Category: 1 Peter - Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry

1 Peter 1:3-9 - Lectionary for Simon and Jude

10/13/2021

10/13/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

I don't like the times of trial. They are a pain! The apostle Paul knew this pain, as did those he wrote to. Christians in every age have endured trials. No, we don't like them.

1 Peter 3:6 describes us as rejoicing, even though we have been grieved by our trials. Our rejoicing comes not through avoiding trials but through knowledge that Jesus, risen from the dead, has proven victorious over trials. He has won the eternal battle. He will care for his people in that eternal battle.

Verse seven describes the true Christian faith as "more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire" (ESV). Even something very enduring in earthly standards will fail. But faith in Jesus, the eternal Lord, will never fail. We can rejoice in him even during the worst trial!

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 3:17-22 - Lectionary for Holy Saturday

4/13/2021

4/13/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

We all suffer in one way or another. Yes, I know. This is a Christian blog. I'm supposed to write about our victory and how Jesus has made everything right. There's no more suffering, is there?

To say that would be to tell a lie about the very nature of the world. We all suffer. Our Epistle reading, from 1 Peter 3:17-22, describes how God in Christ redeems that suffering.

Peter tells us it is better to suffer due to good than due to evil. If I do evil, then I suffer because of it, I get to spend the time of suffering blaming myself. I got what I deserved.

Christ, on the other hand, suffered due to evil, but not his own evil. His suffering was brought on by our sin. This throws a whole new light on the suffering. It shows it as something to be endured for the good of someone else. When we suffer for doing good, we are suffering as a result of other people's evil. It is a deeply Christlike thing to do.

Am I saying that Christians should deliberately place themselves in danger and try to provoke suffering at the hands of others? Possibly, but it depends on the nature of the suffering.

Some of our suffering is relatively light, but very common. Do we face criticism in our work due to other people's hang-ups? Do we return home from work exhausted or sore? Do we go out of our way to help others? These are small, common, and godly types of suffering. We don't want to brag, and we will certainly endure ridicule if we tell people our stiff neck from working in front of the computer screen all day is martyrdom for Christ. Yet we are doing well when we lay down our lives for others, doing the thins our neighbors need.

Jesus laid his life down, in a radical way, which killed him. He did it for the sins of the world. If we suffer, in small orgreat ways, may it be in the service of Jesus, not of ourselves.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 2:21-24 - Lectionary for Monday in Holy Week

3/24/2021

3/24/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Jesus paid it all. That's great!! So there's nothing I need to do?

Not to earn your salvation. Jesus has completed everything you and I or anyone in the world needs for salvation. That's settled.

In my work among people from non-Christian cultures, and even from those who have been exposed to Christianity extensively, a recurring theme is the idea that religions, and especially Christianity, are moral and ethical codes. Follow the rules and everything will work out all right.

Christianity is no kind of a moral code. The Gospel is a proclamation of a gift of God, provided for all who believe, freely. There are no strings attached. None at all. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, period.

However, even while we proclaim this, we recognize that the Christian religion does lay claims on those who are called by Jesus' name. This is the content of our Epistle reading from 1 Peter 2. Jesus has done some things for you, priceless things. You can never repay them. However, he does call his people to follow in his steps, taking his example.

Peter mentions some specifics that should characterize our lives as we try to emulate Jesus' example. He spoke the truth. When he was reviled and insulted, he didn't revile and insult in return. Rather, he trusted that God was able to guard him He committed no sin, but lived in righteousness. We are also to die to sin and live to righteousness.

Most of these characteristics are difficult to measure. What does it mean to die to sin? It's hard to see what an attitude that considers sinning something not worth doing will result in. But we can predict that it will be result in a life spent serving others' needs rather than our own desires. Likewise, trust in God will leave us not trying to depend on our own intelligence, diligence, or natural abilities. Sure, we'll use those things, but we use them as resources that God has given us, not as our own possessions.

The Christian life, then, is pretty complex. It has a lot of nuance to it. We live for God and for the world he has given himself to redeem. We consider ourselves as his servants, his instruments, his people who walk in the ways that he would walk.

Again, this is not a moral or ethical code that we would follow so as to be justified. He has taken care of that. We live out a moral and ethical life to follow in his footsteps. We do it for his sake, knowing that he is the Lord who has rescued us from all the trials we could bring upon ourselves by depending on ourselves. It lets God in Christ be the savior.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 3:8-15 - Lectionary for Trinity 5

7/8/2020

7/8/20
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

In 1 Peter 3:13 the apostle asks, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” (ESV). Actually, there are plenty of people ready to bring harm on those who are zealous for what is good. It’s a tragically widespread issue. Our Western society these days seems to have long waiting lines of people, eager to engage in hate and to show anger. They call what is evil good and what is good evil, then they attack anyone who pursues truth, beauty, and goodness. It’s sad.

Even if that hatred and abuse is poured out on us, though, we can know that the Lord is good. We don’t fear those who would persecute us for righteousness’ sake. We know that Jesus is the holy Lord and that he has given us a living and eternal hope.

What is our calling, in light of this passage? We are called to do good, to hope in what is good, and to realize that all good centers in Jesus, the savior of the world. He is the holy one in whom we find the hope of the resurrection to eternal life. Nobody can take that away from us.

In light of that knowledge, also, we guard our tongues and pursue peace, as we read in verses 10-11. This is for the good of our neighbor, as it shows the hope of the Christian even in this lost and evil world. Will there be opposition? Certainly, but we can know that Jesus has overcome his opponents and leads the way to eternity.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 4:7-14 - Lectionary for Easter 7

5/20/2020

5/20/20
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

1 Peter 4:10-11 tells us to use the various gifts of God appropriately. Then, oddly enough, Peter gives us only two gifts as examples. Yet they are strong examples, which may well encapsulate all that we do. Let’s look at them.

First, the one who speaks should be “as the one who speaks oracles of God.” In whatever we speak, we should desire to be certain. We speak with confidence. We strive for accuracy and relevance. Among all the useless chatter of our age, which has been prevalent in every age, Chrsitians speak as those who know what God has said. We speak of reality, even when that reality is unseen. And, like the early Christians, we make efforts not to obscure meaning in the ramblings of the pagans and philosophers, but to cut directly to the truth. This applies to all our speech. Through those words we can bring refreshment and hope to those around us.

Second, the one who serves, does it by the strenth Christ supplies. Jesus, who rose from the dead, will raise us as well. Jesus, who cared for the poor and needy while he himself was walking around with just the clothes on his back, helps us care for the poor and needy as well. Jesus, who understands all the intricacies of our world of work, supplies us with wisdom and understanding to navigate that world. Jesus, who knows how to preserve life, enables us to preserve life as well. Jesus, who knows how all the rhythms of this world work, gives us a rhythm of work and of rest.

In the end, we find our life is shown to others in word and in deed, the two elements Peter has identified as gifts of God. When those gifts are used in subjection to the Lord, they prove of great benefit to our entire world.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 2:21-25 - Lectionary for Easter 3

4/22/2020

4/22/20
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

In the part of the theological world where I live, that is, in historically confessional Lutheranism, we’re often oddly shy about God’s demands to live a holy life. If I try to put the best possible construction on it, an application from Luther’s catechism, I’ll say it is because we want to be sure nobody thinks that Christianity is at heart a moral system or that we could ever do enough good to earn God’s favor. Yet our Epistle reading for this week, from 1 Peter 2:21-25, very clearly says that Christians do, in at least some way, consider Jesus an example. We are supposed to try to act the way Jesus did, and to cultivate the attitudes Jesus had. Granted, we won’t ever be able to do that perfectly, but that doesn’t exempt us from pursuit of a godly life.

What, specifically, does Peter call Christians to do? Avoid sin. Don’t speak deceit. Don’t return insult for insult.When suffering, trust God to bring justice. Remember we are dead to sin and that we live to righteousness.

That’s a remarkably simple list. Then again, how in the world are we going to do the things on it? Especially the thing about deceit, because the easiest way to do all the others is to trick ourselves and others into thinking we are doing just fine. We don’t have the freedom to explain away all these issues.

We are, however, told right at the end of the passage how to deal with those pesky demands of God. We have returned to the Shepherd, Jesus, who will stop us from straying and keep us on the right path. Once again, we can’t do it ourselves. But Jesus can do it in us. Do we trust that Jesus’ will to set us free from sin and death extends to his desire to change our lives? Do we trust that his promise of forgiveness also applies to the times when we know what is sin and we walk right into it? He is the one who corrects, who forgives, and who guides his people. Yes, we grow in grace. We also grow in our understanding of his forgiveness.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter

8/23/2018

Thursdays are for the New Testament
8/23/18
Carson, D.A., and Douglas Moo An Introduction to the New Testament - Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. "New Testament Letters" Carson & Moo pp. 331-353
“1 Peter” Carson & Moo pp. 636-653.

Peter’s first epistle is to Christians in Asia Minor, addressing suffering. p. 636 “Unlike Paul, who often develops a theological point before applying it, Peter mixes imperative and indicative almost from the beginning of the letter.” In fact, he generally opens paragraphs with a command, then brings in theological details to support the command.

One of the controversial passages in the text is chapter 3 verses 18-22, where some find Jesus’ descent into Hades after the resurrection but some find Christ prior to the incarnation preaching through Noah.

Carson and Moo do not claim to know what kind of suffering the Christians who received the letter were suffering, but it is clear that their suffering is the occasion for the letter. Knowing what the suffering was might point us more clearly to a time and place of composition and a more specific recipient.

1 Peter depends heavily on traditional material. It quotes the Old Testament eight times, alludes to it often, and is full of Old Testament concepts. This points some scholars toward early composition of the letter. The letter seems to be a cohesive whole, with few scholars suggesting any division in the authorship. Early testimony affirms the author to be Peter. If the reference to “Babylon” in 5:13 is to Rome, and if that is a reference to the place of authorship, the date of the letter is likely in the mid 60s, though many scholars suggest Peter was in Rome much of the time after the year 42.

In recent study scholars have suggested the existence of a Petrine “school” which would have written this book after the death of Peter. Another area of scholarship is to analyze the way 1 Peter uses the Old Testament to communicate to the believers. A third area of scholarship focuses on the possible social status of the readers. 1 Peter is very helpful in its focus on the hope Christians can have in their risen Lord and by knowing they belong to the historic people of God. The book’s high Christology points to Jesus as the hope we have always had.

1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 - Lectionary for Easter 7A

5/24/2017

5/24/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our reading from 1 Peter 4 and 5 this week brings a much-needed corrective into modern Christianity. There are many who would suggest that the Christian, the true Christian, will not endure suffering. This is an attactive message. We would like to live a godly life which is victorious in every sense of the word. We expect eternal life and a resurrection. This is certainly true. But we also seem to expect that we will not endure the kind of suffering that Jesus did.

Peter points out to us that when we are suffering we are put in a position to understand Jesus. When we suffer we are reminded of our dependence on God. When we suffer we are reminded of the nature of our enemy, Satan, who would seek every opportunity to harm us.

Are we going to suffer in this life? Certainly. It is by God’s grace that we have times which are not filled with suffering. What is our response then? We look to the Lord, the author of our salvation, who has endured every trial and temptation that we ever will. Jesus alone has gone through suffering without sin. He alone is able to sustain us through all the trials of this life. And this is his great promise. So we don’t despair when life hurts. We look to God in hope.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us

1 Peter 3:13-22 - Lectionary for Easter 6A

5/17/2017

5/17/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle this week, from 1 Peter 3:13-22, is one of the more challenging passages in the New Testament. The first few verses are challenging mentally and spiritually. In verses 13-17 we are encouraged that we should be committed to the good. Normally we won’t receive harm for doing good, but if we do, at least we have a clear conscience. Most of us will go to fairly great lengths to avoid trouble. However, we do need to realize that suffering will come in this life, at least sometimes.

Verses 18-22 are challenging on an entirely different level. The describe Jesus’ work to bring us to God. So far, so good. But what is he doing when he “proclaimed to the spirits in prison?” Most people have taken this to be a commentary on what Jesus was doing between the time he died and was raised from the dead. Many have suggested that this is akin to the work of a victorious general taking a tour through conquered territory, pointing out to all the inhabitants that he is, in fact, victorious. Because Jesus’ work to atone for sin was complete on the cross, he was not descending into the underworld to make futher payment for sin.

The work of Jesus has a parallel in baptism. It is a washing, a cleansing. Peter says it is not a regular washing, with water removing dirt, but that it speaks before God that we are raised from death by faith in Christ. It is the fulfillment of God’s work to save the world through Noah. Baptism, then, rescues from death, carrying the believer through the deadly waters. It is greater than the worldwide flood, for it rescues people forever. As we consider our baptism, then, we recognize and confess that it is God’s work to rescue us from sin and death. It is not our work at all. God is taking the physical element of water and applying it to us, in conjunction with his Word, bringing forgiveness and life.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 2:2-10 - Lectionary for Easter 5A

5/10/2017

5/10/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

1 Peter 2:2-10 boldly proclaims Jesus as the cornerstone of a “living house” in which Christians are the building stones. For those who believe, he is the one on whom we can build safely. For those who do not believe, he is the one who causes tripping and falling.

What does it mean to be a living building made of living stones? For one thing, we realize that in some significant ways all Christ’s people are different from one another. We are not identical. We are individuals. Yet, as different as we are, we are all living stones. We grow where we are. We become strong because of the nourishment we get from Jesus and even from one another, as we encourage each other. Over time we find exactly the place we are supposed to be in the wall. We grow strong together.

Are all Christians going to have the same roles? Not at all. But we are all contributing to the very same building, a temple of praise to the one true Lord. This is our hope in this life and for eternity.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 2:19-25 - Lectionary for Easter 4A

5/3/2017

5/3/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our epistle reading for this week is from 1 Peter 2:19-25. Christians often endure hardship. That’s no surprise. All kinds of people in this world will suffer. It’s one of the natural outcomes of a world in which there is sin. owever, Peter distinguishes between two types of suffering. On the one hand, there are times when we do something wrong and we suffer for it. Peter’s response to that situation is that it serves us right. We had suffering coming to us. Our wrongdoing can reap its normal consequence.

What about when we didn’t do anything wrong and we suffer anyway? While some Christian groups would encourage us to continue to pray so that God will reveal our wrongdoing, most Christians recognize that we are not living in a world which has corresponding reward and punishment. We may suffer despite doing nothing wrong. We do not need to be morbidly introspective. Rather, we ask the Lord to show us if he is calling us to repentance. If he doesn’t reveal anything to us through careful consideration of His Word, we realize that we are living in a sin-cursed world. It includes suffering.

Peter then points us to the way Jesus endured suffering on our behalf. Though he had no sin, he didn’t complain or try to escape. He endured, patiently, knowing tht in the last day all would be put to rights. This is an important instruction to the Christian. When we are suffering, we are to seek to be like Jesus. As we are conformed to his image during times of hardship we find it easier to rejoice in his presence during times of comfort. Jesus himself calls us together in him, a place of perfect safety.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 1:17-25 - Lectionary for Easter 3A

4/26/2017

4/26/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

We are often reminded that salvation is by grace through faith. How are Christians judged by God? In light of Christ’s righteousness. However, our Epistle for this week, 1 Peter 1:17-25, speaks of God judging each person according to his own deeds. It is impartial judgment. Yet it is according to the Christians’ actions. How do we reconcile this with thei dea of salvation by grace through faith?

Very simply, if the Christian is ransomed from sin and death by the death of Christ, when God makes judgment it is based on the character of Christ the redeemer. We are judged by our deeds when God considers whether we are living consistently as those who have been rescued by Christ. Yes, we are obligated by his mercy to do the kind of good deeds he would do. That isn’t in question. But we have been redeemed from sin and death. We are free to engage in the works of life.

Do Christians still sin and fail to live the live God has appointed for them? We certainly do. But we realize that our ransom has been paid. Our life is ideally to be taken up in doing the works of Jesus. When we fail we are moved to repentance and forgiveness. When we do well, truth be told, we become proud of ourselves and are moved to repentance and forgiveness. In all this, God, the impartial judge, looks at his children as children who need to be led into the right paths. He nurtures us through Word and Sacrament so we gradually grow into the Christian faith.

As Peter observes toward the end of the passage, our flesh is withering like grass. It will perish. Its deeds will not last either. But God’s word of mercy and grace endures forever. This is our great hope.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 1:3-9 - Lectionary for Easter 2A

4/19/2017

4/19/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

The Christian life is centered on the hope of the resurrection. This is the message of 1 Peter 1:3-9. By God’s mercy, his people are born anew. They can hpe in the resurrection. As Jesus rose from the dead, we also can expect to rise from the dead. As Jesus’ co-heirs, we have the same kind of heavenly inheritance that Jesus does.

With such promises we would expect that the Christian would never suffer. But that is not the case. Suffering continues in this world. Yet, in verses 6-7 the suffering takes on a purpose. It is intended to solidify our faith. It demonstrates that our faith is genuine. This should create confidence in Christians. We have not had the opportunity to see Jesus face to face. We are trusting that accounts of all he said and did are true. We trust that the questions we needed to ask have been asked.

Faith in work we cannot see is difficult. It tests us. We prefer to see absolutely convincing evidence ourselves. We like to be the experts. That isn’t what God gives us. He is the one who presents himself as the reliable witness. He has shown to be reliable in other ways. We trust that he is in matters of salvation as well.

Through faith in Jesus, then, the Christian has a living hope which is complete and good. This is more than we could ever devise ourselves. Thanks be to God for his salvation.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.