Suffering for Christ’s Sake (Continued)
Consider the following questions when it comes to our suffering for Christ’s sake.
(1) How does Peter describe the suffering of his readers? (v. 12)
(2) Why does he say that we shouldn’t be surprised? (Col. 1:24; Phil. 3:10)
(3) Not to be surprised is one thing, but how can we rejoice in our suffering? (v. 13)
(4) How and when will Jesus’ glory be revealed?
(5) Why does Peter also say that we are blessed if we are insulted for Christ’s sake? (v. 14)
(6) Peter knows that there are times our sufferings are
self-inflicted (v. 15).
a. Have you ever suffered not for Christ’s sake? What was the reason?
b. Have you ever suffered for Christ’s sake? How different did you (or should you) feel?
c. Why? (v. 16)
(7) God will judge (vv. 17-18)
a. Judgment will begin with God’s household (v. 17a).
- The timing: Does Peter refer to the future final judgement or judgment that has already begun?
- What do you see historically as the judgment (which echoes the judgment that began within the sanctuary according to Ezek. 9) that has befallen on the apostate church?
b. Judgment of the non-believers (vv. 17b-18)
- Peter is quoting from Proverbs 11:31: How will the righteous be saved? (3:18; Tit. 3:5)
- What is the judgment that will come upon all who do not believe the gospel?
(8) There are those who “suffer according to God’s will” (v. 19).
a. What should they do?
b. Why does Peter urge us to “continue to do good” while in suffering?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
本週我們會研讀新約彼得前、後書。請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
為主受苦(續)
(1) 彼得如何形容收信人所經歷的苦難？(4:12)
(2) 為何他要他們不以受苦難為奇怪？(參西1:24；腓3:10)
(3) 不以為奇怪還可理解，如何竟能在火般的試驗中喜樂？(4:13)
(4) 基督和祂的榮耀怎樣和在何時顯現？
(5) 為何也說為基督受辱是有福的？(4:14)
(6) 彼得指出有時我們的苦難是自招的(4:15) ：
a. 你有類似的經歷嗎？原因是什麼？
b. 你曾為主受苦、受辱嗎？與自招的苦難的感受有什麼不同？
c. 為什麼？(4:16)
(7) 神必審判(4:17-18)
a. 審判要從神的家開始(4:17a)
i. 時間：彼得是指現今，還是將來（最後的）審判？
ii. 從歷史的角度來看，主後的二千年來，背道的教會遭到什麼審判？(可參結第9章對以色列被審判所預言作對照)
b. 不信者的審判(4:17b-18)
i. 彼得在此引用箴言11:31：義人是怎樣才能得救的？(3:18; 多3:5)
ii. 至於不信福音的，他們要遭受什麼審判？
(8) 照神旨意受苦的人(4:19)
a. 他們當如何行？
b. 為何特別提到在這情景下要「一心為善」？
(9) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼?你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17)
Although most commentators (and early church fathers) consider that Peter wrote his first epistle before Nero began his reign of terror against Christians, Peter describes the sufferings already experienced by the believers in Asia Minor and includes words like “all kinds of trials" (1:6), and “fiery ordeal” (4:12). In other words, Christians were already experiencing increasingly severe persecution at the time “because of the name of Christ” (4:14).
In encouraging the believers to endure such sufferings, Peter points out that God’s judgment is about to begin with God’s household [which Peter quickly explains as “us”] (4:17). How much more severe will be the judgment to those who do not “obey the gospel of God”, meaning the non-believers?
While the judgment of the non-believers appears to be clear from Peter’s quotation from Proverbs 11:31 which points to the future, final judgment of God (Rev. 20:11-15), the judgment for God’s household is less clear.
However, most commentators in general agree that Peter is using the language of Ezekiel 9 in which God commands His judgment-angel to “begin at my sanctuary” (Ezek. 9:6). It is important to note that in that judgment:
- While it begins within God’s sanctuary, it is applies only to those who do detestable things (i.e. idol worship);- It begins with the elders (whom Peter immediately addressed in 5:1); and
- Those who are marked (because of their grief over the detestable sins in God’s household) are spared.
As a result, the judgment cannot refer to the sufferings of the believers who suffer for the sake of Christ, but rather points to the judgment that will be faced by those apostate within God’s household, His church; and it does not refer to future judgment upon the return of Christ, but rather judgment that will begin in Peter’s time (4:17). Historically, we have seen the apostasy of church in Europe, the former bastion of the gospel and how it had suffered immensely in the hands of the Muslims, just as Israel in her apostasy suffered in the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
I believe it is still a grave warning to the church today in that if we continue to follow the footsteps of the apostate church of Europe, we will join them in facing the judgment of the Lord even before His return.
「 因為時候到了，審判要從神的家起首。若是先從我們起首，那不信從神福音的人將有何等的結局呢？」 (彼前4:17)
雖然一般的解經家（包括早期的教父）都認為彼得後書是彼得在尼魯王全面性迫害基督徒之前寫的，但基於書信的內容，我們曉得這些小亞細亞一帶的信徒已在經歷非常的苦難；故此彼得用「百般的試煉」(1:6) 和「火煉的試驗」(4:12) 等字句來形容他們的景況。換句話說，當時的信徒已正在「為基督的名受辱」(4:14) 。
在勉勵他們要忍受苦難時，彼得就提醒信徒，審判要從神的家開始；他也立刻的澄清說：神的家就是指「我們」(4:17) 。既是如此，“那不信從神福音的人，將有何等的結局呢？”
不信的人的結局明顯是將來的，是指神在末日的審判(啟20:11-15) 。但神的家的審判是指什麼和那時候的審判？彼得沒有清楚的說明。
不過，一般的解經家卻同意，「從神的家開始」這句話是彼得引用自以西結書的。以西結論到神對耶路撒冷的審判時說是：“從聖所起”( 結9:6) 。值得留意的是：
- 審判雖從聖殿開始，卻只臨到那些可憎的事—指拜偶像的人；
- 在實際執行時，是以長老為先；
- 那些額上有記號的（即為罪哀哭歎息的人）則能幸免。
故此，如果彼得是引用以西結書第9章的事例，這裡所指神家的審判就與那些為主受苦的信徒無關，乃是指那些背道的假師傅所要面對的了；而這審判的「時候到了」(4:17) 。從歷史的角度來看，新約的教會是以歐洲為基地繼而向普世擴展的。可惜這基地漸漸的離開真理，教會越來越腐敗。結果這原是福音基地的西方，現今就在回教擴張勢力之下，受了極大的苦難，這就如背道的以色列昔日在亞述和巴比倫手中遭到審判。
故此，彼得這個警告對今天的教會同樣是重要的：如果我們步歐洲教會背道的後塵，我們也要遭受審判，不用等待到主的來臨！
5:1-4—Instructions to the Elders
(1) Peter prefaces his instructions to the elders of the churches with three things (v. 1)
a. What are the three points?
b. What is the significance of each?
(2) His instructions to the elders are basically framed in pairs of contrast (vv. 2-3):
a. The flock and the shepherd: (v. 2a)
- Whose flock is the church?
- Since the flock is God’s and not theirs, what are their role and their duties?
b. Proper attitude: (v. 2b)
- What should their attitude be as caretakers?
- What should their attitude not be?
c. Motive of serving: (v. 2c)
- What shouldn’t they pursue?
- What should they pursue?
d. Approach: (v. 3)
- How should they treat those entrusted to them?
- What shouldn’t they do to them?
(3) What should one of the motivations to persevere serving as faithful elders be? (v. 4)
5:5-9—Instructions to the Rest
(4) Peter has a special instruction to the younger ones in church (v. 5a).
a. What is meant by “in the same way”?
b. Why do the younger ones need to be reminded to submit to the elders?
- Are the younger ones by nature not submissive to authority figures?
- Or because elders are not perfect?
(5) Instructions to all include:
a. To humble ourselves (vv. 5b-6)
- What analogy does Peter use to urge us to be humble? (v. 5b) How meaningful is it?
- What reason does he give? (Prov. 3:34)
- How does God show favor to the humble and when? (v. 6)
b. Cast all anxiety aside (v. 7)
- Is it easy to do?
- What reason does Peter give to encourage us?
c. Be alert and of sober-mind (v. 8)
- When Peter urged us to be alert and of sober mind in 1:13, what was the context of his instructions?
- What is the reason Peter gives us in 5:8?
d. Dealing with our enemy, the devil (vv. 8-9)
- What is meant by “to resist him”? (v. 9a)
- How effective will this strategy be according to James 4:7?
e. How might the awareness that believers around the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings help us in times of sufferings? (v. 9b)
5:10-14—Benediction and Greetings
(6) How meaningful is this benediction to those who are suffering? (v. 10)
(7) How meaningful is it to you?
(8) What part does Silas (the close companion of Paul) play in this letter? (v. 12)
(9) Babylon was already an uninhabited ruin (TNTC, 33), why does Peter use it to refer to where he is (Rome)?
(10) As we come to the end of the letter, take a bit of time to reflect on your notes or scan through the letter once again, and see what might the key messages be to you and how you may apply them to your life.
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
5:1-4—對作長老的勸勉
(1) 在勸勉作長老的之先：
a. 彼得怎樣論到自己？(5:1)
b. 原因何在？
(2) 他以「相對」的形式來作勸勉 (5:2-3)
a. 牧者與羊群(5:2a)
i. 教會是誰的羊？
ii. 長老的位份與責任是什麼？
b. 牧養的態度(5:2b)
i. 受托管者該有的態度是什麼？
ii. 不該有的態度又是什麼？
c. 牧養的動機(5:2c)
i. 不該有的動機是什麼？
ii. 該有動機又是什麼？
d. 牧養的方式(5:3)
i. 該如何對待羊群？
ii. 不該有的牧養方式又是什麼？
(3) 忠心作長老的要得什麼賞賜？（5:4）
5:5-9—對其他人的勸勉
(4) 對教會中的年輕人的勸勉(5:5a)
a. 「也要」原文是「照樣地」：這是什麼意思？
b. 為何要特別提醒年輕的要「順服」：
i. 是因年輕人的本性不尊重長輩的？
ii. 是作長老的有不配受尊敬之處？
(5) 對其他人的勸勉包括：
a. 要謙卑(5:5b-6)
i. 為何以束腰來作謙卑的勸導？
ii. 要謙卑的原因何在？(見箴3:34)
iii. 神怎樣和在何時賜恩給謙卑者？(5:6)
b. 捨下憂慮(5:7)
i. 要捨下一切的憂慮，容易做到嗎？為什麼？
ii. 彼得給予我們什麼作鼓勵？
c. 謹守儆醒(5:8)
i. 彼得在1:13已吩咐我們要謹慎(原文即謹守/sober) ：原因是什麼？
ii. 這裡重複這吩咐的原因又是什麼？
d. 面對仇敵魔鬼(5:8-9)
i. 抵擋魔鬼是什麼意思？(5:9a)
ii. 抵擋魔鬼有效嗎？(參雅4:7)
e. 知道世上信徒也經歷苦難，對我們有什麼幫助？(5: 9b)
5:10-14—祝福與問候
(6) 這裡祝福的話對在受苦中的信徒有什麼幫助？(5:10)
(7) 對你個人又有什麼意義？
(8) 西拉（保羅的同工）與這書信有什麼關係？(5:12; NIV譯為得西拉之助，我略略寫了這信)
(9) 「巴比倫」在那時已成無人居住的廢墟(TNTC, 33) ：彼得以此隱喻他的所在地羅馬：何解？
(10) 在讀完這書信時，讓我們用一點時間，翻閱全書(或重溫自己所寫下的要點），看看這書信給我們的主要提醒是什麼。你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8)
I can see that the devil is using different tactics at different times and in different generations to lead the world astray. In more ancient times, he used people’s superstition to mislead them into believing and worshiping all kinds of idols and evil spirits; and in more modern times, he uses men’s pride in their intellect to mislead them into not believing in anything supernatural. But just the same, his purpose is to look for “someone to devour”, so that they would not believe in the One True God.
Peter paints a very vivid picture of how the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking even for believers of Christ to devour and his tactics are also various and subtle. I have found that his most effective tactic, perhaps, is not necessarily using persecution these days, but luring believers into believing that there is no spiritual warfare being waged around them daily. This is the reason why the Apostle Peter urges us to be alert and to be of sober mind (5:8), lest we are not aware of the devil’s scheme. Once we are aware of his scheme, then we can resist him, and the Apostle James adds that this is the most effective strategy, because, if we “Resist the devil, and he will flee” (Jas. 4:7). But the key question is how?
Peter explains that to resist is to “stand firm in the faith” (5:9) and this is exactly what our Lord did as He faced the temptation of the devil three times. Each time, our Lord stood firm on the very word of God in the Scriptures, countering each temptation by saying, “As it is written” (Matt. 4:4, 7 and 10). And we read that at this, his uncompromising commitment, trust and obedience to the Word of God, “the devil left Him” (Matt. 4:11).
「務要謹守，儆醒。因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。」 (彼前5:8)
我們可以察覺到，撒但在不同的時代，是用不同的手法來迷惑人的。在古時和現在仍較落後的地方，撒但利用人的迷信來牢籠人的心靈，去拜眾多的偶像與神靈。在現今科學發達的年代，撒但就利用人的驕傲來使他們以為沒有靈界的事情，故此也沒有神了。無論是什麼時代、用什麼手法，撒但的目的沒有改變，就是要“尋找可吞吃的人” ，使人不信那位獨一真神。
提到撒但這工作，彼得很生動的以「吼叫的獅子」作喻，形容牠遍地游行，尋找搜獵的對象，包括信徒在內。
在信徒身上撒但用的手法是同樣的詭詐。牠最有效的手法不一定是藉著逼迫與苦難，更普遍的是藉著人在平順、安舒的日子中，忘記了自己是處身於一場屬靈的爭戰中。正因這原故，使徒彼得吩咐我們「務要謹守，儆醒」(5:8) ，免得我們不為意。如果我們提高了警覺，一遇到魔鬼的攻擊時，我們便可以抵擋；正如雅各所鼓勵我們的：“務要抵擋魔鬼，魔鬼就必離開你們逃跑”( 雅4:7) 。但問題是：我們如何去抵擋魔鬼呢？
彼得就教導我們：“你們要用堅固的信心抵擋牠”(5:9) 。這也正是主耶穌在曠野面對試探時所給我們的榜樣。祂三次堅固的用神的話語來回應撒但的試探。每一次祂都說：「經上記著說」(太4:4, 7 &10) 。就因這對神的話語堅決的篤信、順命和使用，“於是魔鬼離了耶穌”( 太4:10) 。