Job 31 - Job's Accountability Questions Part 2 - 090712AM@TBC

Introduction:

Segway—

A. Ask congregation about Bible reading.

How are you doing on your Bible reading?

Do you still have a "Bible reading buddy?"

· It is a good habit to meet with another believer on a regular basis to discuss spiritual things.

· You can help each other with Bible reading or other issues you agree on.

· Often there agreed upon list of “accountability questions” about their Christian walk they talk about.

· These lists reflect what they consider important in their Christian walk.

· Job 31 gives the list that Job used to give an account for himself.

Background—

A. For the book of Job

o ———————————————————————

I. Prologue (narrative) ch. 1-2

A. HIS PROSPERITY (1:1-5)

B. HIS ADVERSITY (1:6-2:13)

C. HIS PERPLEXITY (3)

II. Dialogue (poetry)  ch. 3-42

A. Three rounds of “debate”

1^st Round (4-14)

1. Eliphaz (4-5) Job's reply (6-7)

2. Bildad (8)_Job's reply (9-10)

3. Zophar (11)_Job's reply (12-14)

2^nd Round (15-21)

1. Eliphaz (15)_Job's reply (16-17)

2. Bildad (18)_Job's reply (19)

3. Zophar (20)_Job's reply (21)

3^rd Round (22-37)

1. Eliphaz (22)_Job's reply (23-24)

2. Bildad (25)_Job's reply (26-31)

3. No Zophar

B. Elihu’s speech

1. Contradicting Job's friends (32)

2. Contradicting Job himself (33)

3. Proclaiming God's justice, goodness, and majesty (34-37)

C. God’s responses

GOD HUMBLES JOB (38:1-42:6)

1. Through questions too great to answer (38:1-41:34)

2. Job acknowledges his inability to understand (42:1-6)

III. Epilogue (narrative) ch. 42

GOD HONORS JOB (42:7-17)

 1. God rebukes his critics (42:7-10)

 2. God restores his wealth (42:11-17)

 

B. For Job chapter 31

o ———————————————————————

Context  of Job 31

 29: Job remembers his happy past

30: Job describes his present humiliation

31: Job defends his innocence &  looks ahead to God's vindication.

32–37: Elihu speaks

o ———————————————————————

· It is clear that Job knows that one is accountable not only for overt acts of sin but also for contemplating immoral behavior and cherishing cruel, vengeful thoughts against others.  —John E Hartley in NICOT

· ...sin lies in the inward intentions of the heart, and not just in the outward act.  —D. A Carson in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition

1. Lust/looking (1-4)

2. Integrity/honesty (4-8)

3. Seduction/adultery (9-12)

4. Respect/fairness (13-15)

5. Charity/generosity (16-24)

6. Coveting/idolatry (25-28)

7. Malice/"ill will" (29-32)

8. Secret sins/hypocrisy (33-37)

9. Injustice/oppression (38-40)

o ———————————————————————

1. Lust/looking (1-4)

 ¹ “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
      Why then should I look upon a young woman?

 ² For what is the allotment of God from above,
      And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

 ³ Is it not destruction for the wicked,
      And disaster for the workers of iniquity?

 ⁴ Does He not see my ways,
      And count all my steps?

A. I have made a covenant with my eyes…

APPLICATION: "...if a man wishes to maintain purity of life, he must make just such a covenant as this with himself" —Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament

look

בין  Strong's H995 - biyn  bene  (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently

ylt—attend to; kjv—think upon; nkjv—look upon; esv, nasb—gaze at; niv—look lustfully; nlt—look with lust

· I like the King James Versions emphasis on the thought process here.  It is even more a matter of  what you think or how you look—than it is how long you look, though all play a part.

B. Sin has consequences.

 destruction איד Strong's H343 - 'eyd   ād  —prop. a burden, load, by which one is oppressed, or crushed

C. God sees all.

 Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

o ———————————————————————

APPLICATION:

God is omniscient and just.

Proverbs 24:12

If you say, “Surely we did not know this,

Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?

He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?

And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

“The fear of the Lord is the awareness that God is

 watching, weighing, and rewarding

all that I do, say, or think.”

o ———————————————————————

2. Integrity/honesty (4-8)

 ⁵ “If I have walked with falsehood,
      Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

 ⁶ Let me be weighed on honest scales,
      That God may know my integrity.

 ⁷ If my step has turned from the way,
      Or my heart walked after my eyes,
      Or if any spot adheres to my hands,

 ⁸ Then let me sow, and another eat;
      Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.

A.  The nature of falsehood.

falsehood שוא  Strong's H7723 - shav'  shäv   

1) wickedness, 2) falsehood  3) emptiness

ylt, kjv—vanity; nasb, nkjv, esv, niv—falsehood

ylt, kjv!  empty vanity / nasb, nkjv, esv, niv!  empty vanity 

· This word is used in the third command.

Ex 20:7   

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;

for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Some commentators understand it in that sense  (vanity),

but the synthetic parallelism in this verse clarifies it for us.

· Cheating and deception are empty. 

· Dishonesty is a strong sin and very difficult to master.  Keep your foot on the way.

B.  The Lord weighs the heart.

 ⁶ Let me be weighed on honest scales,
   That God may know my integrity.

weighed שקל   Strong's H8254 - shaqal  shä·kal'  

(Qal)   1) to weigh   2) to weigh out (a price)   3) of grief (fig)

· Two things here:

1. Job knew that God would be true and just in his measurement.

2. He wanted to be judged by God's standard.

· There are many places in God's Word that speak of God testing our hearts.

· The picture here of weighing highlights the emptiness of dishonesty.  Dishonest words and ways have no weight.  They ar vanity and will come up light.

Pr 16:2 -

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

But the Lord  weighs the spirits.

Pr 21:2 -

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

But the Lord weighs the hearts.

· The picture here of weighing highlights the emptiness of dishonesty.  Dishonest words and ways have no weight.  They will come up light.

Proverbs 14

       ⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

       ⁹ Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor.

C. The way of the eyes.

 ⁷ If my step has turned from the way,
      Or my heart walked after my eyes,
      Or if any spot adheres to my hands,

1)

· Mingo Valley—Steve Saint—Waorani Indian's testimony

2)

· ...his mind has not been controlled by his lusts. —John E Hartley in NICOT

· 1 Timothy 6

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.     ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Proverbs 14:8

       The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

· We see in this verse that the prudent is a person who thinks and is not enamored by every thing that shimmers and shines.

· In verse one he made a covenant with his eyes and here we see again the importance of controlling our eyes and thoughts..

3) Clean hands speak of our actions as shown in Psalm 24.  Unblemished deeds are necessary to ascend to the Lord.

Psalm 24

³ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?

Or who may stand in His holy place?

⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,

Nor sworn deceitfully.

⁵ He shall receive blessing from the Lord,

And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

D. The curse of  falsehood.

 ⁸ Then let me sow, and another eat;
      Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.

A declaration of innocence was a common element in legal proceedings that were being appealed to a judge for a public hearing. Since it was often impossible to gather sufficient evidence in this type of court case, the swearing of an oath took on great significance.   —IVP Bible Background Commentary

o ———————————————————————

APPLICATION:

God is holy and true.

Think about and focus on what lasts.  

And the world is passing away,

and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.    John 2:17

&   1 John 2

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

o ———————————————————————

3. Seduction/adultery (9-12)

 ⁹ “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
      Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,

 ¹⁰ Then let my wife grind for another,
      And let others bow down over her.

 ¹¹ For that would be wickedness;
      Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.

 ¹² For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
      And would root out all my increase.

&   Proverbs 6 Turn to the classic passage in Proverbs on this subject and we will look back and forth.

 

A.  The foolishness of this sin. (9)   Pr 6.25, 32

 ⁹ “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
      Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,

enticed  פתה  Strong's H6601 - pathah  pä·thä'  (Niphal) to be deceived, be gullible — to let oneself be persuaded or enticed

The basic verb idea is “be open, spacious, wide,” and might relate to the immature or simple one who is open to all kinds of enticement, not having developed a discriminating judgment as to what is right or wrong.  —TWOT

ylt, nasb, nkjv, esv, niv—enticed; nlt—seduced;

kjv—deceived

lurked at my neighbor’s door

These words picture Job's observing a neighbor's house stealthily, watching for an opportune moment when, undetected, he would make intimate contact with the lady of the house.   —John E Hartley in NICOT

B.  The offence of this sin. (10-11)   Pr 6.30,33-35

  ¹⁰ Then let my wife grind for another,
      And let others bow down over her.

 ¹¹ For that would be wickedness;
      Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.

· It is a crime against the husband.

Leviticus 18:16

You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness.

speaks of the concept of  a woman's nakedness belonging to her husband.  The Law viewed adultery as a crime against the husband.

let my wife grind
Though this curse is strange to a modern audience, in the ancient world it would be viewed as an acrid curse against her husband, for a wife is so closely identified  with her husband that his disgrace is as great as hers for letting this grave injustice happen to her.   —John E Hartley in NICOT

Ex. 11:5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals.

· It is a wickedness against God.

wickedness  זמה  Strong's H2154 - zimmah  zim·mä' —with a focus on behavior that is lewd, shameless in relation to sexual behavior  —Logos DBL Hebrew  

also has the thoughts of scheming or planning —Genenius's Lexicon

ylt—wicked thing; jkv, esv—heinous; nasb—lustful crime; nkjv—wickedness; niv, nlt—shameful

Genesis 39:9b

⁷ And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." ⁸ But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. ⁹ There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

C. The danger of this sin.  (12)   Pr 6.27-28, 32

 ¹² For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
      And would root out all my increase.

· Fire represents two things about lust and adultery.

1) It cannot be satisfied.  When you throw wood on a fire, it makes it hotter and wanting more.

Proverbs 30:15-17

¹⁵ The leech has two daughters-- Give and Give!

There are three things that are never satisfied,

Four never say, "Enough!":

¹⁶ The grave,

The barren womb,

The earth that is not satisfied with water--

And the fire never says, "Enough!"

2) Fire destroys.  Adultery destroys lives.

· Wealth  Prov. 5.10

· Health  Prov. 5.11

· Regrets  Prov. 5.12-13

Proverbs 5   

⁸ Remove your way far from her,

And do not go near the door of her house,

⁹ Lest you give your honor to others,

And your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ Lest aliens be filled with your wealth,

And your labors go to the house of a foreigner;

¹¹ And you mourn at last,

When your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² And say: "How I have hated instruction,

And my heart despised correction!

¹³ I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,

Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I was on the verge of total ruin,

In the midst of the assembly and congregation."

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,

And running water from your own well.

Abaddon/destruction. Along with Sheol, Abaddon is a name for the abode of the dead (see comment on 26:6), and is paralleled with the grave. The term literally means destruction. The term appears as Apollyon in Revelation 9:11, where it refers to the angel of the bottomless pit. —Bible Background Commentary

ylt, kjv, nkjv, niv—destruction;

nasb, esv—Abaddon; nlt—hell

I want to be very careful

to not overstate the application here.

o ———————————————————————

APPLICATION:

God is faithful and pure.

Don’t be a fool!

Drink water from your own cistern,

And running water from your own well.

 Proverbs 5:15 

o ———————————————————————

Psalms 73-76

Psalm

73.17  then I understood their end...  1. We should receive clarity about life and gain an eternal perspective when we are at "church."  This speaks to both the teacher/preacher and participant.  2.  The end result is the more important that live along the way.  Keep our eyes on the prize!
73.18  slippery places...  a good reminder
73.25-26  Great verses of praise to God. 
76.7, 8, 11   feared...  It is interesting to note that this word use used here in the context of dread at God's judgement, humility,  and awe before the great God.

Bible Study Methods - Word Studies

Word Studies

One of the great things about the internet is that there are some great Bible study resources that can be used for free.  If you don’t have the internet or prefer not to use it, most of these tools are available in book form.

 You can make a word study brief or detailed depending on your time and interest in the word.  Here are some basic steps adapted from David Sargent’s “Bible Study Methods.”  Try to at least do steps two and three.

1.      Find its English definition in the English dictionary.

Merriam-webster.com  and  Dictionary.com  are two of the good online dictionaries.

2.      Compare words used to translate the word in various translations.

Compare a more literal version like New American Standard or King James Version with the New KJV or English Standard Version and with a more dynamic translation like the New International Version, NET Bible or New Living Translation.  You can find these at www.Biblegateway.com  (Also see http://greattreasures.org/gnt/main.do)
 

3.      Note the definition of the original word (Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic). You can also find the origin and root meaning of the word, how the word was used by the secular culture of the day.  www.blueletterbible.org is a good place to get this information.   

4.      Discover just where the word is used in the Bible.  Where does the word first appear?  Where does it first appear in the book you are studying?  How is it used in other places by the author of your passage and in other places? Which writers or books used the word more often?   www.biblestudytools.com  has this information in is lexicon function.

5.       It is also helpful to determine how the word was used in the Bible and how it would have been understood in the culture to which the Bible was originally addressed.  Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testaments Words (http://www2.mf.no/bibel/vines.html) and the Precept Austin (www.preceptaustin.org) and click on the “Greek Word Studies” button) websites are helpful here.

1 Peter 5.6-14 120415PM@TBC

INTRODUCTION

A. Book Review
& Read 1 Peter 5.10-11
Theme: “Standing in the True Grace”
Outline:
1. Theology: Our Great Salvation  1.1-2.10
2. Application: Holy Among Unbelievers 2.11-5.14

B. Big Idea  Do we really believe the last half of Matthew 25:31?

I.  BACKGROUND TEXTS…
(A. Philippians 2.8-9)
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
8  humbled (active voice)
     obedient  (to whom?)  From ὑπακούω (G5219)
9.  exalted

What was the pattern that Jesus set for us?
“valley before the mountain”
“When the small voice tells we can have everything we want, it comes with a hiss.”    —-Ligon Duncan

B. Proverbs 3.31.-35
31     Do not envy the oppressor,
    And choose none of his ways;
32     For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord,
    But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33     The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
    But He blesses the home of the just.
34     Surely He scorns the scornful,
    But gives grace to the humble.
35     The wise shall inherit glory,
    But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

31.  Notice the concern being addressed:
        What about the wicked who prosper?
Do not envy / imitate  the oppressor / violent

33.   Note the contrasts
perverse (one who deviates from the way)      abomination
upright                                                                    close confident

34.    curse          wicked
          bless          just  (righteous)

35. deals with the present..
           scorns         the scornful
           grace to       the humble (poor, afflicted)

36.  in the future
             wise            inherit glory
             fools           legacy of shame


II.  BIBLE STUDY…
A. Read Answer the questions
1 Peter 2:18-23  —  What did Christ do when He suffered?
1 Peter 4:15-19  —  What are we instructed to do when we suffer unjustly?

(B) Read 1 Peter 4.12 thru 5:11 and
identify the words suffering  and the
words glory or crown


III.  OBSERVATIONS IN THE TEXT…

v.5
clothed
“The Greek word translated “clothe” is a rare one that comes from a word referring to the apron that slaves put on over their regular clothes.  This garment prepared them for service…”  —Thomas Constable
“...the figure carries an exhortation to put on humility as a working virtue employed in ministry.”    —Marvin Vincent
Quote from Proverbs 3.34
resists
“resisteth: in the Greek is a military term, used of an army drawn up for battle.”  —K. Wuest
proud
“The word ‘proud’ is the translation of a Greek word which means literally “to show above,” and thus describes the proud person as one who shows himself above others.”    —K. Wuest
A proud man cuts himself off from God’s favor and enablement.

1.  Notice 0ur call to… “submit to God’s working in their lives…”  —Thomas Constable  (v.6)

humble
ταπεινόω   Strong's G5013 - tapeinoō  a) to level, reduce to a plain  b) metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances
WUEST—”permit yourselves to be humbled”
“First aorist passive imperative of   [tapeinoo], old verb, for which see Matt. 18:4. Peter here is in the role of a preacher of humility.  “Be humbled.’  “  —A.T. Robertson

James 1.2-3
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.   *uJpomonhv lit. abide under

mighty
“A phrase found nowhere else in the New Testament, but occurring in the Septuagint, Ex. 3:19; Deut. 3:24; Job 30:21). “   —Marvin Vincent
“Under the might hand of God… Common O.T. picture (Ex. 3.19; 20:33, etc)”   —A. T. Robertson

exalt
Phil. 2.9

due time
Same phrase in Matt. 24:45.
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

2. Our call to commit our souls to God  (v.7)
“5:7This verse does not introduce a new command but explains how to humble oneself: by entrusting oneself and one’s troubles to God (Ps. 55:22; cf. Matt. 6:25-34; Phil. 4:6). We can do this because we have confidence that God cares for our welfare.”  —Thomas Constable
“These Christians were undergoing such persecution that the circumstances in which they found themselves gave abundant opportunity for that sin called worry.”   —K. Wuest

casting
“The aorist participle denoting an act once for all; throwing the whole life with its care on him.”  —Marvin Vincent
“…only here and Luke 19:35 (casting their clothes on the colt)…”  —-A.T. Robertson
Psalm 55.22
Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
care
Impersonal verb melei [melei] (present active indicative) with dative autw, [autōi] “it is a care to him.”  —A.T. Robertson

3. The caution against Satan’s attacks
(v.8)

In Genesis chapter three Satan introduced “the Lie” to Eve to question whether what God said was true.

It began a battle between the Truth and the Lie.

“Peter’s readers were in danger from him if they gave in to his temptation to regard their suffereings as an indication of god’s disinterest or ill will (cf. James 1.13).”  —Thomas Constable


We should respect him (‘be of a sober spirit,’ v.8)
We should recognize Satan (‘be on the alert,’ v.8)
We should resist  Satan (v.9)
  —Thomas Constable

“Do you believe that what you believe is really real?     Dale Tackett in The Truth Project

sober
νήφω   Strong's G3525 - nēphō    signifies "to be free from the influence of intoxicants;" in the NT, metaphorically, of moral "alertness," (it does not in itself imply watchfulness, but is used in association with it)
YLT, KJV, NASB,NKJV, ESV, WET, NET—sober;
NIV84—self-controlled; NLT—alert

vigilant
γρηγορέω   Strong's G1127 - grēgoreō   the meaning here is that of vigilance and expectancy as contrasted with laxity and indifference.  1) to watch  2) metaph. give strict attention to
YLT, KJV, NKJV—vigilant; NASB, NIV84, NET—alert;
ESV—watchful; NLT—watch
Mark 13:35 and 1 Thess. 5.6



4. The exhortation to resist Satan (v.9)
resist
“The Greek word translated “resist” means “to withstand, to be firm against someone else’s onset: rather than “to strive against that one.”  —K. Wuest

steadfast
The word “steadfast” is a military term.  Paul uses it in Colossians 2:3 when he says “beholding your order,” that is, “beholding your solid front or close phalanx.” … The word speaks of solidity in the very mass and body of the thing itself.”  —K. Wuest
“Steadfast is Anglo-Saxon, stede, a place, and faest, fast; and hence means firm in its place; but stepeoi  conveys also the sense of compactness, compact solidarity, and is appropriate, since a number of individuals are addressed and exhorted to withstand the onset of Satan as one compacted body.”    —Marvin Vincent.


5. The reassurance of our suffering brothers  (vrs. the Elijah complex)
1 Kings 19. 10 (14)
the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."

accomplished
“More correctly, are being accomplished.  The present infinitive denotes something in process of accomplishment.”  —Marvin Vincent

your brothers, brotherhood (in a universal sense)

6. The Benediction to summarize these truths (v.10)

the God of grace (enablement)
The God who Called us/you … to what? 
What kind of glory … eternal
What kind of suffering … a little while
(The suffering has an end.)
The glory is eternal

“Called us” is “called you” in most versions
“Both our calling and our glory are in Christ.  God will
make us complete (Gr. kataritizo, “to mend [nets],” Matt. 4.21)
establish us,
strengthen us for service,
and give us peace in His will.”    —Thomas Constable

perfect
The words “make you perfect” are not the translation of the Greek word teleioo (teleioo) which means “to perfect” in the sense of “to make spiritually mature and complete, “but from a word meaning “to fit or join together.”  ...  The word was used of James and John mending their nets, thus equipping them for useful service.”  —K. Wuest

establish
similar word to steadfast in 5.9.

strengthen

settle
“From temeliw’sei, a foundation.  The radical notion of the word is, therefore, to ground securely.  It occurs in Matt. 7:25, of the house founded on a rock…”  —Marvin Vincent

v. 11
dominion
κράτος   Strong's G2904 - kratos   1) force, strength   2) power, might: a mighty deed   3) dominion
YLT, NIV84,WET, NLT, NET—power;
KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV—dominion
bia G970—force, effective, often oppressive power exhibiting itself in single deeds of violence
dunamis G1411 - power, natural ability, general and inherent
energeia G1753 - working, power in exercise, operative power
exousia G1849 - primarily liberty of action; then authority — either as delegated power, or as unrestrained, arbitrary power
 ischus G2479 - strength, power, (especially physical) as an endowment
kratos G2904 - might, relative and manifested power — in the NT chiefly of God


v.12
IV. Three truths to remember
1.
Humble sufferings now
but glory to come.
2.
Commit yourselves
to the caring God.
3.
Stand in His true grace
Benediction
1 Peter 5.10-11
But may the God of all grace,
who called us to His eternal glory
by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
To Him be the glory and the dominion
forever and ever.     Amen.

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Silvanus
v.13
Babylon
“ ‘Babylon’ may refer to Babylon on the Euphrates River.  However this seems more likely to be a veiled, metaphorical reference to Rome where Peter spent the last years of his life.  The technical name for this figure of speech (i.e. a code name) is atbash.  We know that John ‘Mark’ was in Rom (Col. 4:10).   …   The Bible uses Babylon as a symbol of ungodliness as well as the name of a real town (Rev. 17-18).  Similarly the name Hollywood is both a literal town name and the symbol of the industry for which the town is famous.”     —Thomas Constable
Mark
v.14

kiss
This affectionate kissing was normally on the cheeks, forehead, or hands.  We can assume such to be the practice here.  ...In calling it the ‘kiss of love’ Peter not openly brings out the meaning of kiss (‘kiss,’ philema in Greek, comes from phileo, a verb indicating familial and friendly as opposed to erotic love), but also expresses the proper relationship among the members of the Christian community (‘love’ here is the typical Christian term for love, agape, used also in 1:22; 4:8).  —Davids, Peter H. The First Epistle of Peter. New International Commentary on the New Testament series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990.
The practice was liable to abuse as Clement of Alexandria shows when he says, “love is judged not in a kiss but in good will.  Some do nothing but fill the church with noise of kissing.  There is a another—impure—kiss of venom pretending to holiness.”  Therefore the practice was regulated, men kissed men only, and the custom gradually dwindled.  —K. Wuest
“The abuse of this custom led ti its confinement to men with men and women with women and to its final abandonment (Apost. Const. 11.57, 12).”  —A.T. Robertson
love
‘love’ here is the typical Christian term for love, agape, used also in 1:22; 4:8).  —Davids, Peter H. The First Epistle of Peter. New International Commentary on the New Testament series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990.