Sat 090725 pm 1 Peter 3.13-17

1 Peter 3.13-17

1. Review accusations against the early church:
cannibalism
disruption of business
gross immorality
anti-family sentiment
poverty
atheism
lack of patriotism
anti-social behavior
disasters

2. Contempory accusations could include:
narrow minded
ignorant
hypoctites
divisions
terrism
legislate morality
in it fo rthe money
no fun
etc...

How should we answer our critics?

NKJV
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

NASB
13Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
17For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

ESV
13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

3. Context vs. 10-13 Quote from Psa. 34
A psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech in 2 Sam. 21.10-14.
Tells how to generally avoid persecution / suffering.

4. "blessed" Compare with Mattehw 5.10-12 (Martin-Lloyd Jones is excellent on these verses. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ucp_J37oqBoC&dq=martin+lloyd+jones+sermon+on+the+mount&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=PslsSoD9LoaYMfWgkfkG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5)
*against you falsely
*reward in Heaven compare with 1 Cor. 15.19 If it is in this life only...
*the prophets before you

5. "and do not be afraid" Quotes form Isaiah 8.12-13
Context: The coming Assyrian invasion
--Don't be caught up in fearing
--Hallow (sanctify) the Lord of Hosts
--Fear God (not man) compare with Luke 12.4-5

6. reason <-----> hope
reason: thinking, logic
hope: What is your hope? compare with 1 John 3.2-3

7. How to reply...
meekness and fear YLT, KJV, NKJV
gentleness and reverence NASB
gentleness and respect ESV, NIV

gentleness and meekness are pretty much synonyms with a choice of preference

phobos
"respect" like in 2 Timothy 3.24-25
1 Peter 2.17 timao translated honor in 1 Peter 2.17
phobos used this way is usually toward a superior or someone in authority

"fear" (of God instead of man) like in Isaiah 8.12-13

Application: To be ready to answer accusations we should have four things
1. a good conscience
2. have hallow the Lord in our hearts
3. a hope
4. our reason for the hope