Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Today is 2-for-1 Friday!
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The Questions
1) Who is the author and the recipient of this message?
2) What message is being given in this passage and how important is that message?
3) What is the motivation for action and speech that is given in this passage?
1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Original Intent
1) Who is the author and the recipient of this message?
From 1 Peter chapter one we know Peter is the author of this letter and he is writing to “elect exiles of the Dispersion”, other translations use the word “aliens”. (1:1) This group of people would have been believers who were probably both Jew and Gentile who had dispersed from Rome after the resurrection and ascension of Christ. Under Nero, Christians were experiencing extreme persecution, but rather than the gospel’s message dying out, as believers fled Rome, they carried the Good News of Jesus with them and continued proclaiming hope in the midst of death and suffering. These scattered exiles, or aliens, were living throughout the regions of northern Asia Minor at the time of Peter’s writing. (Side note: The name of each region can be found in 1 Peter 1:1)
2) What message is being given in this passage and how important is this message?
Throughout 1 Peter, the reader is given the message of enduring during times of persecution as extremely heavy persecution of Christians began around the same time as this letter. Peter’s message urges his fellow Christ-followers to keep perspective on Christ’s mission, to persevere in the faith because we are never alone, and to keep living the life of faith because Christ rescued us for a purpose. Peter goes on in verses 8-11 to explain what that life looks like in real everyday life. Loving one another, showing hospitability, and serving one another are all key components to loving like Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, in the middle of being persecuted and crucified.
3) What is the motivation for action and speech that is given in this passage?
Peter makes it clear in verses 10-11 that God is the giver of our grace and strength, and it is His glory we should seek in serving one another. Ultimately, we are to act, serve, and speak as one who is an ambassador of God. When we love like Christ, we declare His gospel through our words, our actions, and our body language. Peter fervently calls his fellow brothers and sisters to love well in everyday, ordinary actions through the power of the Holy Spirit because in so doing, we not only bring God glory, but we declare His good news of love!
Everyday Application
1) Who is the author and the recipient of this message?
Peter is telling the believers in this letter to keep doing what they know to do despite present and future persecution and suffering. These people were far from their homes, but they needed to find a way to flourish where God had planted them regardless of their surroundings. Peter encourages them to serve and love one another in word and action as they follow the example of Jesus. The circumstances do not determine your behavior rather, the calling each believer is to emulate Christ and bring Him glory even when the circumstances are extremely difficult. I confess, sometimes the busyness of my life steals the joy obtained from serving others because I’m not intentional enough to seek out opportunities to serve and love. Peter reminds all of us to be intentional about serving one another and to use the gifts God has given, even as we are in “exile” here on earth, whatever our current circumstances may be.
2) What message is being given in this passage and how important is this message?
The fact that Peter starts this passage with “Above all” should tell us the importance of the words following that phrase. Peter is preparing the readers of this letter (and us too!) and he wants them to understand that how they treat each other matters. When reading this passage, I have to ask myself, do I love earnestly and allow the love God has for me in His grace and mercy to flow over onto those around me? Do I serve without grumbling? When my mouth opens, are my words filtered through His Truth as if He is speaking through me? These are hard questions for us to ask ourselves, but hopefully we do not remain stuck in condemnation over how we answer. Rather, let’s together let these questions lend perspective and prompt action in response to love well!
3) What is the motivation for action and speech that is given in this passage?
It is interesting in this passage that we are first commanded to love and then serve. I am reminded of John 3:16 where John teaches that God so loved the world, that He gave. Our actions are not done of our own accord or for our own glory and satisfaction, but rather we are empowered and equipped with what God supplies to us through the fueling power of His Holy Spirit. For each person, this equipping will look differently. For some it may be a meal, for others it may be donating time or money, and for someone else it could be a hospital visit. God is the giver of gifts that are intended to be used in service for Him as we build His kingdom. His grace is on display when we live out our gifts and with every variation, we see a new hue of God’s grace. (verse 10) God is the giver of grace which allows us to be hospitable and loving because He treated us like this first. God is the supplier of the strength necessary to serve on His behalf. We are simply called to be available for the opportunity and to act as He would act.
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
Memorize It!
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