Friday, January 22, 2016

1Peter 5:10-14 comments: called to eternal glory


10 ¶  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12  By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 13  The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Paul was called to be an Apostle.

Romans 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Christians are called to be separated to God and holy.

Romans 1:7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has called us to eternal glory by Jesus Christ. This particular calling is referred to by Paul.

Romans 8:26 ¶  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Peter prays that after these Christians have suffered a little while they are finished, completed, and perfected. In his next letter Peter spoke of growing in grace toward a goal of being a complete Christian.

Paul also wrote;

Romans 5:1 ¶  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Silvanus is the secretary, called an amanuensis, by which Peter dictated this letter. Often, the Bible authors dictated to a ready scribe who would write down what they said.

Romans 16:22  I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

For instance, Moses had to have someone write his own words as this person recorded Moses’ death.

Deuteronomy 34:5  So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD…7  And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

Peter is having this written from Babylon, which was a thriving center of Jewry at this time and later after Roman persecution dispersed Jews from Israel, from which the Babylonian Talmud came. There is no historical evidence that Peter ever saw Rome, however, we have his word here that he wrote from Babylon. There is no literal, physical reason from the point of view of this evidence to say that Babylon is a symbol for Rome. However, one might make the argument that Babylon means Rome because of the references written by John in Revelation, chapters17 and 18.

The identity of that Babylon with Rome is based on the mention of seven mountains, or hills.

Revelation 17:9  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

However, if it must be understood that Jerusalem is also said to be set on seven hills.(9)

Regarding the kiss of charity, that is not a custom in the present United States. Men would feel uncomfortable with that practice and it would seem inappropriate, typically, although certainly not in every circumstance. This calls us to remember that before we insist a New Testament practice must be exercised by the church for the church to be Biblically correct we must determine if the practice is based on the culture of the time or if it is a command for all Christians. Charity, or love for the brethren, is required for all Christians everywhere but things like kissing each other in charity, long hair on women, or men wearing robes are cultural practices in context. Use proper discernment and, if you have a conviction be wary of trying to impose it on others.

Is this Marcus the Mark who wrote the gospel with that name on it? We don’t know. That Mark is also thought to be John Mark of Acts. However, that Mark is closely associated with Paul, being last mentioned in 2Timothy 4:11. It is an interesting point to ponder, though.

(9) Ernest L. Martin, “The Seven Hills of Jerusalem,” on Associates for Scriptural Knowledge, http://askelm.com/prophecy/p000201.htm. (updated February 1, 2000).

I hope you have enjoyed studying 1Peter as much as I have and that you will also study it on your own. Let me know if you have any comments or questions.

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