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The first section of the letter dealt predominantly with our calling and choosing; its value and its nature. The parts uncovered were not left because they were
unimportant, but because they would require more time than is available to a group such as this.
These sections follow on from the idea of practical Christian living under a variety of situations.
A Witness
Witness in words
3: 13 -17
We should not be cowed by the opinions of others, to do as they do or to conform to their ways of thinking. Yet at the same time we are responsible for our words to them; they are to be -
Footnote: verse 17. note that it is not automatically the will of God that we may suffer. There are times when it might well be - even if we cannot understand the reasons at the time (or even later). It is not God's will that we should all suffer all of the time - although some Christians seem to believe that or act that way!
Christ's witness in death
3:18 -22
There are some very deep things within this passage of the text, and they go far beyond the scope of this group, since they could constitute not so much an evening as a matter of years of debate! Christ died for sins, this we know and proclaim. But vv 19-20 are open to much debate. we know that they are ancient: primitive beliefs in the sense of being early. The descent of Christ to Hell, His Spirit proceeding to the depths with the body dead upon the cross is relatively clear. Human death is explained in the same way, with the physical, fleshy bit that we're all terminally attached to actually being the shell, the least important bit in many respects. It is what Peter meant about what Christ did that holds the problems. The creeds traditionally mention 'Hell', the meaning is probably closer to 'Hades', the Greek equivalent of 'Sheol', the holding place for the dead, and the word used in Greek is actually 'prison''! Confused?
The possible meanings are many, especially with the references to the Flood which follow. One is the possible preaching to those who died before the Flood, while another (the classical evangelical understanding) is the possible proclamation of victory over death in death's own stronghold and the release of the believing martyrs and 'saints' that had gone before, which presumably includes the faithful of Israel. Find out for yourselves at your own leisure!
There are strong historical grounds for doubting that Peter even intended to link the events closely together, (see New Jerome Bible Commentary)
Our witness in life and troubles.
4:1 - 19
i) in life (1 - 11)
The nitty-gritty! To break with the past - whatever the past might have contained. The turn of phrase that the way of life is the one that Gentiles choose to live
seems rather like saying that all students are as militant, riotous, drunken, stoned and licentious as the worst examples! Is this another remainder of Jewish cultural
attitudes being displayed by the author? The list contains all the sins and crimes, but one of them is bad enough for condemnation. we are advised to outlive the
gospel in love, generosity and in the complete knowledge of the power and presence of God.
ii) in troubles (13 - 19)
Suffering is not something to be enjoyed, yet may still be a blessing if it is endured for following God's ways. This is not an encouragement to hold a martyr
complex, nor to say that you must be holy because you're being persecuted! At the same time it is not to be ashamed of, which runs counter to the Jewish roots in
some respects where suffering, especially physical suffering and illness, was understood as being due to sin on your own, or your families part. (cf. Job, and the
healing of the man born blind in Johns Gospel etc.)
This page last updated March 2002. The Bibliophobe's Guide to Acts is ©Dr S N Mousir-Harrison.
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