Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letter of Apostle Peter – I Peter
An Intimate Review
Pt 6
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Misuse of the Holy Scriptures has been practiced throughout generations to justify wicked institutions. One such is the practice of chattel slavery that involves forcing people into harsh labor for one’s own gain. Lexical-Syntactical Analysis of this idea is relevant and enlightening for all concerned. Apostle Peter did write,

SERVANTS, be SUBJECT to your MASTERS with all FEAR; not only to the GOOD and GENTLE, but also to the FROWARD.
[I Pet 2:18a]

*servant Gk #3610 oiketace (oy-ket-ace) it is a fellow resident, menial domestic or household servant

*subject Gk #5293 hupotasso (hoop-at-as-so) it means to subordinate and obey

*master Gk #1203 despotes (des-po-tace) it is an absolute ruler or despot, which is a king or other ruler with absolute and unlimited power, any tyrant or oppressor and an autocrat, which is a…
• monarch who holds and exercises unrestrictive governmental power by inherent right
• person invested with or claiming to exercise absolute authority
• one who behaves in an authoritarian manner
• domineering person

*fear Gk #5401 phobos (fob-os) it is alarm, fright , fear, terror and being exceedingly afraid

This passage is referring to people who could afford household SERVANTS, in that they provided lodging, food, clothing and medical care. Some of these MASTERS were pleasant while others were tyrants. Per Enoch, inflicting harsh and forced labor upon others was always wrong and chiefly influenced by avarice. In First Century Rome, born-again believers who were SERVANTS, were empowered to conduct themselves in a manner fitting an Elect of GOD.
Their demeanor actually promoted the message of divine grace.

*good Gk #18 agathos (ag-ath-os) it means good in any sense

*gentle Gk #1933 epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace) it means appropriate, mild, patient and moderate

*froward Gk #4646 skolios (skol-ee-os) it means warped, winding and perverse

In [I Pet 2:19-25] Apostle Peter acknowledged that some Christians are divinely appointed to suffer persecution at the hands of tyrants. [Mt 5:11, 12; Heb 12:1-3] Apostle Peter urged those who suffered such persecution to liken their experience as opportunity to express Christ’s character in suffering writing,

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to HIM that judgeth righteously: Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
[I Pet 2:19-25; Isa 53:5; Heb 12:1-3]

Apostle Peter also writes,

As newborn babes, DESIRE the sincere milk of the WORD that ye may GROW thereby:
[I Pet 2:2]

*desire Gk #1971 epipotheo (ep-ee-poth-eh-o) it means to intensely crave and dote upon, which it to habitually bestow and express excessive love and fondness

*word Gk #3050 logikos (log-ik-os) it is the quality of a word and how one desires it

*grow Gk #837 auxano (owx-an-o) it means to grow up, give increase, wax and enlarge

In [I Pet 2:2, 3] Apostle Peter uses the scenario of a newborn baby and its desire for what it needs to GROW. Yahweh’s spiritually born-again offspring must robustly desire and consume HIS WORD in order to GROW into the mature sons HE intends for them to be. Such hunger is evidence of one’s being genuinely born-again in spirit. [I Pet 2:2; Rev 1:5; 6; Ps 108:1] Apostle Peter expounds upon the PRIESTLY DISPOSITION of the Elect writing,

To Whom coming, as unto a Living Stone, DISALLOWED indeed of men, but CHOSEN of GOD, and PRECIOUS, Ye also, as LIVELY STONES, are BUILT UP a SPIRITUAL HOUSE, an HOLY PRIESTHOOD, and TO OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, ACCEPTABLE to God BY Jesus Christ.
[I Pet 2:4, 5]

*disallowed Gk #593 apodokimazo (ap-od-ok-ee-mad-zo) it means to disapprove, reject and repudiate

*chosen Gk #1588 eklektos (ek-lek-tos) it means to select, favorite and elect

*precious Gk #1784 entimos (en-tee-mos) it means valued, which is highly regarded or esteemed, estimated, appraised and having value of a specified kind

Per this statement and these definitions, Apostle Peter explains that most people DISALLOW Christ, Who is CHOSEN of and PRECIOUS to Yahweh. Those who are truly born-again do not require anyone but THE LORD to qualify or sanction their identity. This is why it is important for born-again believers to continue in the words of Jesus Christ. [Jn 8:31, 32] Apostle Peter likens them to LIVELY STONES, as is Christ their Lord. He reiterates that they are a SPIRITUAL HOUSE and HOLY PRIESTHOOD that is BUILT UP and purposed to OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES that are ACCEPTABLE to Yahweh through Christ. [Mt 11:28; Jn 1:11-13; 6:37-40, 44, 45, 65; Jn 15:1-5; II Cor 12:9; Rm 3:23-26; Heb 7:25; 10]

*lively Gk #2198 zao (dzah-o) it means to live

*stone Gk #3037 lithos (lee-thos) it is a stone literally and figuratively

*built up Gk #3618 oikodomeo (oy-kod-om-eh-o) it means to be a household builder, construct, confirm, edify and embolden

*spiritual Gk #4152 pneumatikos (pnyoo-mat-ik-os) it means non-carnal, humanly ethereal as opposed to gross, divinely supernatural, regenerate, religious or pious

*house Gk #3624 oikos (oy-kos) it is a dwelling or domestic family

*holy Gk #40 hagios (hag-ee-os) it means sacred, physically pure, morally blameless and ceremonially consecrated

*priesthood Gk #2406 hierateuma (hee-er-at-yoo-mah) it is the priestly fraternity and order thereof

*offer up Gk #399 anaphero (an-af-er-o) it means to take up, bear up, bring up, carry up and lead up

*sacrifice Gk #2378 thusia (thoo-see-ah) it is the act, victim or object of sacrifice

*acceptable Gk #2144 euprosdektos (yoo-pros-dek-tos) it means well-received, approved and favorable

Yahweh does not expect or receive OFFERINGS from those who are not members of HIS HOUSEHOLD. HE does not hear prayers that are not compliant to HIS will or of those who do not worship and obey HIM. Apostle John writes,

Now we know that GOD heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of GOD, and doeth HIS will, him HE heareth.
[Jn 9:31]


And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask anything according to HIS will, HE hearth us:
And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM.
[I Jn 5:14, 15]

The experiences of Cain, Nadab and Abihu serve as reminders of what can happen to people who dare to OFFER UP UNACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES to Yahweh. [Gen 4:1-14; Lev 10:1-11] Blessedly, Yahweh imparts unto HIS PRIESTS the desire to will and do according to HIS good pleasure. Apostle Paul writes,

For it is GOD which worketh in you both to will and do of HIS good pleasure.
[Phil 2:13]

Jesus Christ teaches His brethren to daily pray the following unto Yahweh,

THY kingdom come, THY will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[Mt 6:10]

Per Apostle Paul, all things work together for good to them who love Yahweh and are the called according to HIS purpose. [Rm 8:28] In this letter, Apostle Peter clearly advises the Elect of their PRIESTHOOD and PURPOSE in Christ per
Yahweh’s Word of Wisdom.

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