Hope in the Midst of Suffering - 1 Peter 2:18-3:7

Welcome to episode 104 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we begin our study in the Book of 1 Peter, covering chapter 2:18-3:7.  The series is called “Hope in the Midst of Suffering.”  Today, we will cover: 

• Slaves submit to masters – to receive a reward (vv. 18-20) 
• Slaves submit to masters – to imitate Christ (vv. 21-25) 
• Responsibilities of wives (3:1-6) 
• Responsibilities of husbands (v. 7) 

Key takeaways: 

• The New Testament nowhere commends slavery as a social structure. 
• Slaves who endure unjust suffering because of their relationship with God will be rewarded by God. 
• Suffering is not a detour by which believers receive the inheritance to which they were called. It is God’s appointed means for receiving the inheritance. 
• Believers triumph over evil because they trust that God will vindicate them and judge their enemies, putting everything right in the end. 
• In the household code, Peter concentrated on those in the relationship who have less power. 
• The New Testament was countercultural in promoting the equality of women. 

Quotable: 

• Differences in role or function do not cancel out equality.  Those who argue that a different function implies inequality betray a secular worldview that identifies worth with stature and the exercise of authority. 

Application: 

• If Jesus as the servant of the Lord did not sin or use guile, despite suffering intensely as the righteous one, then believers should follow his example and refrain from sinning or using deceit when they are mistreated as Christ’s disciples. 
• Husbands do not have the responsibility to ensure that wives submit to them. 
• The primary influence on husbands will not be the speech of wives but their godly behavior.   
• The good conduct of wives should stem from their relationship with God. Wives do not submit in order to satisfy a husband’s vanity or to promote his reputation. Neither do they submit to show how godly they are, nor to avoid conflict, nor to impress the neighbors, nor to manipulate their husbands, and not even because she thinks he is wise. She submits because of her relationship with and trust in God. 
• God does not bless with his favor those who are in positions of authority and abuse those who are under them by mistreating them. 

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