Devotions
Hopeful Service (1 Peter 4:7–11)
For several days now, we have considered Peter’s exhortation to honourable behaviour. Each time, he has anchored his exhortation, in part, to the thought of final judgement. He exhorted his readers to behave honourably before unbelievers in light of “the day of...
Hopeful Sanctification (1 Peter 4:1-6)
We have observed repeatedly in our time in 1 Peter that Peter’s readers were suffering because of their commitment to Christ. Peter was burdened that they respond to suffering in the right way. Suffering had the potential to make them bitterbut he was concerned to...
Hopeful Vindication (1 Peter 3:18–22)
Throughout this letter, Peter has sought to ground his readers’ hope in suffering in the person and work of Christ. He has pointed them to Christ’s example as an encouragement to abstain from the passions of the flesh and to instead live honourably before the...
Hopeful Intentionality—Toward Enemies (Part 2) (1 Peter 3:8–17)
Throughout this section on hopeful intentionality, Peter has emphasised the need to “abstain from the passions of the flesh” and to “keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable” (2:11–12). “The passions of the flesh” teach us to respond to opposition in kind,...
Hopeful Intentionality—Toward Enemies (Part 1) (1 Peter 3:8–17)
As we have seen, Peter applied his exhortation in 2:11–12 (to pursue honourable conduct before unbelievers) to specific situations: Christian citizens before an unbelieving government (2:13–17), Christian employees before unbelieving employers (2:18–25), Christian...
Hopeful Intentionality—Toward Your Wife (1 Peter 3:7)
Ever since 2:13, Peter has been fleshing out his exhortation of 2:11–12, where he exhorted his readers to “abstain from the passions of the flesh” and to “keep [their] conduct among the Gentiles honourable.” Specifically, he has been concerned about honourable...