Recap

So far in 1 Peter, we've read through Peter's teachings on the believers' new identity in Jesus and started what it means to live as an exile. In 1 Peter, Simon-Peter addressed Gentile Christians in Asia Minor facing persecution.

He described them as “exiles,” likening their situation to the Jewish exile, living as foreigners in a culture that opposed their faith. He urged them to embrace their identity as a holy nation, distinct from the world but pointing others toward God.

Believers were reminded they were chosen by God, sanctified by the Spirit, and born again into a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection. Though they faced trials, their faith secured an eternal inheritance, giving them reason to rejoice. Even without seeing Jesus, they loved him and held firm to the promise of eternal salvation, shaped by the tension of present struggles and future hope.

Peter connected their salvation to the Old Testament prophets, who foretold the coming of a suffering messiah. He emphasised that this salvation was revealed through both prophets and apostles, all guided by the Holy Spirit, grounding their faith in God’s eternal plan.

As God’s people, Peter called them to live holy lives, reflecting his character. He described them as living stones, being built into a spiritual house with Jesus as the cornerstone. As a royal priesthood, they were tasked with showing God’s light to the world through humility, love, and service.

Peter urged them to live honourably among non-believers, submitting to authorities and enduring persecution with humility. Even slaves were encouraged to bear unjust suffering, following Christ’s example of enduring suffering to bring salvation. By persevering in faith and living counter-culturally, they could inspire others to glorify God. Peter was encouraging them to embrace their identity as exiles, living as witnesses to God’s greater kingdom.

1 Peter 3-5

Carrying on with his recommendations for living as spiritual exiles in a foreign land, Peter now turns to wives. Like Paul, Peter encourages wives to be obedient and faithful to their husbands. This is particularly the case if their husbands aren’t believers, as this obedience might lead husband to find Jesus for themselves.

As we said with Paul, Peter is likely speaking into the culture and context of the time. As it was accepted that men were heads of the household and held the authority, this was the way that wives should live in context.

Women should also not rely on external things, like the way they did their hair or the clothes and jewellery that they wore, to show their worth and value. Instead, they should seek to show off the internal beauty that God is developing inside them. Peter then points to the example of women who were faithful and obedient in the Old Testament.

In the same way, men should love their wives, acknowledging that there is a power difference in the relationship. Husbands should not abuse that power difference, but instead honouring their wives, recognising they too are loved by God and are heirs into this heavenly inheritance. Peter even suggests that husbands who don’t do this will be hindering their own prayers.

Again, as we mentioned when reading Paul, the parallels that can be drawn today are the putting one another first in marriages. Showing difference when appropriate, and loving one another even if it means at time limiting personal freedoms and rights.

Peter then broadens it out again to talk to believers generally. Believers should pursue unity, loving one another by showing sympathy, tenderness, and humility. Whenever someone abuses you, don’t fight back, but bless them.

He then quotes Psalm 34:12-16 to show his point. The life that comes from God requires guarding one’s tongue and keeping it from evil and trouble. It involves turning away from evil and doing what is right, seeking peace in al things. If the believers will do this, then God will hear their prayers.

Peter points out that in an ideal world, if believers respond do evil with good, then people are less likely to persecute them further. But even if they do, those who suffer for what is right will be blessed.

Believers are playing a different game, so they don’t need to fear persecution as others might. Instead, the focus of believers should be honouring Jesus as Lord, and being able to point to that whenever anyone demands a reason for how they live and the hope they have. This should be done with gentleness.

Again, Jesus was willing to suffer to do what was right. His suffering on behalf of wicked people meant that believers could now come before God.

Peter then makes a weird claim that after dying, Jesus “went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:19-20).

Historically, some have claimed this means that after his death, Jesus went into hades, the underworld, to find all the faithful in the Old Testament and lead them to salvation. However, in modern times, this view has been rejected by most scholars.

Instead, most scholars read the reference to Noah as a references to the sons of God and over spiritual beings in Genesis 6. These are the spiritual beings who have set themselves up against God and have since been bound and are being punished. In other words, after dying, Jesus went down to these spiritual enemies and declared that he has won a victory over them.

The ideas is that, in the same way, when believers are being persecuted for doing good they are able to declare over the spiritual forces of darkness that they are winning a victory over them. These spiritual forces cannot crush the hope of Jesus inside of them, nor can they get believers to turn from it.

Peter continues to riff of the references to Genesis 6 and Noah. Just as God sent a flood to do away with the spiritual rebellion and deliver Noah, believers now have baptism, which is their death to spiritual rebellion and deliverance into life through Jesus.

Therefore, if Jesus was willing to be persecuted and die to defat the powers of evil, so should believers be willing to suffer and live their early life for God’s will.

This means avoiding how they used to live, led by drunkenness and debauchery. That was how they used to live, and their Gentile friends will be confused why they no longer do that, and even attack and accuse them. Ultimately, their old friends will one day have to give an account for how they live, so believers should seek to do God’s will rather than get revenge or judgement.

Peter warns that Jesus’ return is soon and so believers should focus on developing discipline. They should be shaped by love being hospitable and good stewards of all that God has given them. Everything they do and say should be done and said as though it was for Jesus himself.

He then moves back to suffering. Believers should not be surprised if they face persecution or opposition. It is to be expected. Instead, they should rejoice because they are participating in Jesus and his sufferings. When people persecute them, they are blessed because God’s spirit is with them.

But that doesn’t mean persecution in itself is the end goal. For example, many Christians today go out of their way to antagonise non-Christians, and then when they face pushback, they claim they were justified because they were facing persecution.

Peter warns against this, specifically saying to make sure none of them suffer because they are breaking laws or being trouble makers. They should suffer only for doing right. Peter warns that believers will face some sort of judgement for how they live, so don’t let persecution trick you into thinking that what you’re doing must be right. It may be that you are doing wrong and people are reacting to that. Suffering should be weighed up on whether the way of life of the believer is in line with God’s will.

Next, Peter switches to leaders in the church. As an elder himself, Peter encourages elders to shepherd their congregations with humility, not by being domineering. They should not lord their position over other believers, but instead set a better example of living. If they do this, they will be rewarded in heaven.

In the same way, believers should submit to their leaders, practising humility, not pride. Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34, saying “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5).

Therefore, believers should be humble. If they are anxious about the sufferings they are facing, they should bring this to God, and they should be disciplined in their behaviour. Peter describes the devil as prowling around looking to devour believers, which is similar to God’s warning to Cain in Genesis 4:7.

They should resist the devil, and encourage themselves that they are part of a family of believers are facing similar sufferings across the world. They may suffer now, but God will strengthen and restore them.

Finally, Peter closes his letter with final greetings and encouragement to stand fast in God.

1 Peter is an encouragement to all believers to view themselves as exiles in a foreign land. They are no longer part of this culture, but distinct from it. The response then is not to go back and become part of the culture again, nor is to fight and overthrow the culture with violence and rebellion.

Instead, it is to be like the Jews in Babylon. To live honourable lives of resistance through godly living. This may lead to suffering and persecution, but that response should be to continue in loving well. The hope is that this godly living transforms the community you live in, but if nothing else, it transforms you and purifies you in your faith. That is 1 Peter.

Psalm 32

This psalm is attributed to king David and falls into the category of thanksgiving, though it could also be considered a wisdom psalm.

The main focus of the psalm is the psalmist thanking God for how good it is when we confess our sins. However, it could be argued that, more than that, it is meant to be a psalm of wisdom to us, telling us to confess our sins.

Psalm 32:1-2 - Blessed are those whose sin is removed

Psalm 32:3-5 - A personal testimony or repentance

Psalm 32:6-7 - Those who don’t hide their sin can hide in the Lord

Psalm 32:8-9 - Yahweh will teach his people

Psalm 32:10-11 - The upright are glad and rejoice in the Lord

The psalm starts with the declaration that blessed are those who sins are forgiven, and no longer counted by God. The psalmist shares their experience with not confessing their sin. It was like their very bones were wasting away. They could almost feel the weight of God pressing down on them.

So the psalmist confessed their sin. They no longer tried to ‘cover’ it. Because of this, God forgave them of their sin. When we compare Psalm 32:1 and Psalm 32:5, we can see that when we make the choice not to cover or hide our sin, God covers it for us.

Reflecting on this, the psalmist then encourages everyone who is holy to confess their sin. The ‘great waters’, which we know embodies all that is chaotic, will not overcome those who confess to the Lord.

For those that don’t hide their sin, God will be a hiding place for them. He will preserve and keep them.

The psalm then changes perspective, as though God has entered the conversation. God leans in and tells the psalmist, or the reader, that he will and instruct and teach them.

This teaching won’t be a simple ‘do this, don’t do that’ like someone who leads a stubborn mule or hose. It will be a wisdom that allows you to understand what you do and make good decisions.

Returning to the psalmist, the psalm now ends in praise. The sins of the wicked will bring sorrow on their head, but the Lord is faithful and loving to those who trust in him and confess their sins to him. He will be a source of joy to him.

From this psalm, we learn the importance of repentance. While it might be tempting to try to hide our sin from God, we can trust him with our mistakes and he will lead us into righteousness and joy.