Meditation

When reading this passage recently, the phrase 'have no fear of them, nor be troubled' caught my attention. I had to confess that, for as long as I could remember, obedience to this command had not characterised my life. Instead, fear and worry, even at a low level, regularly held sway over my heart. The question came to mind: what should displace fear? Instead of being fearful, Peter says, give Christ primary place in your affections. I noticed that this is not just palliative advice for stress management. No, Christ is Lord. He is the rightful master and king. The proper thing for the Christian to do - in fact, the proper thing for all people to do - is to esteem and reverence Jesus Christ, who is king, above all else. But there is more. We do this, Peter says, by remembering our hope and being poised to explain it to those who ask. We must have this hope in us - it must be real to us - and in such a way that we can clearly articulate it. We must regularly call it to mind ( 1 Peter 1:13 ). So what is this hope? What do we call to mind? Peter explained in 1 Peter 1:3-5. God, in his great mercy, he has born us anew, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, into a living hope - an imperishable inheritance - that is guarded for us in heaven. Also in 1 Peter 2:24-25, we see that Jesus bore our sins, and by his wounds we are now restored into relationship with God. We have a current confidence, and we look forward to an eternity with our Creator and Redeemer. So what should replace fear? Confident hope - an emotion - fuelled through knowledge - truth - that Jesus Christ is King, that he bore my sin to restore me to God, and that he has secured for me an eternal imperishable heavenly inheritance. P.S. It's also interesting that the topic of good works comes into view on both sides of these verses. Our hope should find expression through a desire to do good to our neighbour, including in being considerate and respectful in all our discussions with them. See also Titus 3:1-8 .

notes

1450511514809 Meditation 1452008068 1452009529 When reading this passage recently, the phrase 'have no fear of them, nor be troubled' caught my attention. I had to confess that, for as long as I could remember, obedience to this command had not characterised my life. Instead, fear and worry, even at a low level, regularly held sway over my heart. The question came to mind: what should displace fear? Instead of being fearful, Peter says, give Christ primary place in your affections. I noticed that this is not just palliative advice for stress management. No, Christ is Lord. He is the rightful master and king. The proper thing for the Christian to do - in fact, the proper thing for all people to do - is to esteem and reverence Jesus Christ, who is king, above all else. But there is more. We do this, Peter says, by remembering our hope and being poised to explain it to those who ask. We must have this hope in us - it must be real to us - and in such a way that we can clearly articulate it. We must regularly call it to mind ( 1 Peter 1:13 ). So what is this hope? What do we call to mind? Peter explained in 1 Peter 1:3-5. God, in his great mercy, he has born us anew, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, into a living hope - an imperishable inheritance - that is guarded for us in heaven. Also in 1 Peter 2:24-25, we see that Jesus bore our sins, and by his wounds we are now restored into relationship with God. We have a current confidence, and we look forward to an eternity with our Creator and Redeemer. So what should replace fear? Confident hope - an emotion - fuelled through knowledge - truth - that Jesus Christ is King, that he bore my sin to restore me to God, and that he has secured for me an eternal imperishable heavenly inheritance. P.S. It's also interesting that the topic of good works comes into view on both sides of these verses. Our hope should find expression through a desire to do good to our neighbour, including in being considerate and respectful in all our discussions with them. See also Titus 3:1-8 . notes 11452008068828

Arc

editing

NT

1 Peter 3:13-16

esv

mine

Now c who is there to harm you

No one should seek to harm you

if you are zealous for what is good?

because you are intent on doing good.

ground

d But even if you should suffer

Nevertheless , even if you do suffer harm

for righteousness’ sake,

because of doing what is right

you will be blessed.

then God will take care of you.

conditional

concessive

e Have no fear of them,

And so , have no fear of those that would harm you

f nor be troubled,

that is , don't be concerned at all,

ideaexplanation

but g in your hearts

instead , in your very inner being,

honor Christ

put Christ first,

the Lord as holy,

he is the real king, and he is holy

actionmanner

h always

by always

being prepared

being ready

to make a defense

in order to give an answer

to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope

when anyone asks you to explain the hope

that is in you;

that is , the hope they observe in you;

temporal

actionpurpose

yet do it with gentleness and i respect,

and do this with ( by ) all reasonableness and respect

j having a good conscience,

keeping your conscience clear

series

so that, k when you are slandered,

so that , when the accusations come

those who revile your good behavior in Christ

those who detest your Christ motivated actions

may be put to shame.

will be ashamed.

actionresult

negativepositive

inference

Don't fear, but hold Christ the King as first place in your heart. Keep him as the basis of your hope, and when people see this and ask you, tell them, with gentleness.

discourse

1450511514809 Arc 1450511544 1452008094 editing NT 60 3 13 3 16 1 Peter 3:13-16 esv mine Now c who is there to harm you No one should seek to harm you i1 if you are zealous for what is good? because you are intent on doing good. i6 i21 ground 1 d But even if you should suffer Nevertheless , even if you do suffer harm i2 for righteousness’ sake, because of doing what is right i7 i22 ground 1 you will be blessed. then God will take care of you. i8 i23 conditional 2 i24 concessive 2 e Have no fear of them, And so , have no fear of those that would harm you i9 f nor be troubled, that is , don't be concerned at all, i10 i25 ideaexplanation 1 but g in your hearts instead , in your very inner being, i3 honor Christ put Christ first, i50 the Lord as holy, he is the real king, and he is holy i59 i60 ideaexplanation 1 i27 actionmanner 1 2 h always by always i11 being prepared being ready i28 to make a defense in order to give an answer i32 to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope when anyone asks you to explain the hope i14 that is in you; that is , the hope they observe in you; i64 i65 ideaexplanation 1 i38 temporal 1 i39 actionpurpose 1 i43 temporal 1 2 i61 actionmanner 1 yet do it with gentleness and i respect, and do this with ( by ) all reasonableness and respect i16 j having a good conscience, keeping your conscience clear i4 i41 series so that, k when you are slandered, so that , when the accusations come i17 those who revile your good behavior in Christ those who detest your Christ motivated actions i18 may be put to shame. will be ashamed. i57 i58 actionresult 2 i42 1 2 temporal i36 actionpurpose 2 i26 actionmanner 1 i45 negativepositive 2 i48 inference 2 Don't fear, but hold Christ the King as first place in your heart. Keep him as the basis of your hope, and when people see this and ask you, tell them, with gentleness. 1 1 1 1 70 70 esv 1 mine 1 a 2 discourse 11450511544060