1Peter 

1 Peter

 

​WHEN SUFFERING TESTS YOUR FAITH

​

You're scattered. Foreigners. Exiles. Living in a culture that doesn't understand you, doesn't accept you, and increasingly, doesn't tolerate you.

 

You believed in Jesus. You thought life would get better. Instead, it got harder. Your neighbours mock you. Your family rejects you. Your employer discriminates against you. The government suspects you. Society labels you as troublemakers.

 

You're suffering. Not because you did anything wrong. Because you're following Christ.

 

And you're wondering: is this normal? Did I do something to deserve this? How am I supposed to respond? How long will this last? Is it worth it?

 

Peter writes to answer those questions. He's writing to believers scattered throughout Asia Minor, facing persecution and suffering. They're aliens and strangers in this world. And Peter wants to encourage them, instruct them, and prepare them for suffering.

 

First Peter is about living as a Christian in a hostile world. It's about suffering well. Hoping confidently. Living holy lives. Submitting to authorities. Loving the church. Trusting God's purposes even when life is hard.

 

Peter doesn't promise the suffering will end soon. He doesn't offer quick fixes or easy answers. But he does point them to the living hope they have because of Jesus' resurrection. He reminds them that suffering is temporary. Glory is eternal. And God is sovereignly working through everything.

 

If you're suffering for following Jesus, if you feel like an exile in this world, if you're wondering how to respond to hostility, read 1 Peter. Peter will encourage you to stand firm, hope in God, and see suffering as refining fire that proves genuine faith.

 

A note before we begin:

First Peter is five chapters of encouragement and instruction for suffering believers. This summary covers the major themes, but Peter's pastoral care and theological depth deserve your full attention. After this overview, open your Bible and read all five chapters of 1 Peter yourself. Let Peter's words strengthen you to suffer well.

 

A Living Hope

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writes to God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who've been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

 

Peter writes to God's elect, scattered exiles. Chosen by the Father. Sanctified by the Spirit. Obedient to Jesus Christ.

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that's ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

Praise God. He's given us new birth into a living hope. Through Jesus' resurrection. Into an inheritance that never perishes, spoils, or fades. Kept in heaven for you. You're shielded by God's power through faith.

 

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little whilst you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

 

Rejoice. Even though you suffer grief in trials. These trials prove your faith is genuine. More valuable than gold. Will result in praise, glory, honour when Jesus is revealed.

 

Though you've not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you don't see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you're receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

 

You haven't seen Jesus. But you love Him. You believe in Him. You're filled with inexpressible joy. You're receiving salvation.

 

Concerning this salvation, the prophets searched intently. They prophesied about the grace that was to come to you. The Spirit of Christ in them predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you.

 

The prophets searched for this salvation. They predicted Christ's sufferings and glories. They were serving you.

 

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, don't conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it's written: be holy, because I am holy.

 

Set your hope on grace. Don't conform to evil desires. Be holy in all you do. Because God is holy.

 

Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it wasn't with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

 

Live as foreigners in reverent fear. You were redeemed not with silver or gold, but with Christ's precious blood.

 

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

 

Christ was chosen before creation. Revealed for your sake. Through Him you believe in God. Your faith and hope are in God.

 

Now that you've purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you've been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

 

Love one another deeply. You've been born again through God's living word.

 

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you've tasted that the Lord is good.

 

Rid yourselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander. Crave spiritual milk. Grow up in salvation.

 

As you come to Him, the living Stone, rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 

You're living stones being built into a spiritual house. A holy priesthood.

 

See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who don't believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.

 

Jesus is the precious cornerstone. To believers, He's precious. To unbelievers, He's a stumbling stone.

 

But you're a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you're the people of God; once you'd not received mercy, but now you've received mercy.

 

You're chosen. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. God's special possession. Called out of darkness into light.

 

Living Godly Lives Amongst Pagans

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives amongst 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.

 

You're foreigners and exiles. Abstain from sinful desires. Live good lives amongst pagans. So they see your good deeds and glorify God.

 

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it's God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but don't use your freedom as a cover up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.

 

Submit to human authority. The emperor. Governors. It's God's will that by doing good you silence foolish talk. Live as free people, but as God's slaves. Respect everyone. Love believers. Fear God. Honour the emperor.

 

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it's commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they're conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

 

Slaves should submit to masters, even harsh ones. It's commendable to bear up under unjust suffering because you're conscious of God. If you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable.

 

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He didn't retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you've been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you've returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 

You were called to this. Christ suffered for you. He left an example. He didn't sin. When insulted, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats. He entrusted Himself to God. He bore our sins. By His wounds you've been healed.

 

Wives and Husbands

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them don't believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty shouldn't come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

 

Wives should submit to husbands. If the husband doesn't believe, he may be won by the wife's behaviour. Beauty shouldn't come from outward adornment, but from inner self. A gentle and quiet spirit.

 

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You're her daughters if you do what is right and don't give way to fear.

 

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

 

Husbands should be considerate. Treat wives with respect. They're co heirs. So nothing hinders prayers.

 

Suffering for Doing Good

Finally, all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Don't repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

 

Be like minded. Sympathetic. Loving. Compassionate. Humble. Don't repay evil with evil. Repay evil with blessing.

 

For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

 

Keep your tongue from evil. Turn from evil. Do good. Seek peace. The Lord's eyes are on the righteous.

 

Who is going to harm you if you're eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you're blessed. Don't fear their threats; don't be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

 

Even if you suffer for doing right, you're blessed. Don't fear. Revere Christ as Lord. Be prepared to give an answer for your hope. With gentleness and respect. Keep a clear conscience.

 

For it's better, if it's God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

 

It's better to suffer for doing good than evil. Christ suffered once for sins. The righteous for the unrighteous. To bring you to God.

 

Living for God

Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they don't live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

 

Arm yourself with the same attitude as Christ. Whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. Live for God's will, not human desires.

 

For you've spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They're surprised that you don't join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they'll have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

 

You've spent enough time doing what pagans do. They're surprised you don't join them. They abuse you. But they'll give account to God.

 

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you've received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

 

The end is near. Be alert. Be sober. Pray. Love deeply. Love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality. Use your gifts to serve.

 

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Speak God's words. Serve with God's strength. So God is praised.

 

Suffering for Being a Christian

Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal that's come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you're insulted because of the name of Christ, you're blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

 

Don't be surprised at suffering. It's testing you. Rejoice that you participate in Christ's sufferings. When His glory is revealed, you'll be overjoyed. If you're insulted for Christ's name, you're blessed. The Spirit of glory rests on you.

 

If you suffer, it shouldn't be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, don't be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it's time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who don't obey the gospel of God?

 

If you suffer, don't suffer as a criminal. If you suffer as a Christian, don't be ashamed. Praise God. Judgment begins with God's household.

 

And, if it's hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

 

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

 

Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator. Continue doing good.

 

To the Elders and the Flock

To the elders amongst you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: be shepherds of God's flock that's under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you're willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you'll receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

 

Elders should shepherd God's flock. Not because they must, but willingly. Not for dishonest gain, but eager to serve. Not lording it over people, but being examples. When the Chief Shepherd appears, you'll receive the crown of glory.

 

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.

 

Younger people should submit to elders. Everyone should clothe themselves with humility. God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.

 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

 

Humble yourself under God's hand. He'll lift you up. Cast all your anxiety on Him. He cares for you.

 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

 

Be alert. The devil prowls like a roaring lion. Resist him. Stand firm. Believers worldwide are suffering the same way.

 

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you've suffered a little whilst, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

God called you to eternal glory. After you've suffered a little while, He'll restore you. Make you strong, firm, steadfast.

 

Final Greetings

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I've written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

 

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.

 

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

 

What This Means for You

First Peter is about living as a Christian in a hostile world. Peter encourages suffering believers to stand firm, hope in God, and see suffering as refining fire that proves genuine faith.

 

Here's what 1 Peter teaches you:

You have a living hope through Jesus' resurrection. An inheritance that never perishes. Kept in heaven for you.

 

Trials prove your faith is genuine. More valuable than gold. Will result in praise, glory, honour when Jesus is revealed.

 

Be holy in all you do. Because God is holy.

 

You're foreigners and exiles. Live good lives so pagans see your good deeds and glorify God.

 

Submit to human authority. It's God's will that by doing good you silence foolish talk.

 

Christ suffered for you, leaving an example. When insulted, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats.

 

Don't repay evil with evil. Repay evil with blessing.

 

Be prepared to give an answer for your hope. With gentleness and respect.

 

Don't be surprised at suffering. Rejoice that you participate in Christ's sufferings. If you're insulted for Christ's name, you're blessed.

 

Cast all your anxiety on God. He cares for you.

 

Resist the devil. Stand firm in faith. Believers worldwide are suffering the same way.

 

After you've suffered a little while, God will restore you. Make you strong, firm, steadfast.

 

Your Next Steps

First Peter challenges you to suffer well, hope confidently, and live holy lives in a hostile world.

 

Are you surprised at suffering? Don't be. It's testing you. Rejoice that you participate in Christ's sufferings.

 

Are you living as a foreigner and exile? Or trying to fit in with the world? Live good lives so pagans glorify God.

 

Are you repaying evil with evil? Or repaying evil with blessing? You're called to bless.

 

Are you prepared to give an answer for your hope? With gentleness and respect?

 

Are you casting your anxiety on God? Or carrying it yourself? He cares for you.

 

Are you standing firm? Or giving in to fear? Resist the devil. Stand firm in faith.

 

Read It Yourself

This summary covers 1 Peter's major themes, but Peter's pastoral encouragement and practical instructions deserve your full attention. First Peter is five chapters of hope for suffering believers.

 

Don't just read about 1 Peter. Read 1 Peter. Open your Bible and read all five chapters. Let Peter's words strengthen you to suffer well. Let his encouragement fill you with hope.

 

Suffering Is Temporary, Glory Is Eternal

That's the message of 1 Peter. You're suffering now. For a little while. But glory is coming.

 

Your faith is being proved genuine. More valuable than gold. You're participating in Christ's sufferings. When His glory is revealed, you'll be overjoyed.

 

God will restore you. Make you strong, firm, steadfast.

 

Stand fast in the true grace of God.

 

 

Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer