Harmony and Humility

Peter’s Admonition to the Church

Here Peter goes on to describe another aspect of life as a believer. He signifies that he is changing topics from that of one, a proper respect for Government, two, the submission of a servant and three, the mutual roles within the marriage to a fourth outgrowth of our salvation - unity and love among believers and a demonstration of good behavior to those outside the church.

Peter begins with a series of five adjectives and it is understood that he is speaking to the church and encouraging them to live in such a way that these five attributes are true in their lives

We would term them either Live ---- or Be -----

And it seems that Peter arranges them in a parallel fashion that builds up to the climax of brotherly love - a literary device called a chiasm. So we would look at it like this:

1, 2 Peter, Jude (5) Conclusion: Live a Godly Life (3:8–12)

A Harmony

B Sympathy

C Brotherly Love

B´ Compassion

A´ Humility

1, 2 Peter, Jude (5) Conclusion: Live a Godly Life (3:8–12)

Harmony and humility belong together, for the primary means by which harmony is disrupted is pride and self-assertion. Sympathy and compassion are closely related and even hard to distinguish from each other. Brotherly love is the middle term, showing that it is the most important of all the virtues and that the other virtues are embraced in the call to love one another as a family.

1 Peter 3:8 KJV 1900

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Live Unified

Peter uses the term of being of one mind - this does not mean we have to think the same way, but it does mean that we need to understand each other’s viewpoint and align our viewpoints with that of the Bible - in that way, we will be unified in our outlook upon life and the church

Live in Sympathy

1 Peter 3:8 KJV 1900

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

The KJV uses the term compassion here, but it is the word that we commonly translate as sympathy - that of feeling and caring deeply about the needs of others

1 Corinthians 12:25 KJV 1900

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

1 Corinthians 12:26 KJV 1900

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Live in Brotherly Love

This is the Greek word from which the city of Philadelphia got its name - the city of brotherly love. However, that city is not known for its love anymore, but violence.

However, Peter as we mentioned earlier emphasized this quality by placing it at the center or fulcrum of the passage.

Each of the other qualities is encompassed in this brotherly love.

Live with Compassion

Peter uses a word here that is translated in various ways, but its major English meaning is that of an inner feeling of kindness and compassion.

Colossians 3:12 KJV 1900

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

This is also exemplified in Eph 4.32 as we forgive others - tender heartedness

Ephesians 4:32 KJV 1900

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Live Humbly

Conflict inevitably comes in relationships when I feel that my rights have been violated. A humility of Spirit - that of taking on the model of Jesus Christ will enable me to live humbly and in brotherly love with other believers.

Philippians 2:5 KJV 1900

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:6 KJV 1900

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:7 KJV 1900

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Peter’s Advice about the World

1 Peter 3:9 KJV 1900

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Peter here reminds the believers that the best way to live is to let God take vengeance and judgement - not us.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV 1900

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Luke 6:28 KJV 1900

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:29 KJV 1900

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Instead of insulting others or responding in kind, believers are called on to bless others. By “blessing” Peter means that believers are to ask God to show his favor and grace upon those who have conferred injury upon them.

Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 164–165.

“Peace starts with a smile”

Peter’s Quotation from the Scripture

Here, Peter quotes part of Psalm 34 from the Septuagint

1 Peter 3:10 KJV 1900

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Both the psalmist and Peter state that a good way to live in a hostile world is to stop speaking evil things and stop telling untrue things.

Later, Peter will talk to the church about living in the midst of persecution, but he makes it clear that they need to avoid bringing trouble upon themselves by their speech.

James has warned us about the tongue as well

James 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Peter gives them the reason - that they might inherit eternal life. He is not speaking of a works salvation, but that the salvation will manifest itself in a practical manner of doing good to others.

The Psalmist states that there would be life and blessing in this world, but here it seems to look beyond to the end times and heaven:

1, 2 Peter, Jude (5) Conclusion: Live a Godly Life (3:8–12)

The language of the psalm, therefore, is understood typologically in that the promise of life and good days in the land points toward and anticipates life in the world to come. Similarly

1 Peter 3:11 KJV 1900

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

1 Peter 3:12 KJV 1900

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Peter does not quote the next verse in Psalm 34, but it is clear that his readers would have known it - and Peter has made his point about their behavior

Psalm 34:16 KJV 1900

The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

1, 2 Peter, Jude (5) Conclusion: Live a Godly Life (3:8–12)

Peter was not promising good days in this world since persecution and troubles are to be expected (1:6–7; 3:13–17; 4:12–19). He was providing a motivation for believers to bless those who persecute them and to live in a way that pursues peace. They are to refrain from speaking evil and from guile so that they will obtain the eschatological reward, eternal life itself. We must insist again that such a theology is not works righteousness, nor does it compromise the theme that salvation is by grace. Peter believed that those who have received new life from God will live transformed lives and that such lives provide evidence (necessary evidence!) that they have been converted. Michaels rightly says that the blessing “is not earned by the performance of good works, it nevertheless belongs to those who demonstrate good works.”

1 Peter 3:12 KJV 1900

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.