III. Significant Relation of Suffering to Christian Living in First Peter
Peter does not only connect suffering to Christian doctrine, but to Christian living as well. In his letter, he touches on three realms of life: government, work, and family. Each of these spheres can be a place out of which suffering may come. As Peter then discusses the subject of suffering in his letter, he tries to link it with each of these areas in life.
A. Suffering and Government
Though Peter refers to social persecution in his letter, yet one could say that the government is involved in this persecution. Listen to Filson’s explanation:
My own conclusion is that while official empire-wide governmental persecution may be in mind (5:9 shows that the trouble, whatever it was, involved the whole church), the more probable explanation is that the readers faced, as the Christians in every place faced, public opposition to their teaching and mission. Such public opposition might often be able to use local officials to punish Christians, but the empire was not as yet engaged in a general and systematic persecution of the Christians.[1]
Nevertheless, Peter wants his readers to learn submission in their suffering. In particular, they must learn to submit to their government:
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (2:13-17).
Undoubtedly, for persecuted Christians, to honor their wicked leader is not easy. But Peter gives at least three reasons for them to do so. First, they should submit to their government for the Lord’s sake (v. 13). Second, submitting is the will of God (v. 15a). Third, that through their submission, their government will have no cause to speak against them (v. 15b).
B. Suffering and Work
Peter shifts from the subject of government to the subject of work, addressing the servants. He exhorts them: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward” (2:18). He might be talking to hired workers who experience unjust treatment or persecution under their unbelieving masters. In this case, Christian workers should still submit to their employers. They should do so for two reasons: First, submitting is thankworthy (2:19), and second, it is acceptable with God (2:20).
C. Suffering and Family
Peter also touches on family matters in conjunction with suffering. In chapter thirty verse one, he particularly addresses the wives: “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.”
By inference, one can suggest that here Peter is talking to wives whose husbands are not Christians. Apparently, such wives experience persecution from their own unbelieving husbands. Nevertheless, they too must submit to their husbands, in order to win them to Christ.
In light of these three spheres of life (government, work, and family), what Peter desires from his readers is that they learn to practice submission even in the midst of suffering.
VI. Conclusion
We now ask the question—why is the theme of suffering significant to the study of First Peter? First, because of its connection to the historical context of the book. Peter wrote his book during a time of suffering. Second, because of the contents of the book. Suffering functions as the main theme of the book. It controls the contents of the book. Third, because of its relationship to two important Christian doctrines in the book, namely, Christology and eschatology. Finally, because of its link to key subjects of Christian living in the epistle.
What lessons can we glean from this study? First, we should understand our suffering Christologically. That is, we should view our suffering through the cross of Christ. Doing so will give us comfort in the presence of pain. Second, not only should we understand our suffering Christologically, but also eschatologically. We should remind ourselves that our suffering is but for a while. Rather than focusing on our affliction, let us concentrate on the coming glory that will be revealed in us through Christ. May our consolation be also that our persecutors—those who continue rejecting the gospel—will one day be destroyed in the eternal lake of fire. They may seem prosperous and victorious today, but the time will come that God will punish them. Lastly, let us learn submission in the midst of our suffering, that through our good testimony, those who persecute us may be brought to the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. Clarke’s Commentary. Vol. 6. New York: Phillips & Hunt, 1883.
Filson, Floyd V. “Partakers With Christ: Suffering in First Peter,” Interpretation 9.4 (Oct 1955):
400-412.
Hiebert, D. Edmond. “The Suffering and Triumphant of Christ: An Exposition of 1 Peter 3:18-
22,” Bibliotheca Sacra 139, no. 554 (Apr-Jun 1982): 146-158.
Kirk, Gordon E. “Endurance in Suffering in 1 Peter,” Bibliotheca Sacra 138, no. 549 (Jan-Mar
1981): 46-56.
Lim, Jit-Fong. “Suffering As the Controlling Motif in the First Epistle of Peter.” Th. M.
Thesis, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1994.
Thielman, Frank. Theology of the New Testament: A Canonical and Synthetic Approach. Grand
Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2005.
Zondervan KJV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2002.
