Session 4
1 Peter 2:11-17,21-25
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:16
Why should we live holy lives? The biblical answer to that question is long and lovely. In the immediate context of 1 Peter 2, the apostle stated that believers should pursue holiness because it’s God’s will. Broad and true. Yet there is more to Peter’s reasoning. By and large, holy living is often unobjectionable living. In Peter’s view, unbelievers were far less likely to cause Christians trouble if Christ followers’ behavior was admirable, even if it was controversial. In addition, such behavior could lead some to embrace the faith.
No less important is Peter’s expectation that holy living unites the church. In the genuine pursuit of holiness, everyone wins. As you dig into this session, reflect on what holiness looks like-or should look like-in your life each day. Ask God to help you reflect His holiness in your words, actions, and attitudes. Pray that the adults in your Bible study will recognize the importance of being holy because God is holy, as well.
When a pickup truck pulled out on the street, a van coming down the road was forced to make a sudden stop to avoid hitting it. The driver of the van, visibly angry, exited his vehicle, approached the truck driver, and began to berate him with some very direct words. A passenger in the van was forced to physically restrain the van driver and direct him back into the van. Only after offering some additional parting words did the driver return to the church van he was driving. (PSG, p. 37)
In the opening verses of 1 Peter 2, the apostle stressed believers’ identity as God’s own people, a holy nation called to proclaim His praises to the world (2:1-10). At the same time, Peter encouraged his readers to grow toward spiritual maturity. Such growth meant eliminating sinful elements of their lives, including malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These attitudes and behaviors destroy Christlike love within the community
of faith.
Perhaps the apostle remembered Jesus’s teaching by the Sea of Galilee following the resurrection. During that conversation Jesus commanded Peter to shepherd and feed His sheep (John 21:1-19). By providing guidance to the exiled Christians in Asia Minor, Peter was obeying that command. Believers would grow in spiritual maturity as they honored and studied God’s Word. It would strengthen them and transform them into “living stones” that Jesus could use to build His kingdom.
Peter’s initial application of the “good works” principle outlined in 2:11-12 involved his commentary on the Christian communities’ interactions with the Roman emperor and local governors. This principle emphasizes the importance of leading a holy life regardless of the reactions encountered within one’s social environment, particularly with government authorities.
Peter then extended this principle to address the dynamics between slaves and their masters (2:18-25), as well as husbands and wives (3:1-7). Throughout his discourse, Peter underscored the significant impact of holy living on those who observe believers on a daily basis. As Christ followers, our actions should align with Jesus. While that might run counter to the culture, believers have a responsibility to live with righteousness.
Peter noted the value of maintaining positive relationships with society through one’s choices. It would be harder for the world to bring legitimate charges against believers who consistently tried to do what was right. In addition, those outside the church could gain a respect for the actions and attitudes of believers as they saw Christians working for the benefit of the community.
Christians’ primary goal, Peter explained, is to draw people to the Savior. The world will never develop an interest in Jesus if His people are living for their own pleasures and agendas. Jesus said that by being lifted up, He would draw people to Himself (John 12:32). In the context of John’s Gospel, Christ was referring specifically to the impact of His crucifixion. However, a broader principle reminds contemporary readers that people still find Jesus appealing when His people exalt Him and offer an accurate reflection of Him.
Read 1 Peter 2:11-25 and circle every direct command in the verses. In what ways are these commands different from what the world might expect? (PSG, p. 38)
EXPLORE THE TEXT
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
(v. 11) Dear friends: Even though Peter likely had not met his readers, he still considered them dear friends. They were special to him because of the bond they shared in Christ. He felt their suffering as if it was his own. Likewise, Paul did not know the believers in Rome, but he held them close to his heart. He told them to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). Brothers and sisters in Christ are called to empathize with those who are suffering-just as we share in their joy.
The phrase strangers and exiles is yet another Old Testament allusion to Abraham’s reference to himself as just such things (Gen. 23:4). Just as Abraham had no home to bury his wife Sarah, Christians have no permanent home on earth. In addition, Psalm 90:10 alludes to life’s brevity on this earth, making us resident aliens in it. This, too, is an appropriate theme for Peter’s audience to ruminate on: they were like Abraham, and their circumstances would not last for eternity.
(v. 11) Abstain from sinful desires: Peter references the quite natural desires all human beings have that are contrary to life in the Spirit. As tempted as one might be to focus on particularly egregious immoral behavior, one must remember that things like envy and slander have been emphasized thus far in the letter. Lest one be tempted to take such sins lightly, Peter reminded us that they wage war against the soul. It is quite possible for people to be conquered by slander and envy, just as it is with substance abuse and pornography. The battle against one’s sinful desires is just that: a battle. To be indifferent to it is to be defeated by it.
(v. 12) Conduct yourselves honorably: In his letters, Peter used the word rendered conduct (anastrophe) to describe how Christians should live each day. Peter did not summon believers to a verbal campaign of self-defense or to the writing of tracts in which they defend their morality. He enjoined believers to live honorably, to pursue virtue. The Greek wording (kalen) suggests beauty and goodness. But the apostle was not referring to outward, physical beauty. Instead, he was challenging his readers to embrace a noble character and a clean conscience.
(v. 12) Observe: Peter assumed that Christians would be persecuted for their faith. He noted that the world would slander them, a word that in Greek implies evil intent. It suggests derision and hostility, and Peter had told the believers in Asia Minor to eliminate it from their own lives so they could grow in Christ (1 Pet. 2:1).
Instead, when they were accused, Peter wanted their lives to reflect Jesus. His encouragement to live in a way that emphasizes their good works toward others echoes Jesus’s words during the sermon on the mount (Matt. 5:16). This is what the culture would observe, and that would bring glory to God.
(v. 12) The day he visits: Peter consistently viewed life through the lens of eternity. For him, the motivation to live righteously also involved leading people toward their own personal relationship with Christ. The fact of Jesus’s return was established in Peter’s heart and in his worldview. As a result, he understood the potential witness believers could provide by living with integrity and holiness in the face of persecution.
Some scholars also suggest that Peter was reminding his readers that God would make all things right at the end. While the second coming will be a day of salvation for believers, it also will be a day of judgment for unbelievers. Standing before Christ, even those who accused believers falsely would be forced to acknowledge the rightness of Christians’ actions and the injustice of their own malicious words and deeds.
EXPLORE THE TEXT
13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
(v. 13) Submit: The Greek word means to make oneself subject to another or to place someone at a rank higher than oneself. While some interpreters believe submit (hypotagete) refers to showing respect or deference, it is stronger than that. In addition, other uses in the New Testament suggest a voluntary obedience (Luke 2:51; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 5:24; Jas. 4:7). Consistently, New Testament writers encourage believers to honor every human authority for the same reason Peter gives here: It is God’s will that we respect and obey them (v. 15; see Rom. 13:1-7).
Generally speaking, Christians have no reason to disobey earthly leaders. Yet, when earthly authorities compel Christians to disobey God’s will, believers must inevitably resist and submit to the Lord.
The Greek word translated authority in verse 13 can also mean “creature” or “creation.” Scholars suggest Peter was emphasizing that all earthly leaders are humans. Their exalted status could not change the fact that they, like Peter’s readers, were created by God and subject to His rule. This would have been important for Christians in Asia Minor, where the worship of the emperor as a god was common and even expected. So, while believers were called to honor the emperor because of his position (v. 17), they needed to reject any pressure to worship him as a deity.
(v. 15) Silence the ignorance: Peter’s reference to ignorance was not a reference to intellect, but to spiritual condition. Pagans criticize the One they do not know or understand, but the consistent good actions of Christians can lead unbelievers to question their own assumptions and worldview.
When Christians submit to governing authorities, people who would otherwise criticize or revile them may actually come to admire them-and possibly become believers too.
(v. 16) As free people: While there is no Greek verb in verse 16, some translations insert submit based on the context. Overall, the emphasis is on acting like free people in Christ. Because of the spiritual transformation Jesus is working in the lives of His people, they enjoy the freedom to submit to those who don’t have that same freedom. The tempting alternative would be to use one’s freedom as a cover-up for evil. However, freedom in Christ is not a license to sin (see Rom. 6:1-2).
(v. 17) Honor . . . love . . . fear . . . Honor: Peter bookended four imperative statements with a command to show honor to others. The word means to place value or to demonstrate personal esteem. The same root word is used at the beginning of verse 17. Because we are all human and all created in God’s image, everyone deserves respect, regardless of social rank.
The command to love the brothers and sisters highlights the fact that Christ followers share a unique bond in Him. The command to fear God stands in juxtaposition to honoring the emperor. As Jesus noted, it was appropriate to give Caesar his due, but that should never rob God of the worship and glory He deserves (Mark 12:13-17).
EXPLORE THE TEXT
21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
In verses 18-20, Peter gave a brief admonition to household slaves. Individuals could become slaves in many ways. Some were spoils of war or were born into the slavery of their parents. Others voluntarily submitted to servanthood/slavery to pay off debt or simply to survive. Some slaves lived a meager existence, while others enjoyed a broad education (maybe more than their masters) and a measure of prosperity. Regardless of their situation, though, slaves/servants had no legal rights and were subject to their masters.
Some have criticized New Testament writers for urging slaves/servants to honor their masters. However, since the practice of slavery was widespread across the Empire, the church’s best way to attack the institution was from within. As transformed slaves served well, God could use their witness to transform masters. If enough masters were transformed by Christ, society would start to view slavery in a different light.
(v. 21) Suffered: While many come to Christ looking for answers to their suffering, Peter pointed out that suffering for Christ is synonymous with following Christ. He noted that believers are called to follow Christ in His suffering (see Matt. 10:21-25; Phil. 3:7-11). There is no inheriting our final reward without it. Christ suffered for us, and we follow in his steps.
Suffering is not a sign of personal failure or God’s lack of sovereignty. On the contrary, it affirms these things. Jesus promised a cross to His followers (Mark 8:34). Our suffering validates our relationship with Him, and our endurance underscores His control of every circumstance.
(vv. 22-23) Did not commit sin: As a first-century Jewish man, Peter would have been familiar with the Old Testament messianic teachings, and he used them to elaborate on what Jesus experienced in His suffering. Pointing to Isaiah 53, the apostle reminded his readers about the Suffering Servant, a role that was fulfilled perfectly by Christ during His time on earth. In His suffering, Jesus did not commit sin of any kind. He was innocent of any crime before He suffered, and He maintained His perfect moral purity throughout His suffering. He never returned an insult, and He didn’t threaten His attackers. Instead, He trusted God and fulfilled the Father’s plan through His submission to suffering. In this way, Jesus provided the perfect example for Peter’s persecuted audience.
(v. 24) Live for righteousness: Jesus’s death accomplished forgiveness for all who believe. We have eternal life as a result of His suffering. Peter had highlighted this truth in chapter 1 to inspire persecuted Christians to persevere in their faith. Here, though, Peter emphasized how Jesus’s death empowers a righteous life in the present.
(v. 25) Shepherd and Overseer: The Old Testament prophet compared humans to sheep who go astray. Only the Lamb who died for us can rescue us from ourselves (Isa. 53:6-7). Thanks to Jesus, Christians are no longer lost sheep. Instead, they find comfort in the ultimate Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.
Each term reminds believers that Jesus holds authority over every aspect of our lives now and for eternity. By combining “shepherd” with “overseer” (episkopos), Peter emphasized that true power did not rest with the emperor or other government officials. It rests in Christ alone, the Head of His church (Col. 1:15-20).
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 45 of the Personal Study Guide:
Instruct the group to replace “believers” with “I” in these three statements. Invite adults to evaluate the degree their actions and attitudes bring glory to God. Challenge them to reflect on these statements during the coming week.
Guide the group to discuss the second set of questions on page 45 of the PSG. Spend a few minutes talking about the significance of the example Jesus set and how individuals can follow His example when dealing with opposition.
Close in prayer, thanking God for the provision of His Son for your sins so that you may live an abundant life both now and for eternity. Commit to living a life that reflects Christ in your actions and attitudes to bring glory and honor to God.
Reinforce the session by texting or emailing the group during the week and encouraging them to reflect on the three summary statements they personalized during the session. Challenge the group to personally apply these statements using the direct commands from Peter in their daily living. Invite them to share stories with the group of their experiences as a way to encourage one another in Christian living.
Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. (See Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2.)
Memorize a verse and apply it to a real-life situation.
Memorize Isaiah 53:6 in your preferred Bible translation. Then write the verse in your own words. Finally, write a couple of sentences here or in a journal, stating how the verse can affirm not only your forgiveness in Christ, but the power to live the righteous life Peter speaks of.