Meditation on the First Letter of Peter, Chapter 3
The married women of the congregation must continue to have their inner beauty, made of Christian qualities which can allow, to win an unbeliever husband: « In the same way, you wives, be in subjection to your husbands, so that if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, 2 because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect. 3 Do not let your adornment be external—the braiding of hair and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothing— 4 but let it be the secret person of the heart in the incorruptible adornment of the quiet and mild spirit, which is of great value in the eyes of God. 5 For this is how the holy women of the past who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, subjecting themselves to their husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you have become her children, provided you continue doing good and do not give in to fear » (verses 1-6).
Then, the apostle Peter addresses the husbands: « You husbands, in the same way, continue dwelling with them according to knowledge. Assign them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one, since they are also heirs with you of the undeserved favor of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered » (verse 7). We find the same advice in the letters of the Apostle Paul, towards the husbands, their wives and children (Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4). The husbands must « continue dwelling with them according to knowledge ». Depending on the context, this « knowledge », does not seem to be a biblical knowledge or that could be read in a book, but rather discernment of what is femininity in the couple, which allows the husbands to understand the physical and emotional limits of their wives, and thus, to « assign them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one ». Obviously, this « knowledge » is just as important in the other direction, concerning women towards their husbands. This is how there will be a mutual understanding in the couple (and not only in one sense).
The disciples of Christ must manifest a brotherly love with affection: « Finally, all of you have unity of mind, fellow feeling, brotherly affection, tender compassion, and humility. 9 Do not pay back injury for injury or insult for insult. Instead, repay with a blessing, for you were called to this course, so that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For “whoever would love life and see good days must guard his tongue from bad and his lips from speaking deception. 11 Let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of Jehovah are on the righteous, and his ears listen to their supplication, but the face of Jehovah is against those doing bad things” » (verses 8-12).
Jesus Christ said about what would identify the real disciples: « I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves » (John 13:34,35). In some congregations, listeners sit down and receive the teaching, then they go home, by greeting in a superficial way those who meet in their path. In this situation, congregations are simple university campuses or classrooms where the professor gives his teaching, and then go home. In this case, where is the manifestation of sympathy and the brotherly affection? These two biblical texts clearly show that there must be a social life within a Christian congregation. It is made up of friendships, invitations to share a meal, reciprocal or not, of simple moments of happiness spent together on a walk or a picnic. Christian conviviality does not forget widows and orphans, divorced, separated and other people being in prolonged solitudes.
It is also important to remember the statement of the good Christian deeds of mercy, according to King Jesus Christ, during the future world judgment: « Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I became hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you received me hospitably; naked and you clothed me. I fell sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me’ » (Matthew 25:31-46). We can see that in the list of these good Christian deeds, there is no good so-called « religious » action like listening biblical sermons, or going to preach and teach the good news. Obviously, we must also do these things, however, without missing the essentials, according to Jesus Christ: doing works of mercy. During this social life between the Christian brothers and sisters, it is important to « guard the tongue from bad and the lips from speaking deception » (verses 10 to 12; read also the letter of James 3:1-12 (Advices to « tame » the tongue)).
We must sanctify the Christ as Lord in our hearts, always ready to make a defense before any man: « Indeed, who will harm you if you become zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are happy. However, do not fear what they fear, nor be disturbed. 15 But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect. 16 Maintain a good conscience, so that in whatever way you are spoken against, those who speak against you may be put to shame because of your good conduct as followers of Christ. 17 For it is better to suffer because you are doing good, if it is God’s will to allow it, than because you are doing evil. 18 For Christ died once for all time for sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. 19 And in this state he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who had formerly been disobedient when God was patiently waiting in Noah’s day, while the ark was being constructed, in which a few people, that is, eight souls, were carried safely through the water » (verses 13-20).
When Peter writes « if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are happy », how can we be happy when we suffer? Jesus Christ shows in his Sermon on the Mount that one can be happy in the perspective of the hope: « Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you » (Matthew 5:3-12). The Christian can be persecuted with false accusations and therefore, sometimes, he must appear before judicial authorities or speak before a representative of the police (a police officer, a judge, a tax official…). As written, the Christian must remain the master of his feelings and ensure to express himself with deep respect. In doing so, if he shows patience, it is very likely that the situation will turn against the false accusers, who will be ashamed of their bad behavior towards persecuted Christians. Obviously, when a Christian suffers because of an injustice, he must remember the pattern of Jesus Christ who also suffered because of injustice, until death (verses 18-20).
If the blood of Christ saves, Christian baptism, also saves: « Baptism, which corresponds to this, is also now saving you (not by the removing of the filth of the flesh, but by the request to God for a good conscience), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is at God’s right hand, for he went to heaven, and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him » (verses 21,22). By exercising faith in Jehovah God, the Father, in Jesus Christ, his Son, and in the Holy Spirit, they can be baptized and conform, their life according the biblical principles: « Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things » (Matthew 28:19,20). It should be noted in the commandment of Christ, after the baptism, the new disciple must be instructed to observe all the things taught by Jesus Christ. The particular training of the new Christian disciple will take some time after his baptism.
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Peter is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels, he also has the name of Simon Peter (Matthew 4:18) and Jesus Christ gave him another name, Cephas (John 1:42). Among the twelve, he was one of the three closest apostles of Jesus Christ: Peter, James and John his brother. These three men saw the transfiguration of Christ (Mark 9:1-10).
Achieving Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
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