Interpretive Journey Paper

Interpretive Journey Paper

1 Peter 5:6-7

BIBL 350 D 12 Fall 2014

Submission Date: (12/13/14)
Introduction
Life can be hard. Even after coming to know Jesus Christ as Savior, Christians have difficulties negotiating the trials and tribulations of life. The brief letter of 1 Peter gives instruction about living the Christian life. 1 Peter 5:6-7 gives us the key to understanding how Christians should willingly serve God. This study of 1 Peter 5:6-7 will endeavor to investigate the passage as Peter intended it to his original audience and how it applies to Christians today.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” – 1Peter 5:6, 7 (NKJV)
Step 1 Grasp the text in their town
What is the historical perspective?
The letter of 1 Peter was most likely written between A.D. 63 and 67, to the churches of Asia Minor1. If written after July of A.D. 64, Peter’s reference of persecution as a “fiery ordeal among you” in 1Peter 4:12 could be related to Nero’s blaming of Christians for the burning of Rome as the cause of the persecutions they were living through, as Nero was burning Christians nightly to light his garden 2. In the first four chapters Peter has told the believers in the churches in Asia Minor how to live their lives to honor God. The fifth and last chapter gives advice that will lead these believers to be humble as they willingly serve the Lord.
1. Smith’s Bible Dictionary. 504.
2. Halley’s Bible Handbook. 663

Step 2 Measure the width of the river to cross
What are the similarities and differences between the original audience and the modern one? When Peter wrote this letter, persecution of the Christian Church was official government policy. In the American culture of the twenty-first century we may meet and worship freely, are not required to worship the President, as those under Roman rule were required to do to the Emperor. The government that we live under today was founded on principles that originated with serving God and not the pagan roots of the empirical Roman government.
In many ways the difference between their town and our town are not too great. Christians are still called to live their lives differently from the way non-believers live. The moral and ethical requirements that come with living for God are the same as those of early Christians. Peter’s message to live humbly before God, trusting in His power is still as relevant in the twenty-first century as it was in the first. The meaning of this text can be summarized as, because God cares for me, I need to humbly endure the trials I am going through without worrying about the outcome and when the time is right He will reward me for my willing service.
Step 3 Cross the Principlizing Bridge
What are the principles that the Author is giving.
There are three principles in 1 Peter 5:6, 7:
1. We are to live humbly, despite the difficulties of this present life, acknowledging that God has the plan and the power to make it come to pass in our lives.
2. Because He cares for us, God will lift up those who suffer for Him when the time is right according to His plan and purpose.
3. Because God has a plan and the power to enforce that plan, we should through all our anxiety on Him. Living humbly is the recognition that I am not capable of fixing the things that make the Christian life tough to live, only God has that ability.
Step 4 Consult the biblical map
How does the theological principle(s) fit with the rest of the Bible?
The Bible consistently teaches that living humbly pleases God:
1. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:10, ESV).
2. “It (the Atonement) is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls: it is a permanent statute.” (Leviticus 16:31, NASB. Italics mine).
3. “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” (Psalm 37:11, NKJV).
God cares for His people:
1. “For this is what the Lord God says: See, I Myself will search for My flock and look for them.” (Ezekiel 34:11, HCSB).
2. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:P8, NKJV).
The Lord does not want us to live in anxiety and worry:
1. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life… “(Matthew 6:25, NASB).
2. “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you…” (Psalm 55:22, NASB).
3. “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.” (Luke 12:11, NKJV)
Step 5 Grasp the text in our town
How should individual Christians today live out the theological principle(s)?
1 Peter 5:6, 7 can encourage us to stand firm in our faith that God loves us and will guide us when living the Christian life is difficult, when we face persecutions and when the events of life just overwhelm us. This passage reminds us that to live a life that is pleasing to God, the key is to have a humble and willing spirit. It is also a warning, that if we are vain, prideful and arrogant in how we live and respond to the trials of this life then we put ourselves against God, “For God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 ESV).
Bibliography
Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God 's Word: A Hands-on Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. Third ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2001.
Halley, Henry Hampton. Halley 's Bible Handbook: An Abbreviated Bible Commentary. 24th ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1965.
Rapids, Mich. The Strongest NASB Exhaustive Concordance. [NASB Updated ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2004.
Smith, William, and F. N. Peloubet. A Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1986.

Bibliography: Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God 's Word: A Hands-on Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. Third ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2001. Halley, Henry Hampton. Halley 's Bible Handbook: An Abbreviated Bible Commentary. 24th ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1965. Rapids, Mich. The Strongest NASB Exhaustive Concordance. [NASB Updated ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2004. Smith, William, and F. N. Peloubet. A Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1986.