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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Pe_2:11-12
11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1Pe_2:11 "aliens" This OT term speaks of non-residents with limited rights living in a place that is not their home, like Abraham (cf. Gen_23:4; Psa_39:12; Heb_11:13; 1Pe_2:11). Here it is used metaphorically for believers living in the fallen world system.
▣ "strangers" This term implies a short stay (cf. 1Pe_1:1; 1Pe_1:17). This alludes to the fact that believers are citizens of a heavenly realm, not this time-space physical reality only. We are creatures of flesh and spirit (cf. Gen_1:26-27).
▣ "to abstain" This is literally "continue to hold yourself back from" (i.e., present middle infinitive). Believers must continue to struggle with sin and temptation (cf. Romans 7). The battle with evil does not cease at salvation (cf. Eph_6:10-20). In many ways it intensifies. When one believes in and receives Christ he/she is indwelt by the Spirit (cf. Rom_8:9) and given the divine nature (cf. 2Pe_1:4). However, this does not mean that the old sin nature is removed. It is made inoperative by Christ's finished work on our behalf (cf. Romans 6, see Special Topic: Null and Void).
The rabbis say that in every human's heart is a black and a white dog. The one you feed the most becomes the biggest. Believers face the continuing choice of seeking the good, dwelling on righteousness, walking in light, or reactivating the old sin nature! Believers are citizens of two realms (fallen human nature and the Spirit, cf. Rom_8:5-17); two ages (i.e., current evil age and the age of righteousness, cf. Tit_2:11-14); which one exerts the most influence?
▣ "from fleshly lusts" The body itself is not evil (Greek thought), but it is the battleground of self-centered and Satanic temptations (cf. Romans 6-8; Gal_5:16-24).
▣ "which wage war" this is a present middle indicative. This war is described in Jas_4:1-4.
1Pe_2:12 "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles" This is a present active participle used as an imperative. Unbelievers are watching! How believers live and react to the common struggles of life are loud witnesses to all who know them. Often our lives speak louder than our words!
▣ "slander you as evildoers" The early Christians were accused of
1. cannibalism (because of the Lord's Supper terminology)
2. incest (because they loved each other)
3. atheism (because their God was invisible)
4. treason (because they would not serve in the army or pledge allegiance to Caesar)
5. immorality (possibly the holy kiss)
This slander of The Way (cf. 1 Pet. 24:14; Act_28:22) seems to have developed in the pro-Emperor eastern provinces or the Roman Empire (Asia Minor).
▣ "they may because of your good deeds. . .glorify God" How we live as Christians reflects the God we claim to know and serve (cf. 1Pe_2:15; 1Pe_3:16; Mat_5:16; Php_2:15; Tit_2:7-8). The subjunctive mood introduces a contingency. God's glory is our highest calling and evangelistic mandate (cf. 1Pe_4:11; 1Pe_4:16).
▣ "in the day of visitation" This refers to any time that God draws near, either for blessing or for judgment (cf. Isa_10:3; Jer_8:12; Jer_10:15; Jer_11:23; Jer_23:12; Jer_46:21; Jer_48:44; Jer_50:27; Jer_51:18; Hos_9:7; Mic_7:4). It can be temporal or eschatological (cf. Luk_19:44). Some see this as relating to believers on trial, but in context it seems to refer to any opportunity for the unsaved to hear and respond to Jesus as Savior before they face Him as Judge.
A BRIEF OUTLINE TO THE PRACTICAL SECTION OF 1 PETER
A. Submission to government and community (1Pe_2:13-17)
B. Submission to earthly masters (1Pe_2:18-25)
C. Submission in the Christian home (1Pe_3:1-7)
D. Submission amidst persecution (1Pe_3:8-22)