I Peter 5
Instructions to leaders of church: eldersverses 1-4
The elders which are among you I exhort – who am also an elder
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ
and also partaker of the glory that shall be revealed
Feed the flock of God which is among you
taking the oversight thereof – not by constraint
BUT willingly – not for filthy lucre
BUT of a ready mind
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage
BUT being examples to the flock
AND when the chief Shepherd shall appear
you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away
Young men submit to eldersverses 5-7
Likewise – you younger
submit yourselves to the elder
Yea – all of you be subject one to another – and be clothed with humility
for God resists the proud – and gives grace to the humble
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God
that HE may exalt you in due time
casting all your care upon HIM
for HE cares for you
Warning regarding true enemy: Satanverses 8-9
Be sober – be vigilant – BECAUSE your adversary the devil
as a roaring lion – walks about – seeking whom he may devour
Whom resist steadfast in the faith
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world
Suffering part of the Christian lifeverses 10-11
But the God of all grace
WHO has called us to HIS eternal glory by Christ Jesus
after that you have suffered a while – make you
perfect – stablish – strengthen – settle you
To HIM be glory and dominion for ever and ever AMEN
Peter writing to encourageverse 12
By Silvanus – a faithful brother to you – as I suppose
I have written briefly exhorting
and testifying that this is the true
grace of God wherein you stand
Peter sends greeting from churchverses 13-14
The church that is at Babylon – elected together with you
salutes you and so does Marcus my son
Greet you one another with a
kiss of charity
Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus
AMEN
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away. (2865 “you shall receive” [komizo] means provide for, bear, bring to, obtain, to get something often through one’s efforts or as compensation, or cause to experience)
DEVOTION: Peter is getting across the fact that there is going to be a time when Jesus Christ is going to return to collect all those who are followers of HIM. We don’t know the time when this is going to be happening but we know it is going to happen. It is because of this fact that we need to be watchful for HIS return.
When Christ appears to collect all believers, HE is also going to hold court regarding the judgment for rewards of those who are HIS followers. This court is called the Judgment Seat of Christ that will happen just after the Rapture of the church.
At this time period HE is going to have each believer stand before HIM to give them their rewards and crowns for their service to HIM. Those who have served as elders or pastors or leaders in the local church will receive a special crown that is only given to them for faithful service.
Remember that there are leaders/pastors/elders in some churches who will not receive this crown because they have not be faithful in following the LORD’S instructions found in this passage of Scripture.
There are pastor/elders/leaders who have not instructed those who are in their care properly. They have done it for money. They have lorded it over the flock the LORD has given them. They have not loved those who have been put under their care.
Many might be saved yet so as by fire or they might be part of the group that Jesus told that “I never knew you.” God is the final judge and everyone is going to stand before HIM either at this Judgment Seat or at the Great White Throne Judgment where all those who are not genuine believers will stand.
CHALLENGE: Just because someone is an elder in a church doesn’t mean that they are doing it for the right reason. Elders have to ask themselves if they are faithful to the LORD or to themselves.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. (1127 “vigilant” [gregoreuo] means watch, wake, stay alert, give strict attention to, be cautious, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly over take one)
DEVOTION: Our only true enemy is the devil and his angels. Our enemy is not a fellow believer. It may at times seem like we are fighting against those in leadership in our church. It may seem that one or more of the members of a local church are really the enemy but they are only under the influence of the enemy at times.
We have the responsibility to give grace to those who are fellow believers even if they seem to be doing the devil’s work in the church. I have had men say to me that they are just being the “devil’s advocate” in a given situation. They want to express the opposite view in any given situation. They think they are helping the discussion but they are really trying to hurt the work of the LORD.
Watch out for men who enjoy being someone who always seems to have an opposite view of what the church should do in a given situation.
Our real enemy likes to use even believers to get us down. He likes to see fighting among Christians. He likes to see people not serving the LORD for one reason or another.
We have to remind people that the LORD wants them to be a witness for HIM in the community. The LORD wants them to give to the local church to see the work of the LORD continue. The LORD commands them to be in church each Sunday to support others who might be struggling.
Church is to be a positive experience each Sunday. It should at times convict us of sin in our life. It should comfort us when we are struggling. It should be a place where we can go and have someone pray with us about what is happening in our life.
Our enemy doesn’t want us to have a positive experience when we gather together with believers. That is why he is called our enemy. He might win a few battles in our life but if we have Christ he will not win the war.
CHALLENGE: Be positive to other believers who might be under the influence of our enemy on any given Sunday or other days of the week. Help them to see who they are serving at the moment. We don’t need any “devil’s advocates” in the church.
: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. (1977 “casting” [epirrhipto] means to throw upon, place upon, stop worrying and trust, put responsibility on, or make responsibility for.)
DEVOTION: Peter wants the elders of the churches to FEED their flocks. This is not happening very much today. Too often there is more entertainment during a church service than there is the preaching of the Word of God with depth. The motive of the elders is also addressed by Peter. They are not to do it because of constraint or for money or because they can lord it over the people of God. He warns that they are going to answer to the chief Shepherd one day. Only those who do it according to Biblical way will receive a crown of glory.
Next he warns the younger believers to be subject to their elders. They are also to be subject to fellow believers. They are to be clothed with humility. He continues to instruct them to throw their concerns on the LORD. They are to give HIM all their circumstances and trust HIM to help them through them all.
Why? Because there is an enemy out there. That enemy is the devil and his army of fallen angels. The New Testament calls them “demons, evil angels, etc.
We are to resist the temptations that he throws our way. The world is tempting. The flesh is tempting. However, the devil seems to know our weaknesses and sends temptations our way.
Peter informs these believers that every believer that has ever lived has faced the same temptations. This will continue until the Great White Throne Judgment happens.
Most of us have things or individuals we care about in our daily lives. We tend to be people who are overly concerned about things. We tend to be overly concerned about the welfare of individuals we care about. Sometimes it gets to the point of worry. Worry is a sin. We like to call it concern but sometimes it is hard to distinguish between concern and worry.
Peter is telling us that we need to take these concerns to the LORD and leave them there with HIM. That is easier said than done. We are independent type individuals and think that we can do anything ourselves. This is the lie of Satan.
God wants us to depend on HIM for our daily needs and the care of our loved ones. It is hard to do that with our independent spirit. One of the things we realize is that we can’t save everyone. We would like too. We can’t stop our loved ones from being hurt but we would like too. God has the power to do both. HE can give more help than we can to our loved ones that are hurting. HE may direct us to help in some way but ultimately we need to turn our loved ones over to HIM. HE does care for us. We are HIS children if we are followers of HIM through Christ.
CHALLENGE: Realizing that suffering is part of God’s plan for our life and the life of those we love. HE is able to get us through every circumstance. Even when it is hard we need to turn each circumstance over to HIM.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (3958 “suffered” [pascho] means be vexed, undergo an experience, endure, passion, or be affected by.
DEVOTION: We have an opportunity to be saved by the grace of God alone. It is HIS offer of grace because of what Christ did on the cross that gives us the ability to spend eternity with HIM in heaven.
We don’t have the ability to save ourselves. We are sinners who are headed to eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels. Yet, God offered every human being grace to become a child of HIS through Christ.
Those who respond to the call of God to become followers will be giving eternal glory in heaven. It is again only through Christ that this is true.
Now that we have become a follower of Jesus Christ, HE is not finished with us yet. HE has a purpose for our life after we become a believer. HE wants us to undergo an experience of suffering like HIS Son, so that, we can me made more like HIS Son.
During these experiences after our becoming a follower of Christ we are going to mature in our faith. Suffering can either cause us to grow in the LORD or cause us to question God. HE wants us to grow. HE allows things in our life to help us to grow more Christ like, so that, our witness to others might be manifest to them.
The word “perfect” here doesn’t mean sinless but that we can mature in the faith. We will sin less because of our growth in the LORD. This will help establish our relationship with Christ and with other believers.
As we experience our times of trial, we will receive strength from the LORD to face whatever HE allows in our life. HE never sends more than we can take at any given time. It may seem like it is more than we can take but it isn’t. HE knows exactly how much we can take. HE is God.
Finally, we can be settled in our faith to the point that people can look at us and see a mature believer whom they can come to for advice in how to grow our life in HIM.
CHALLENGE: Growing in Christ is not easy but it is rewarding. Understand that God has a purpose for your life and that is to bring HIM glory.
:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, salute you; and so does Marcus my son. (5207 “son” [huios] means a son. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: John Mark (referred to as “Marcus” in this rendition of the KJV) was one of the early disciples. He was responsible for the second gospel, and this was likely due to the fact that he had a close relationship with Peter. His gospel was then written under the authority and research of Peter. Mark was evidently a cousin of Barnabas, and here Peter refers to Mark as his “son” (likely in the faith).
But he did not always have a consistent walk with God. We find in the second gospel the account of the young man who fled from the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:51-52), and most think that this was a self-description by Mark (since this pericope is not included in the other gospels). Furthermore, John Mark was chosen to accompany Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey (Acts 15:37-38), but had abandoned them when they encountered persecution in Pamphylia. This ultimately led to a split between Paul and Barnabas prior to Paul’s second missionary journey.
Thankfully, the story does not end there. Mark evidently was restored to fellowship, which resulted in his writing the second gospel, and Paul even forgave him and called him a valuable ministry worker (Colossians 4:10, 1 Timothy 6:10). What this proves that even when we stumble in the Christian life, God is about the business of restoration. No believer is at the point where God cannot revive him and use him in His ministry.
CHALLENGE: Do you feel as though you are washed out in serving Christ? You can decide now to renew your walk with the Lord and ask Him how He wants you to serve Him (no matter what you have done wrong in the past). God is in the business of using broken, cracked pots!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
I have writtenverse 12
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12
Flock of Godverse 2
God’s heritageverse 3
God resists the proudverse 5
God give grace to humbleverse 5
Mighty hand of God: humble selfverse 6
God exalts humble in due timeverse 6
God cares for believersverse 7
God of all graceverse 10
Dominion and gloryverse 10
Grace of Godverse 12
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 1, 10, 14
Sufferings of Christverse 1
Chief Shepherdverse 4
Jesusverses 10, 14
Christ Jesusverses 10, 14
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Adversaryverse 8
Devilverse 8
as roaring lion
walking
seeking whom he may devour
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Babylonverse 13
Church in
Elected together with others
Salutes other church
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Constraint to serve as elderverse 2
Filthy lucre or money reason for serviceverse 2
Lording over congregationverse 3
Proudverse 5
Keeping your caresverse 7
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Ready mindverse 2
Examplesverse 3
Crown of gloryverse 4
Submitverse 5
Subject to one anotherverse 5
Humilityverses 5, 6
Clothed with humilityverse 5
Grace to humbleverses 5, 6
Exaltverse 6
Casting caresverse 7
Soberverse 8
Vigilantverse 8
Resist Satan in the faithverse 9
Afflictionverse 9
Graceverses 10, 12
Calledverse 10
Suffered a whileverse 10
Perfectverse 10
Stablishverse 10
Strengthenverse 10
Settleverse 10
Stand within true grace of Godverse 12
Electedverse 13
Greet with kiss of charityverse 14
Peaceverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Eldersverse 1
Peter an elderverse 1
Peter: witness of the suffering of Christverse 1
Peter: partaker of the glory verse 1
Elder : Feed the flock of Godverse 2
Elder: oversight willingly not for moneyverse 2
Elder: ready mindverse 2
Elder: not lord over God’s heritageverse 3
Elder example to flockverse 3
Elder: crown of gloryverse 4
Younger believers submit to Eldersverse 5
Brethrenverse 9
Silvanus: faithful brotherverse 12
Exhortingverse 12
Testifying verse 12
Churchverse 13
Marcus – Peter’s son in faithverse 13
Greet one another with kiss of charityverse 14
Last Things (Future Events)
Christ’s glory shall be revealedverse 1
Eternal gloryverse 10
Dominion and glory for ever and eververse 11
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QUOTES regarding passage
12 Silas (or “Silvanus,” here Gr text has dia Silouanou [“with the help of Silvanus”]) is undoubtedly the same person as the one mentioned in Acts 15:22–33; 15:40–18:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1 (on Silas, Silouanos, see BAG, p. 758). As Selwyn says, “There is no reason for disputing the identity” (p. 10). If this is correct, Silas was one of the leading men in the early church. What help he gave Peter in writing this letter is uncertain. If he was the amanuensis, it would have been normal for him to have a significant part in writing. Sometimes the amanuensis took shorthand and at other times he used his own words to convey his employer’s message.
Peter says this letter is brief (di’ oligōn), and he characterizes it as exhortation and testimony (“encouraging you and testifying”). The reference to exhortation (parabaleō) reminds us of the commands for ethical living he has given his readers while the reference to testimony stresses the reliability of what he has borne witness to. His final exhortation “Stand fast in it” relates to the “grace of God,” which no Christian earns or merits but which all Christians are obligated to abide in. (Blum, E. A. (1981). 1 Peter. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 253). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
By Silvanus (δια Σιλουανου [dia Silouanou]). Probably this postscript (12 to 14) is in Peter’s own handwriting, as Paul did (2 Thess. 3:17f.; Gal. 6:11–18). If so, Silvanus (Silas) was the amanuensis and the bearer of the Epistle. As I account him (ὡς λογιζομαι [hōs logizomai]). Peter uses Paul’s phrase (1 Cor. 4:1; Rom. 8:18) in giving approval to Paul’s former companion (Acts 15:40). I have written (ἐγραψα [egrapsa]). Epistolary aorist applying to this Epistle as in 1 Cor. 5:11 (not 5:9); 1 Cor. 9:15; Gal. 6:11; Rom. 15:15; Philemon 19, 21. Briefly (δἰ ὀλιγων [di’ oligōn]). “By few words,” as Peter looked at it, certainly not a long letter in fact. Cf. Heb. 13:22. Testifying (ἐπιμαρτυρων [epimarturōn]). Present active participle of ἐπιμαρτυρεω [epimartureō], to bear witness to, old compound, here alone in N. T., though the double compound συνεπιμαρτυρεω [sunepimartureō] in Heb. 2:4. That this is the true grace of God (ταυτην εἰναι ἀληθη χαριν του θεου [tautēn einai alēthē charin tou theou]). Infinitive εἰναι [einai] in indirect assertion and accusative of general reference (ταυτην [tautēn]) and predicate accusative χαριν [charin]. Peter includes the whole of the Epistle by God’s grace (1:10) and obedience to the truth (John 1:17; Gal. 2:5; Col. 1:6). Stand ye fast therein (εἰς ἡν στητε [eis hēn stēte]). “In which (grace) take your stand” (ingressive aorist active imperative of ἱστημι [histēmi]). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Pe 5:12). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
5:12. As Paul often did at the close of his epistles, Peter may have penned these last verses himself. Silas served as Peter’s amanuensis (with the help of Silas … I have written to you), and probably personally delivered the letter to the churches of Asia Minor along the predetermined route specified in 1:1. This was probably the same Silas who accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40). In the words encouraging (parakalōn, “exhorting, appealing”; cf. 1 Peter 5:1) … and testifying (epimartyrōn, “bearing witness”), Peter summarized the purpose of his letter. He wrote to encourage Christians to endure persecution, to stand fast, so that the true grace of God (cf. 1:13; 4:10) would be evidenced to the unbelieving world. They were to “stand fast” in His grace (cf. 5:9). (Raymer, R. M. (1985). 1 Peter. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 857). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
First Peter is a letter of encouragement (1 Peter 5:12). We have noted that the theme of suffering runs throughout the letter, but so also does the theme of glory (see 1 Peter 1:7–8, 11, 21; 2:12; 4:11–16; 5:1, 4, 10–11). One of the encouragements that Peter gives suffering saints is the assurance that their suffering will one day be transformed into glory (1 Peter 1:6–7; 4:13–14; 5:10). This is possible only because the Saviour suffered for us and then entered into His glory (1 Peter 1:11; 5:1). The sufferings of Christ are mentioned often in this letter (1 Peter 1:11; 3:18; 4:1, 13; 5:1).
Peter is preeminently the apostle of hope, as Paul is the apostle of faith and John of love. As believers, we have a “living hope” because we trust a living Christ (1 Peter 1:3). This hope enables us to keep our minds under control and “hope to the end” (1 Peter 1:13) when Jesus shall return. We must not be ashamed of our hope but be ready to explain and defend it (1 Peter 3:15). Like Sarah, Christian wives can hope in God (1 Peter 3:5, where “trusted” should be translated “hoped”). Since suffering brings glory, and because Jesus is coming again, we can indeed be hopeful!
But suffering does not automatically bring glory to God and blessing to God’s people. Some believers have fainted and fallen in times of trial and have brought shame to the name of Christ. It is only when we depend on the grace of God that we can glorify God in times of suffering. Peter also emphasized God’s grace in this letter. “I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it” (1 Peter 5:12, niv).
The word “grace” is used in every chapter of 1 Peter: 1:2, 10, 13; 2:19 (“thankworthy”), 20 (“acceptable”); 3:7; 4:10; 5:5, 10, 12. Grace is God’s generous favor to undeserving sinners and needy saints. When we depend on God’s grace, we can endure suffering and turn trials into triumphs. It is grace alone that saves us (Eph. 2:8–10). God’s grace can give us strength in times of trial (2 Cor. 12:1–10). Grace enables us to serve God in spite of difficulties (1 Cor. 15:9–10). Whatever begins with God’s grace will always lead to glory (Ps. 84:11; 1 Peter 5:10).
As we study 1 Peter, we will see how the three themes of suffering, grace, and glory unite to form an encouraging message for believers experiencing times of trial and persecution. These themes are summarized in 1 Peter 5:10, a verse we would do well to memorize.
The cynical editor and writer H.L. Mencken once defined hope as “a pathological belief in the occurrence of the impossible.” But that definition does not agree with the New Testament meaning of the word. True Christian hope is more than “hope so.” It is confident assurance of future glory and blessing.
An Old Testament believer called God “the Hope of Israel” (Jer. 14:8). A New Testament believer affirms that Jesus Christ is his hope (1 Tim. 1:1; see Col. 1:27). The unsaved sinner is “without hope” (Eph. 2:12); and if he dies without Christ, he will be hopeless forever. The Italian poet, Dante, in his Divine Comedy, put this inscription over the world of the dead: “Abandon all hope, you who enter here!”
This confident hope gives us the encouragement and enablement we need for daily living. It does not put us in a rocking chair where we complacently await the return of Jesus Christ. Instead, it puts us in the marketplace, on the battlefield, where we keep on going when the burdens are heavy and the battles are hard. Hope is not a sedative; it is a shot of adrenaline, a blood transfusion. Like an anchor, our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life (Heb. 6:18–19); but unlike an anchor, our hope moves us forward, it does not hold us back.
It is not difficult to follow Peter’s train of thought. Everything begins with salvation, our personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. If we know Christ as Saviour, then we have hope! If we have hope, then we can walk in holiness and in harmony. There should be no problem submitting to those around us in society, the home, and the church family. Salvation and submission are preparation for suffering; but if we focus on Christ, we can overcome and God will transform suffering into glory. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 390–391). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
In verse 12 Peter mentions the name of his amanuensis, Silvanus, whom Peter regarded as a faithful brother to them and to himself. He may be the same Silas, or Silvanus, who accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey; or he may have been another of the same, not uncommon, name. The theme of the entire Epistle is here declared to be “the true grace of God wherein ye stand.” As intimated in our introduction, while these words are much like those of Paul in Romans 5:2, “This grace wherein we stand,” the meaning is different. Paul writes of our standing in grace before God; Peter testifies to the power of grace which enables us to stand in the hour of trial, neither giving place to the devil nor disheartened by suffering and persecution. There are abundant stores of grace from which we may draw freely for strength to meet every emergency as we pursue our pilgrim way.
This Letter was written at Babylon, which Romanists claim was pagan Rome, but it seems more likely it was, as the Nestorian Church has held from the beginning, Babylon on the Euphrates, where many Jews dwelt to whom Peter ministered; or as the Coptic Church holds, with apparently less evidence, a new Babylon in Egypt, near to the present city of Cairo. Wherever it was, the church there joined Peter in salutations to the scattered Christians throughout Asia Minor. Mark, too, participated in this. He is identical with the John Mark who was the companion for a time of Paul and Barnabas, and who, though unfaithful at first, became accredited later to Paul’s own satisfaction (2 Tim. 4:11). According to some very early writers Mark accompanied Peter in later years and wrote his Gospel in collaboration with the venerable apostle, under the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
The Epistle closes with a benediction quite different from those which bring Paul’s letters to an end. Paul always wrote of grace: Peter bids the saints greet one another with a kiss of love, and prays that peace may be with all that are in Christ Jesus. These three final words are significant. We ordinarily think of them as characteristic of Paul’s writings. He uses the expressions “in Christ” and “in Christ Jesus” with great frequency. Peter joins with Paul in speaking of the saints in this blessed relationship. They are no longer in the flesh or in Adam; they are new by new birth and the gift of the indwelling Spirit in Christ Jesus, and so a new creation. (Ironside, H. A. (1947). Expository notes on the Epistles of Peter. (pp. 60–62). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
Ver. 12. By Sylvanus, a faithful brother unto you, &c.] Sylvanus is the same with Silas, so often mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, as a companion of the Apostle Paul; whom Peter met with in his travels, and sent this letter by him, or used him as his amanuensis, or both: his character is, that he was a faithful brother to those persons to whom this epistle is written; that is, he was a faithful minister of the Gospel to them, who with great sincerity and integrity preached the word unto them, as the apostle was well informed, and had reason to believe; for what follows, as I suppose, does not suggest any doubt of it, but, on the contrary, a firm belief; for the word used signifies to repute, to reckon, to conclude a thing upon the best and strongest reasons; though some connect this phrase, as that also unto you, with the following clause, I have written briefly; as does the Syriac version, which renders the whole thus, these few things, as I think, I have written unto you, by Sylvanus, a faithful brother; and then the sense is, this short epistle, as in my opinion it is, I have wrote and sent to you by Sylvanus, who is faithful and upright, as a brother, a minister, and a messenger. The Arabic version seems to refer the above clause, as I suppose, neither to the character of Sylvanus, nor to the brevity of the epistle, but to the matter of it, rendering it thus, these things, in a few words, I have written unto you, according to my sense; according to my judgment and reason, as I think, by which you will see and know my real sentiments and thoughts of things; for what I have written is according to the best of my understanding and knowledge: exhorting, and testifying, that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand; or have stood, and still continue to do so: the Syriac version renders it, I am persuaded and testify; expressing his great confidence and assurance, that the Gospel of the grace of God, which springs from the grace of God, is full of it, and declares it, and which he had delivered in this epistle, and they had formerly received, and had stood fast in, and abode by, was the true Gospel. The Arabic version gives another sense, rendering the words thus, entreating and beseeching, that this grace of God, in which ye stand, may be true and firm; that is, that ye may still continue truly to embrace and profess it, and firmly abide by it; though the meaning rather is, that the apostle bears a testimony to the truth of the Gospel, and of the Christian religion, as held and professed by them with constancy hitherto; and exhorts them unto the consideration of the truth of it, which might be depended upon, to cleave unto it with full purpose of heart. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 582). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
— 1 Peter 5:7
It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel—“he careth for me.” Christian! do not dishonour religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to him but as the small dust of the balance. Nothing is so sweet as to
“Lie passive in God’s hands,
And know no will but his.”
O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in his providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, his heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of his family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not his grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that he loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, he has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.)
These differences can result in conflict as our opinions differ from others within the church. As a result, prayer that aligns our will with the will of God. Prayer is the means by which God moves in our lives to rise above our petty differences and focus our attention on the direction that God has given.
(p. 91, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
The people pledge their allegiance to Joshua’s leadership.
INSIGHT
The genius of God’s moral code is that everything He requires of us is for our own good. When we violate His code of life, we suffer harmful consequences.
Joshua’s success is dependent upon not deviating from God’s Law. God instructs Joshua to meditate on the Law day and night so “that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it” (1:8). When Joshua does according “to all that is written in it,” then “[he] will make your way prosperous, and then [he] will have good success.”
Anything less than obedience to God is not only disappointing to Him-it is self-destructive. There is more than one reason for faithfulness to His Word. (Quiet Walk)
NO OTHER PERSON
There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
The New Testament says that the most important question that we must face is that of Jesus Christ; for, it tells us, our life in this world here and now, the whole meaning of death, and indeed our life throughout eternity depends entirely and solely upon our answer to this question: “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” The New Testament does not hesitate to say that. Listen to the apostle Peter saying it unequivocally in one of his first recorded sermons: “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)—this name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now that is a dogmatic assertion, I agree, but there is no more dogmatic book in the world than the New Testament. It never comes and says, “You have read many other books and been interested in their theories—now read me and see what you make of me. Perhaps you will find me more interesting than the others.” No; rather, it makes a definite pronouncement. Here, it tells us, is the only way for men and women to know God and to be reconciled to Him. Here is the only way whereby they can be delivered from the thralldom and the serfdom of life in this world and from its sin and its evil. Here is the only way whereby they can be delivered forever from the fear of death and the grave. And here, says the New Testament, is the one and only way in which men and women can avoid spending eternity in a state of misery and wretchedness and torment. That is its statement, nothing less. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). It is one or the other; everything is dependent upon this person.
A Thought to Ponder: There is no more dogmatic book in the world than the New Testament.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 12-13, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Inherit the Wind
“He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.” (Proverbs 11:29)
This verse was selected to provide the title for one of the most widely distributed movies ever produced in Hollywood. Inherit the Wind was a black-and-white movie produced in 1960 starring Spencer Tracy as the famous atheist lawyer Clarence Darrow. The theme of the picture was the Scopes evolution trial held in Tennessee in 1925. The picture glorified Darrow and evolutionism, portraying creationists and Bible-believing Christians as fanatical buffoons.
Although the movie grossly distorted history, it has continued all these years to be shown over and over. The Scopes trial itself—in the absence of any real scientific evidence for evolution— is repeatedly rehashed in print by evolutionists in their zeal to destroy creationism. This is typical of the “profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20) to which evolutionists resort in lieu of evidence.
As far as the Scripture verse itself is concerned, it should serve rather as a sober warning to those evolutionary humanists who are still troubling our nation’s homes and schools and churches with this false and deadly doctrine of evolution. They are the ones who will inherit the wind. “The ungodly…are like the chaff which the wind driveth away” (Psalm 1:4). They are the ones who, “professing themselves to be wise,” became fools (Romans 1:22), “who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator” (Romans 1:25).
It is the one who proclaims “no God” who is “the fool” (Psalm 53:1) of our text. Evolutionists, humanists, atheists, and other anti-biblicists will inherit nothing but wind, but “the wise shall inherit glory” (Proverbs 3:35).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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