Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Another Witness

1 Peter 2:18-23 KJV
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

This passage reinforces a lesson that the Apostle Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 6 and again in Romans chapters 12-15

1 Corinthians 6:7 KJV
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Romans 12:18-19 KJV
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 13:10 KJV
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 14:19 KJV
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 15:2-3 KJV
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Paul preaches over and again. The concept of the local church is so miraculous that we ought to do all to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace within that church. But now we find Peter lending his voice to the same message. Most often we view 1 Peter 2 as referring to enduring grief and suffering wrongfully from those who are not believers. And in the context I think that is best as the primary application. Nevertheless the fact is the passage supports Paul's insistence that Christians suffer wrong for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God.

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