Phrase

NT

1 Peter 3:8-9

esv

Finally, all of you, have

A. unity of mind,

Means - internal qualities

B. sympathy,

C. brotherly love,

B1. a tender heart,

A1. and a humble mind.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling,

but on the contrary,

bless,

Main Point

for to this you were called,

Ground/basis

that you may obtain a blessing.

Motivation

Summary

1. Because a blessing

is promised

2. And God

has called me

3. I can pursue

these internal qualities

assured that God will enable me

4. in order that

I am able

to bless when reviled

Could this be a chaistic structure? Mind Feeling Love Feeling Mind

phrasing

notes

Main point summary

Blessing those who revile requires the call, means and work of God

Discourse

editing

1 Peter 3:8-9

na28

Τὸ δὲ τέλος πάντες ὁμόφρονες, συμπαθεῖς, φιλάδελφοι, εὔσπλαγχνοι, ταπεινόφρονες,

Finally, all of you, u have unity of mind, sympathy, v brotherly love, w a tender heart, and x a humble mind.

μὴ ἀποδιδόντες κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ ἢ λοιδορίαν ἀντὶ λοιδορίας,

y Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling,

τοὐναντίον δὲ εὐλογοῦντες

but on the contrary, z bless ,

negativepositive

actionpurpose

ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε

for a to this you were called,

ground

ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε.

that you may obtain a blessing.

na28

discourse

Notes

Study Questions 1. Do your best to divide 1 Peter 3:8–9 into individual lines or propositions (look for unique complete thoughts). We will be looking at the relationships between the individual lines in order to identify the main point. Look at the phrasing and arc above to see the breakdown. 2. Look at the first half of 1 Peter 2:9 . Try and explain the relationship between the first line (“Do not repay . . .”) and the second line (“. . . but on the contrary”). These are contrasting statements, the first negative, the second positive. 3. Now try and explain the relationship between those two lines (the first half of 1 Peter 3:9 ) and the next line (“for to this you were called”). How does what comes after the “for” relate to what comes before? The "for" indicates that it is the ground, the basis for why we are to do what the first half of 3:9 tells us, that is not to return evil for evil, reviling for reviling. But to bless when we are reviled. 4. Now relate all of that to the last line (“that you may obtain a blessing”). How does what comes after the “that” explain what comes before? The "that" indicates the promise, the reward, the motivation that comes from God. So when we bless while being reviled, we are motivated by, assured by receiving a blessing from God. 5. Based on all the work you have done, what would you say is Peter’s main point in these two verses? Peter's main point in this passage is for us to bless when we are reviled. 6. First, define each of the five key terms in 1 Peter 3:8 . How would you describe each and distinguish them from one another? Unity of mind: having the same attitude, mindset Sympathy: to feel with Brotherly love: a family affection Tender heart: feeling deep down for. . . Humble heart mind: a lowly mindset I wonder if these could be seen in a chiastic structure, a poetic frame that helps to understand the list better. So we might have A. Mind - unity B. Feeling - to feel with the suffering of others C. Love - for fellow believers B1. Feeling - feeling deeply for others A1. Mind - humility If this is the case, then perhaps love is the highest, most central part of this list. With having the same, humble mind, and sympathy and deep feelings for another, as the elements that contribute to this love. 7. Second, identify any relationships between the five terms in meaning. What significance might this set and their order have? In other words, why would Perter choose these five and order them like he does? A similar and lowly mindset: these bookend the list, and suggests that these two qualities are the foundation of the list, and are inter-related in meaning Sympathy and tender heart - feeling with and for others Brotherly love is in the middle This list suggests Peter's concern that the overall internal makeup of a person needs complete rebuilding Could this be a chiastic structure? 8. If someone asked you how to do obey commands to feel , what would you say? And where would you turn in the Bible? If you have time, read through 1 Peter looking for help with this question (John finds five practical principles in 1 Peter alone). From Dr Piper Repenting: admit that we are not the list in v.8. 1 Peter 3:10-11 Resort to Christ, 1 Peter 2:4, 2:24 to be forgiven and to be healed. This leads to tenderness Relish what Christ offers, the goodness of God 1 Peter 2:2-3 Reque st : 1 Peter 3:14 for God to change me Resolve: 1 Peter 3:9 to do what is good,even if it is baby tiny steps 9. Explain what “this” refers to in 1 Peter 3:9 . Can you identify more than one option? If so, defend your position in the context. The first option is that "this" is defined by the following proposition, i.e. the blessing The evidence for the first option is 1 Peter 5:10 God calls us to a future glory, inheritance, i.e. blessing the second option is that "this"is defined by what came before, that is not to repay evil for evil, but to bless when reviled so that I would inherit the blessing The evidence for the second option is 1 Peter 2:20-23: we are called to do good while suffering, and Christ being reviled. 10. Now, read 1 Peter 2:20–24 and 1 Peter 5:10 . How does that clarify or change your response to the first question? Peter's reference to calling is more likely related to 2:20-24. Also see 1 Peter 3:10-12 11. If we are called to bless those who revile us “that” or “in order that” we may inherit a blessing ( 1 Peter 3:9 ), how is that not works-based righteousness? What other texts in 1 Peter teach against a works-based understanding of our inheritance? see 1 Peter 1:3-4 -- We first receive mercy through new birth and resurrection, and the inheritance is received by mercy, not works 1 Peter 1:22 -- We are to bless, because we have been born again. We are to bless to show that we have received mercy, been born again. Not to earn an inheritance, which cannot be earned by definition anyway. Takeaway I will be unable to not revile when reviled, not return evil for evil, nor to bless when reviled, unless I know that God has called me, and promised me a blessing, and that He is able to change me from the inside out - to have a unified, lowly mindset, to feel for and with others, and to ultimately love well. When I do bless when reviled, it is a sign of the changes in my life that come from a merciful God