LAB117 Would a Sovereign God Ever Harm Us?
1 Peter 3:13
LAB117 Sovereign God May Harm Us for Ultimate Good
Published May 29th, 2016
Share / Groups / About Author

Phrase
editing
NT
1 Peter 3:13
esv
mine
Now
Therefore, following from 1 Peter 3:9-12
that if we want to enjoy life and see good days
we are to do good, love others
who is there to harm you
Need to take the broader context of the whole letter here.
There are plenty of people who would want to harm you.
See 1 Peter 2:12, 2:20-24, 3:9, 3:14.
if you are zealous
If you are zealous for doing good, you may still be harmed
for what is good?
But this is ultimately for your good, under the sovereignty of God, see 1 Peter 3:14
phrasing
Notes
Study Questions 1. Do you see any potential problems in 1 Peter 3:13 ? What do you think Peter means? One problem is that it could possibly be seen that no one would suffer for doing good, but one may suffer for doing righteousness (in next verse) The other is that rhetorically, no one would suffer for doing good. However, before and after this verse, Peter talks about suffering for doing good. 2. Now look at 1 Peter 2:20 and 4:19 (and their immediate contexts). How do those passages effect your understanding of 1 Peter 3:13 ? Both these verses rule out the first interpretation/answer above. 3. Based only on 1 Peter, can you determine whether God, in his sovereignty, allows Christians to suffer in this life? Yes, God in His sovereignty, according to His will, may allow Christians to suffer in this life, even if the Christian does good. This is so if it is better, for the person's good, for God to do so (1 Peter 3:17) Takeaway Take the entire context of a passage in mind when interpreting the text Love well and do good, in order to have God's eyes upon me. This may or may not include unjust response to my doing good.
notes