How Can Suffering be Meaningful According to I Peter - Essay Example

& No. How Can Suffering Be Meaningful According to I Peter The book of I Peter is a letter written by Peterto the Jewish Christians who were persecuted in Rome around 62-64 A.D (Life Application Bible 2283). The purpose of this paper is to identify how suffering can be meaningful through an analysis of I Peter. The central theme of the book is to offer encouragement during times of hardship and suffering. In the book Peter offers examples of how Christians should respond to persecution by those of other beliefs and recommends maintaining an attitude of the heart demonstrating humility, persistence, and tenacity. This paper will identify how the words of I Peter are applicable and relevant for Christians today suffering persecution as they were in the days of the early church and how finding meaning during times of unfair treatment by others produces inner strength and victorious living. Before discussing how suffering can be meaningful an examination of the man who wrote the book and the times and events occurring when it was written are essential for understanding how suffering can have meaning and value. By reviewing the setting and circumstances motivating and compelling Peter to write the letter of exhortation to fellow believers will make application of the message in the letter relevant today. Simon Peter was the birth name given to the disciple named Peter who was one of the first men called by Jesus to follow him when he began his ministry. Peter was the leader of original twelve disciples and part of the inner circle of Jesus. Given the name, “Cephas” meaning, “Rock” (Walk Thru the Bible 12; Life Application Bible John 1: 42) by Jesus prophetically described the role Peter would later play in the ministry and in the forming of the early church after Jesus’death. Bible scholars describe Peter as a robust man with a larger than life personality, possessing a thunderous voice, a muscular body, and explosive behavior that at times was impulsive and brash (Walking Thru the Bible 7). As the most outspoken member of the inner circle of Jesus, Peter was the disciple who would rather fight than talk (Life Application Bible, Luke 22:49-51). however despite his harsh and mercurial mannerisms, he learned humility and compassion through his experiences with Jesus and became one of the founding fathers of Christianity and the first church. Blackaby et al describe Peter, “As a successful businessman in a bilingual region of Galilee” (9). They highlight that he was probably bilingual speaking Aramaic and Greek (9). His characteristic and personal traits show a man of physical and mental strength possessing the ability to lead and persuade. Jesus’ earthly ministry span three years and during that time his popularity grew throughout Galilee, Judea, and the regions adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea. Though popular by many others saw Jesus as a threat to the beliefs and power of the Roman Empire. Factions of other Jews and followers of Rome critical of his message ultimately caused his death. The book of I Peter was written roughly 64 years after the death of Jesus and the world at that time was under the domination of the Roman Empire. The world view and historical accounts of the conditions during the First Century adds additional meaning and substance to the motivating factors that compelled Peter to write the letter of encouragement to the early church. The map in Figure 1 depicts the general territorial boundaries under Roman rule; the regions of the Northern Africa, Asia, and Europe are the coastal regions along the Meditterrean Sea are the corresponding areas today. Fig. 1 Roman Empire in the Early First Century Map. (Bible Study 2010). Rome was a place of sophistication and opulence, however it was also known as a place of tyranny and viciousness targeting those confessing to be followers of Jesus and the Christian faith. Christianity threatened the beliefs of the acceptance of many gods and the hierarchy of the Roman Empire. Nero the fifth emperor in a line of succession of cruel and venomous rulers was infamous for leading the campaign to destroy the early church and to persecute the First Century Christians. One of the events spiking his rage was a fire in 64 A.D. that destroyed most of Rome, though historians suspect Nero started the fire for selfish and political gain, he found support to persecution of Christians for the fire. Like his predecessors, Nero vengefully went about persecuting the early Christians causing many to scatter to regions away from the site of the original church’s beginnings. Peter knew persecution, he had been beaten and jailed on numerous occasions during his journeys and missions preaching and teaching the gospel. He was able to empathize with the trials of the believers because of his life experiences. The historical backdrop and setting reveals the conditions that motivated Peter to write to the early church. The book of I Peter was to reassure them of their belief in God. By exhorting the early believers to stand firm in spite of the inhumane treatment of the Roman rulers reaffirmed their allegiance to Jesus Christ and gave additional meaning to suffering for Christ’s sake. Christianity was young and born in turbulent times (Barnett 27) Peter’s efforts to console the young Christians were in response to the heightened tyranny of Nero and to convey value in suffering persecution. The first Christians believed Jesus was the savior of the Jewish nation and had expected him to liberate them from the oppression of the Roman rule; however the chaos of Jesus’ crucifixion and his death left many of the young believers disillusioned, confused, and dejected. The murders, beheadings, cruxifications, and the stoning of Stephen (Life Application Bible, Acts 7:59) were some of the other motivating events causing Peter to write the letter to the Jewish Christians in and around the Roman Empire as well. The intent of the letter was to offer encouragement to the young believers enduring difficult times. Peter identifies how the suffering of the hardships and persecutions would perfect their faith. In this greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory (Life Application Bible, I Pet 1:6-8). Peter’s attempt to give encouragement to the young believers was a reminder for them to remember their allegiance to Christ and that the testing of their faith would reap an inheritance on earth and in heaven. His words of comfort and compassion gave meaning and purpose to their suffering and pain. Similarly, Christians today can apply the words of encouragement of I Peter when they find themselves facing challenging circumstances and situations by remembering the wisdom of Peter. The book of I Peter was meant to edify or teach the young believers who had begun to question their beliefs and faith. Encouragement and enlightenment are two of the primary themes of the book that gives significance to suffering and makes enduring hardship tolerable. Peter emphasizes throughout the book that suffering produces sanctification purifying the spirit for service and enabling those that endure hardship to become witnesses capable of testifying about the goodness of God (The Holy Bible, I Pet 2:19-21). The book of I Peter provides a list of the meanings for suffering such as showing acceptance by God; as a sign of genuine faith; an example of what is right and good in the eyes of God; and others, but the prominent meaning is that suffering sanctifies, purifies, glorifies God, and qualifies one to be a witness for Christ. Geisler offers several reasons for why Peter wrote the epistle: to encourage believers in their suffering; to show them how to live out their salvation ; and to exhort them to submission for Christ’s sake (273). The question, “How can suffering be meaningful according to I Peter” is answered in the reasons given for why Peter wrote the book. He emphasizes that suffering has significance and purpose and as a result of enduring the difficulties of life believers have the assurance of rewards. Throughout the scriptures rewards are mentioned to be given to those that endure and persevere for the sake of Christ. Whereas Peter highlights the rewards of good works unto righteous as a result of enduring persecutions, Matthew gives a glimpse of some of the things one can expect to gain as a result of enduring persecution. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Life Application Bible, Matt. 5:11-12). Gifts and treasures in heaven and the unseen rewards of doing good works on earth and suffering for the sake of Christ were the means of motivating and strengthening the believers as they encountered hardship, setbacks, and death. Rewards and the benefits of believing in an invisible God compelled the acceptance of suffering as a reasonable service of a Christian and a reflection of the willingness to suffer for Christ. Peter says, All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on The contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this (suffering), that you may inherit a blessing (Blackaby et al 19; I Peter 8-9). Still today Christians are persecuted for the sake of Christ and enduring hardship because of their convictions to follow Jesus. The time has changed, but some of the same conditions as in the First Century still exist. In many regions of the modern world Christians are facing persecution as an everyday occurrence and many are dying for the sake of Christ. Whereas the conditions of suffering today are no less horrendous as in the days of the early church, comfort can be found throughout the book of I Peter. Applying the words of wisdom spoken by Peter to the first church are as relevant and timely today as when they were first spoken. Learning how to endure persecution with confidence in knowing that suffering is for the perfecting of one’s faith makes the trials and heartbreaks of persecution for the sake of Christ understandable, acceptable, and bearable. How can suffering be meaningful according to I Peter can be answered by individuals seeking to understand why suffering is a part of not only the Christian experience but the human life experience. Finding meaning in suffering requires the diligence to endure hardship, the patience to believe that suffer brings rewards, and the knowledge to know that through pain and suffering the character of the heart is altered and made into the image of Christ. The reflections of I Peter, the early church, the trials and persecution of the first believers is encouraging as well knowing that, “Christ is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and in Him is eternal life and the rewards of victorious living (Life Application Bible Heb 11:6; Strong’s 1186)”. Work Cited Barnett, Paul. The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2005. Bible Study. The Roman Empire in the Early First Century. 06 Dec 2010 . Blackaby, Henry, Blackaby, Richard, Blackaby, Thomas, Blackaby, Melvin, & Blackaby, Norman. (2008). Encounters with God: The First and Second Epistles of Peter. City: Thomas Nelson Publishers. Geisler, Norman L. A Popular Survey of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group. 2007. Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th Ed. New York: The Modern Language Association of America. 2005. Historic Figures: Nero (37 A.D. to 68 A.D.) 5 Dec 2010 . Life Application Bible: New King James Version. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishing, Inc. 1996. People of the Bible: Peter. 06 Dec 2010 . Strong, James. Ed. Stanley Morris. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1995. The Holy Bible: King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1976. Walk Thru the Bible. A Walk Thru the Life of Peter: Growing Bold Faith. Grand Rapids : Baker Publishing Group. 2009. Read More