not be judged and condemned as sinners. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

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e. 1 Peter 4:7 – For Peter, the end was his death around AD 65-67. But knowing that Christ could come back at any moment meant the end was always near. That thought can motivate us as well to be self-controlled in our thinking, prayer-life, and focus.

f. 1 Peter 4:8-11 – Peter encouraged love. We should always remember that true biblical love is a fruit produced by means of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23

Suffering

1) 1 Peter 4:8 – We should have an intense love for others measured by a willingness to disregard or forgive the offences of others.

2) 1 Peter 4:9 – Biblical love is cordial. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

3) 1 Peter 4:10 – Biblical love is shown through our spiritual gifts used for the benefit of others in the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:7

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a) 1 Peter 4:11a – Peter divided spiritual gifts into two main categories: speaking gifts and service gifts.

b) 1 Peter 4:11b – God is the source of all spiritual gifts, therefore whether our gift is speaking or service, we should do it in dependence on God and then He will get the glory!

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7. 1 Peter 4:12-19 – Even when we are serving well we can expect to suffer. John 15:2ba. 1 Peter 4:12-13 – Suffering should not

surprise us, but instead cause us to rejoice because we know we are being honored to share in Christ’s sufferings. Philippians 1:29; James 1:2-4

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b. 1 Peter 4:14-16 – Suffering for the sake of Christ brings blessings now and glory for the future, but suffering because we sinned is shameful. 1 Corinthians 15:34

c. 1 Peter 4:17-18 – God always cleans up His own house before He cleans out the households of the wicked (Revelation 3:19). We will be saved in the future but the unrighteous will suffer grave judgment for all of eternity.

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d. 1 Peter 4:19 – God as our creator has the power and ability to care for us, so we should not be afraid to entrust ourselves to Him just as our Savior did when He walked the Earth and when He suffered for our sins. 1 Peter 2:23

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8. 1 Peter 5:1-4 – As one who witnessed the sufferings of Christ, Peter instructed the elders to shepherd the flock under their care.a. 1 Peter 5:1 – Peter addressed the elders

PRESBUTEROS of the church.1) These are men with the spiritual gifting

necessary to shepherd the church. (including pastors, elders and overseers) Ephesians 4:7-16, Hebrews 13:17

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2) 1 Peter 5:1-2 – We can see that Peter used three words to describe those who oversee the church. He used elders PRESBYTEROS (a noun, v1), pastor POIMAINO (a verb, v2), and overseer EPISKOPEO (a verb, v2).

3) In Acts 20 we see this same usage by Luke as he described Paul’s visit with the leaders from the churches of Ephesus.

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a) Acts 20:17 – He called for the elders PRESBYTEROS (a noun).

b) Acts 20:28 – We see that the Holy Spirit had placed them as overseers EPISKOPOUS (a noun).

c) Acts 20:28 – The overseers are commanded to pastor or shepherd POIMAINO (a verb) the church.

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b. 1 Peter 5:2 – The aorist imperative of POIMAINO, meaning to shepherd, emphasizes the urgency and priority God places on those He has chosen to oversee His flock.

c. 1 Peter 5:3 – Though God gives shepherds to pastor the flock, no shepherd has authority to bully or intimidate the sheep. 3 John 9-10

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d. 1 Peter 5:4 – The chief shepherd, Jesus Christ, will one day reward elders (elders, pastors and overseers) who faithfully care for the spiritual well-being of His flock with a glorious crown that will never fade away.

1 Peter 5:1-5Pastoral Responsibility

A pastor’s responsibility is to feed and nurture the flock of God with the Word of God.

God’s grace provides each pastor with a portion of the flock that constantly fluctuates with numbers.

God holds the pastor responsible for the ministry and the way he carries it out.

Suffering

9. 1 Peter 5:5-7 – Peter speaks of humility.a. 1 Peter 5:5 –Peter encouraged subjection

and humility toward both God and man.b. 1 Peter 5:6 – An understanding of God’s

supreme greatness should result in humility (Job 42:5).God resists those who live by self-effort, but gives grace to those who depend on Him. James 4:6

JesusChrist

The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility. Proverbs 15:33

Self-denialTitus 2:12

Self-controlGal. 5:23

Self-sacrificeMatt. 16:24

Self-exam.1 Cor. 11:31

StabilityCol. 2:5

PatienceEph. 4:2

WisdomEph.1:17

Courage2Cor. 5:6

R.C. Ward, January 2005

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c. 1 Peter 5:7 – In humility we ought to totally depend on God because He cares for us.

d. 1 Peter 5:8-9 – Practical daily faith in God’s word extinguishes the flaming arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-17

Suffering

10.1 Peter 5:10-14 – Peter concluded by challenging believers to stand firm in the true grace of God.a. 1 Peter 5:10 – True to the theme of

suffering found in this letter he added…after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself… fulfill the following objectives for every Christian:

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1) He will perfect you! The word perfect KATARTIZO carries the idea of putting something in good working order or properly adjusting something. God promises to make you into what you ought to be. Hebrews 13:20-21, Jude 24

2) God will confirm you! This communicates the fact that He will strengthen, establish and validate you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Philippians 1:6

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3) God will strengthen you! This has the idea that you will be made both strong and mobile at the same time. As God strengthens you, He can consequently mobilize you for service in multiple ways. 1 Corinthians 15:58

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4) God will establish you! God is able to make you like a rock or foundation! This is the same term used in Matthew 7:25 to describe the house founded on a rock that stood through the fiercest storms.

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b. 1 Peter 5:11 – In reply to the affirmations of verse ten, Peter finished with a short doxology that shouted: God have the dominion forever and ever. Amen!

1 Peter

D. Key Observations1. Salvation is available to us only through

Christ’s complete and sufficient work. 1 Peter 1:18-19

2. Suffering is an inseparable part of the Christian life.1 Peter 2:19-22

3. We should always be ready to give an untarnished defense of the hope we have in Christ. 1 Peter 3:14-16

1 Peter

4. We have a real enemy who seeks to upset the progress of every believer. 1Peter 5:6-9