An Exposition Of 1 Peter, Part 3: Responding To Persecution With Joy

An Exposition of 1 Peter, part 3: Responding to Persecution with Joy

1 Peter 1:6-9

Introduction

In the last study, we discovered that Peter has reminded us of the true state of affairs. We have been chosen, and are therefore special to Him. We also saw that this was accomplished by the sprinkling of Christ’s blood and by being set apart by the Holy Spirit. We learned that God has reserved a place in Heaven for us and is guarding us that at the last time we might attain to the fullness of our salvation.

In verses 6-9, Peter reminds us that there is another reality that the believers in the churches he was addressing were all to familiar. We do not know the scope of this persecution, but when Peter was made aware of the situation, he felt it necessary to send this epistle to encourage the brethren there.

In which you rejoice — The word “rejoice” is usually translated from what is called the indicative mood in Greek. “Indicative” means that Peter is describing a fact. In this understanding, Peter is saying that these churches were already rejoicing over the truths that Peter had told them in the previous verses. It is also possible to translate it as an imperative which is spelled the same way. In this rendering, Peter is commanding the listeners to keep rejoicing. If taken this way, it might indicate that the joy of their salvation was starting to waver somewhat. “Keep on rejoicing” is certainly possible considering what Peter is about to tell them.

Although for a little while, it is necessary to be grieved by manifold trials — Now Peter addresses that the believers are currently being persecuted. Rather than rejoicing, they were grieved by the trials they were facing. I have translated the Greek word “trials” here. The Greek word is more properly “temptations” or “test.” The use of temptations here could be misconstrued in this context as it is too broad. The things they were suffering were trying their faith. Their situation tempted them to take their eyes off the true reality of their identity in Christ. Peter comforts them in this by two observations. What they were suffering was but for a short time, at least short in the light of eternal joy. The second is the use of the word translated “It is necessary.” The phrase is properly “Since it is necessary.” The Greek word “ei” is properly translated “since” rather than “if” because the verb is in the indicative mood which describes a fact rather than something they might or might not be facing. The Greek word “dei” is often used by itself with the idea of being a divine imperative. This means that God considered it necessary that the believers go through the grief of suffering. He was not the source of their grief, but He allowed them to suffer for a better purpose. this is the second comfort. The God who has called us and reserved a place for us must know that even the evil they were suffering would not destroy them but rather make them stronger.

That the testing of your faith which is far more valuable than gold which perishes— Peter makes an interesting comparison of their faith with gold. Gold is one of the most valuable substances on earth. What makes gold so precious is that gold does not tarnish like most other metals. When exposed to air, silver will turn black over time and copper green. But gold keeps its luster, even when heated. Gold has a reputation of being virtually indestructible. Yet, under great stress, gold is destructible. So, Peter is comparing their faith favorably to the most imperishable and valuable metal on earth. There is also a lot of “fools gold” out there. or gold can be easily plated over another heavy metal such as lead to fool one into believing that the object is pure gold. Tests are conducted to check if the object is solid gold or not. Archimedes discovered one test while in the bathtub using the volume of the water displaced by a crown which appeared to be gold. He discovered that it was mostly silver and not gold, to which he replied “eureka!” As heavy as lead is, gold is considerably more dense. An ounce of gold plated lead is bigger than an ounce of pure gold. there are only a few metals such as Osmium which are denser than gold. But these metals are far more costly than gold itself, so no one would use them to deceive someone. Genuine faith is easily distinguished from hypocritical faith by how it responds under test. Faith that is on the surface will not hold up under heat just like it becomes evident when a gold plated lead bar is melted down and shows that it is a fraud. God wants his people to have an imperishable faith.