This week’s section is central to our understanding of the entire letter and for understanding how we are to live honorable lives in dishonorable times. Peter focuses our attention on living honorably before unbelievers and before other believers.
1 Peter 2:11-12 is the pivotal passage in 1 Peter so it might be helpful to see it in several different English translations.
(ESV) Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
(GNB) I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and refugees in this world! Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against the soul. Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognize your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of his coming.
(HCSB) Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation.
(TNIV) Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1. When you are wronged, are you more likely to let it go, fight for your rights or get even?
2. Check out how the phrase “day of visitation” is used in the Old Testament: Isaiah 10:3; Jeremiah 27:22. Check out how this phrase is used in the New Testament: Luke 1:68; Luke 7:16; Luke 19:44. How does the visitation/return/judgment of God effect your perspective on the evil done by others? Does is give you comfort? How does it make you think and feel about your own destiny? How does it make you think and feel about what will happen to oppressors?
3. The word Submit (1 Peter 2:13) is a military term meaning “to arrange in military fashion under the commander,” “to put oneself in an attitude of submission.” See how this theme of humble submission is found in Proverbs 24:21; Jeremiah 29:4-14; Matthew 22:21; 1 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 10:32-34. Compare Peter’s exhortation to the Apostle Paul’s message to the Christians living in Rome found in Romans 12, Romans 13:1-10. How do you generally react to commands to obey? What factors contribute to your response when others exercise authority over you?
4. In relation to suffering, 1 Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called.” What is your reaction to this?
5. How can Christ’s example (1 Peter 2:21-23) help you when you are mistreated? Beyond his example, what benefits has Christ’s suffering produced (1 Peter 2:24-25)?
