Prophecies Once Made About You

1 Timothy 1:18-19 - Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Acts 13:2 - While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Conclusions:

• Timothy had possessed eternal life since he had first been saved, but Paul urges him to claim its benefits in greater fullness
• “When you made your good confession” is probably a reference to Timothy’s confession of faith at his baptism during Paul’s first missionary journey
• In 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul looks back over 30 years of labor as an apostle
• Like an athlete who had engaged successfully in a contest, he had finished the race and had kept the faith, i.e., had carefully observed the teachings of the Christian faith
• Or, in view of the Pastorals’ emphasis on sound doctrine, perhaps the faith refers to the deposit of Christian truth
• Paul’s first missionary journey did not result from a planning session but from the Spirit’s initiative as the leaders worshiped
• The communication from the Holy Spirit may have come through the prophets

Application:

• Are you fighting the good fight of the faith?
• Are you carefully observing the teachings of the Christian faith?
• Have you been set apart for the work you have been called to?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Sound Doctrine

1 Timothy 1:8-11 - We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

Titus 1:1-4,9 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior…He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Conclusions:

• Sound doctrine is correct teaching, in keeping with that of the apostles
• The teaching is called sound not only because it builds up in the faith, but because it protects against the corrupting influence of false teachers
• Soundness of doctrine, faith and speech is a basic concern in all the Pastoral Letters
• In the Pastoral Letters the word sound occurs eight times but is found nowhere else in Paul’s writings
• Crucial events in God’s program occur at His designated times in history
• His word is the authoritative message that centers in Christ
• Three times in Titus God the Father is called Savior, and three times Jesus is called Savior
• The beginning in Mark 1:1 suggests the opening verse of Genesis
• Gospel is from the Old English godspel, “good story” or “good news”, which accurately translates the Greek
• The good news is that God has provided salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Application:

• Do you hold firm to the trustworthy message?
• Has God brought His word to light in your life?
• Have you been saved through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Myths

1 Timothy 1:3-7 - As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

1 Timothy 4:7 - Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Job 38:2 - "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?

Conclusions:

• Godliness requires self-discipline
• Faith is not mere intellectual assent but a living trust in God’s grace that expresses itself in acts of love
• God states that Job’s complaining and raging against Him are unjustified and proceed from limited understanding

Application:

• Do you train yourself to be godly?
• Do you express yourself through love?
• Do you complain and rage against God?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Grace

1 Timothy 1:2 - To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 1:7 - To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jonah 4:2 - He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Conclusions:

• The basic idea of the Greek for saints is holiness
• All Christians are saints in that they are positionally set apart to God and are experientially being made increasingly holy by the Holy Spirit
• Jonah uses a fixed, confessional formula
• God is slow to anger. In contrast, Jonah became angry quickly
• “Peace…my peace” is a common Hebrew greeting, which Jesus uses in John 14:27 in an unusual way
• Peace speaks, in effect, of the salvation that Christ’s redemptive work will achieve for His disciples—total well-being and inner rest of spirit, in fellowship with God
• All true peace is Christ’s gift, which the repetition emphasizes
• In its greetings of peace the world can only express a longing or gift
• But Jesus peace is real and present.

Application:

• Are you a saint?
• Do you see God as gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love?
• Is your heart troubled? Are you afraid?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Christ Jesus Our Hope

1 Timothy 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 1:1-4 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus 2:12-14 - It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Conclusions:

• An apostle is one specially commissioned by Christ
• Timothy was evidently with Paul when 1 Corinthians was written, but not necessarily a co-author
• Our brother means our fellow believer, our brother in Christ
• The church of God is a community of believers, the local representatives of the universal church
• Saints are another term for God’s people; it means those who have been set apart as holy to the Lord
• Achaia is Greece, as distinct from Macedonia in the north
• Though 1 Corinthians deals particularly with the situation in Corinth, it was also intended for Christians elsewhere in Greece
• Presumably copies would be made of 1 Corinthians in Corinth and circulated to Grecian Christians
• Crucial events in God’s program occur at His designated times in history
• His word is the authoritative message that centers in Christ
• Three times in Titus God the Father is called Savior, and three times Jesus is called Savior
• “The blessed hope—the glorious appearing” is the second coming
• It is possible to translate “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” as “the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ,” but the NIV rendering better represents the Greek construction
• Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ is an explicit testimony to the deity of Christ

Application:

• Are you in the community of the church of God?
• Has God brought His Word to light to you?
• Are you waiting for the blessed hope?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Chosen

1 Peter 5:13-14 - She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Ephesians 1:4-6 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Conclusions:

• Divine election is a constant theme in Paul’s letters
• In Ephesians 1 divine election is emphasized in the following ways: (1) He chose us; (2) He predestined us; (3) we were also chosen; (4) having been predestined
• Holiness is the result—not the basis—of God’s choosing
• Holiness refers both to the holiness imparted to the believer because of Christ and to the believer’s personal sanctification

Application:

• Has holiness been imparted to you because of Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Chief Shepherd

1 Peter 5:4-6 - And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Ephesians 5:21 - Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Luke 14:11 - For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Conclusions:

• A Palestinian shepherd might risk danger for his sheep, but he expected to come through alive
• Jesus said that the good shepherd will die for His sheep
• Paul shows how, in each relationship, each partner can have a conciliatory attitude that will help that relationship
• The grammar indicates that this mutual submission is associated with the filling of the Spirit
• The command “be filled” is followed by a series of participles in the Greek: speaking, singing, making music, giving thanks and submitting
• He who humbles himself will be exalted is a basic principle repeated often in the Bible

Application:

• Are you willing to lay down your life for your sheep?
• Do you submit to others out of reverence for Christ?
• Do you exalt yourself or do you humble yourself?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Not Lording It Over Those Entrusted To You

1 Peter 5:2-3 - Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Mark 10:43-45 - Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Philippians 2:6-7 - Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Conclusions:

• Jesus overturns the value structure of the world
• The life of discipleship is to be characterized by humble and loving service
• Mark 10:45 is a key verse in Mark’s gospel
• Jesus came to the world as a servant—indeed, the Servant—who would suffer and die for our redemption, as Isaiah clearly predicted
• Ransom means the price paid for release (from bondage)
• Jesus gave His life to release us from bondage to sin and death
• “For many” means in place of many, pointing to Christ’s substitutionary death
• Giving His life for many is in contrast to the one life given for our ransom
• Made Himself nothing literally means emptied Himself
• Christ Jesus made Himself nothing, not by giving up deity, but by laying aside His glory and submitting to the humiliation of becoming man
• Jesus is truly God and truly man
• Another view is that Christ Jesus emptied Himself, not of deity itself, but of its prerogatives—the high position and glory of deity
• Nature of a servant emphasizes the full reality of His servant identity
• As a servant, Christ Jesus was always submissive to the will of the Father

Application:

• Are you characterized by humble and loving service?
• Have you been released from bondage to sin and death?
• Are you always submissive to the will of the Father?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Be Shepherds of God''s Flock

1 Peter 5:2 - Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

John 10:9-11,14-16 - I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Ezekiel 34:2-3 - "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

Titus 1:7 - Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

Conclusions:

• “Be shepherds of God’s flock” is a metaphor that our Lord Himself had employed and that must have been etched on Peter’s mind
• Peter is fulfilling Christ’s command to feed His sheep as he writes 1 Peter
• The gate is the one way into salvation
• Inside the gate there is safety, and one is able to go out and find pasture, or the supply of all he needs
• The thief’s interest is in himself
• Christ’s interest is in His sheep, whom He enables to have life to the full
• A Palestinian shepherd might risk danger for his sheep, but he expected to come through alive
• Jesus said that the good shepherd will die for His sheep
• “I know…my sheep know” is a deep mutual knowledge, like that of the Father and the Son
• These other sheep already belonged to Christ, though they had not yet been brought to Him
• Those not of this sheep pen are outside Judaism
• Shepherds of Israel were those responsible for providing leadership, especially the kings and their officials, but also the prophets and priests
• “Eat…clothe…slaughter” were legitimate rewards for shepherds
• The shepherds crime was that they did not take care of the flock
• Elder indicates maturity and experience, overseer indicates responsibility

Application:

• Are you a shepherd of your flock?
• Have you entered through the gate?
• Do you have life to the full?
• Will you lay down your life for your sheep?
• Do you know your shepherd?
• Do you listen to your shepherd's voice?
• Do you only take care of yourself?
• Do you take care of your flock?
• Are you blameless?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Family Of God

1 Peter 4:15-17 - If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Ezekiel 9:6 - Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.

Amos 3:2 - "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins."

2 Thessalonians 1:8 - He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Conclusions:

• Judgment begins with God’s people
• Israel’s present strength and prosperity gave rise to complacency about her privileged status as the Lord’s chosen people
• She is shockingly reminded of the long-forgotten responsibilities her privileges entailed
• “Do not know God” does not refer to those who have never heard of the true God but to those who refuse to recognize Him
• The gospel invites acceptance, and rejection is disobedience to a royal invitation

Application:

• Do you recognize that judgment will begin with you?
• Are you being punished for your sins?
• Have you accepted the gospel?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Arm Yourselves Also With The Same Attitude

1 Peter 4:1 - Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

1 Peter 2:21 - To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Romans 6:11,14,18 - In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus…For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace…You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Philippians 2:5-7 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Conclusions:

• The patient endurance of injustice is part of God’s plan for the Christian
• It was an important feature of the true grace of God experienced by the readers
• Christ is the supreme example of suffering evil for doing good
• His experience as the suffering Servant-Savior transforms the sufferings of His followers from misery into privilege
• A Christian has changed masters
• Whereas a Christian was formerly a slave to sin, he becomes a slave to righteousness
• In spite of all that is unique and radically different about the person and work of Christ, Christians are to have His attitude of self-sacrificing humility and love for others
• Made Himself nothing means He emptied Himself
• He made Himself nothing, not by giving up deity, but by laying aside His glory and submitting to the humiliation of becoming man
• Jesus is truly God and truly man
• Another view is that He emptied Himself, not of deity itself, but of its prerogatives—the high position and glory of deity
• Nature of a servant emphasizes the full reality of His servant identity
• As a servant, he was always submissive to the will of the Father
• Count yourselves is the first step toward victory over sin in the believer’s life
• The believer is dead to sin and alive to God, and by faith he is to live in the light of this truth
• The first occurrence in Romans of in Christ is found in Romans 6:11, which is often found in Paul’s writings
• True believers are in Christ because they have died with Christ and have been raised to new life with Him
• Paul conceived of sin as power that enslaves, and so personified it
• The meaning of not under law is not that the Christian has been freed from all moral authority
• The Christian has, however, been freed from the law in the manner in which God’s people were under law in the Old Testament era
• Law provides no enablement to resist the power of sin; it only condemns the sinner. But grace enables.

Application:

• Do you patiently endure injustice?
• Are you a slave to righteousness?
• Do you have Christ's attitude of self-sacrificing humility and love for others?
• Do you see Christ as a servant?
• Have you died with Christ?
• Have you been freed from the law?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Even If You Should Suffer

1 Peter 3:10-16 - For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Titus 2:12-14 - It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Colossians 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Conclusions:

• Salvation involves the double work of redeeming us from guilt and judgment and of producing moral purity and helpful service to others
• “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven” is a present reality as well as a future hope
• Set apart Christ as Lord is an exhortation to the readers to make an inner commitment to Christ
• If an inner commitment is made to Christ, then they need not be speechless when called on to defend their faith
• If an inner commitment is made to Christ, there will be a readiness to answer
• The Christian is always to be a gentleman or gentle woman, even when opposed by unbelievers
• Our answer is always to be given with love, never in degrading terms
• Salt is a preservative and is tasty
• The Christian’s conversation is to be wholesome
• The house is made up of God’s people, His household
• Failure to persevere reveals that a person is actually not a child of God, whereas perseverance is the hallmark of His children

Application:

• Are you eager to do what is good?
• Are you persecuted because of righteousness?
• Are you a gentle person when opposed by unbelievers?
• Is you conversation wholesome?
• Do you hold on to your courage and the hope?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Do Not Repay Evil With Evil

1 Peter 3:9 - Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 - Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

1 Peter 2:21 - To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Romans 12:18-20 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Conclusions:

• Retaliation is never a Christian option
• Christians are called to forgive
• Prayer is one of the practical ways love expresses itself
• The patient endurance of injustice is part of God’s plan for the Christian
• It was an important feature of the true grace of God experienced by the readers
• Christ is the supreme example of suffering evil for doing good
• His experience as the suffering Servant-Savior transforms the suffering of His followers from misery into privilege
• Jesus pronounced a blessing on peacemakers, and believers are to cultivate peace with everyone to the extent that it depends on them
• Doing good to one’s enemy, instead of trying to take revenge, may bring about his repentance

Application:

• Do you forgive?
• Do you love your enemies?
• Do you endure patiently?
• Do you cultivate peace with everyone?
• Do you feed and provide drink to your enemies?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Heirs With You Of The Gracious Gift Of Life

1 Peter 3:1-2,7-8 - Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives…Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Ephesians 5:25-27 - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Romans 15:5-6 - May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:10,15 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves…Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

1 Peter 2:11,13-14,21 - Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul…Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right…To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Philippians 2:1-2,6-7 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose…Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

1 Corinthians 12:26 - If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 - Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Conclusions:

• Submit, love, show no partiality, be united, encourage, honor, be compassionate, be kind, be humble, be gentle, be patient

Application:

• Do you treat your spouse with love or respect?
• Do you glorify Gof the Father with your heart and mouth?
• Do you honor others above yourself?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Her Master

1 Peter 3:1-6 - Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Romans 7:22-23 - For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

Romans 2:29 - No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Conclusions:

• God’s law is the Mosaic law or God’s law generally
• It is difficult to see how a non-Christian could say I delight in God’s law
• The true sign of belonging to God is not an outward mark on the physical body, but the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit within—what Paul meant by circumcision of the heart
• Wives are to be submissive in the same way as believers are to submit to government authorities, and as slaves are to submit to masters
• Being submissive calls for submission to a recognized authority
• Inferiority is not implied by 1 Peter 3:1
• Being submissive is one of role or function necessary for the orderly operation of the home
• The Word is the gospel message
• Believing wives are not to rely on argumentation to win their unbelieving husbands, but on the quality of their lives
• Actions speak louder than words

Application:

• Do you delight in God's law?
• Do you have the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit within?
• Do you submit to government authorities and your masters?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

In The Same Way

1 Peter 3:1-2 - Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

1 Peter 2:13-14,21 - Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right…To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Conclusions:

• Wives are to be submissive in the same way as believers are to submit to government authorities, and as slaves are to submit to masters
• Be submissive calls for submission to a recognized authority
• Inferiority is not implied by 1 Peter 3:1
• The submission is one of role or function necessary for the orderly operation of the home
• The word is the gospel message
• Believing wives are not to rely on argumentation to win their unbelieving husbands, but on the quality of their lives
• Actions speak louder than words
• Authority established among men depends on God for its existence
• Indirectly, when one disobeys a human ruler he disobeys God, who ordained the system of human government
• When Peter wrote, the emperor was the godless, brutal Nero, who ruled from A.D. 54 to 68
• Of course, obedience to the emperor must never be in violation of the law of God
• The patient endurance of injustice is part of God’s plan for the Christian
• It was an important feature of the true grace of God experienced by the readers
• Christ is the supreme example of suffering evil for doing good
• His experience as the suffering Servant-Savior transforms the suffering of His followers from misery into privilege

Application:

• Do you submit to government authority?
• Do you disobey human rulers?
• Do you patiently endure injustice?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible