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Lesson Notes: 1 Peter 3:8-14a
(NIV based)
TITLE: God assures that blessing will come to those who respond righteously to unjust suffering.
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READ: 1 Peter 3:8-14a, with v.7 for context
vv.8-9a
From the immediate context in verses 1-7 of how wives and husbands should relate and treat each other, what principles do verses 8-9a identify and extend to "all of you"?
Describe for each principle what its dynamics should be in our church and ministries.
In the passage’s broader context of 1 Peter of suffering unjustly, what do verses 8-9a describe and suggest about how to respond to unjust suffering?
- - Unjust suffering can involve the innocent victim exerting all the work and efforts to maintain harmony.
- - The innocent victim has the responsibility before God to possess a right attitude about the unjust suffering he/she is experiencing - characterized by sympathy, love, compassion, humility.
- - The innocent victim also has the responsibilities before God to react without any desire or attempts to get revenge, to do no evil in return, to speak no evil or deceit
(v.10), and to instead return blessings back upon the perpetrator.
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vv.9b-12 (cf. Psalm 34:12-16)
What does verse 9 instruct that our reaction should be when we are mistreated or suffer unjustly?
And how does this godly reaction differ from how we would normally react?
What would we have to do to ensure that we always react in the godly way rather than in our natural way?
How will God respond to the innocent victim consistently responding rightly and godly to unjust suffering?
- - God will institute “blessing” upon the innocent victim
(v.9) and “good days”
(v.10); He sees their suffering and will be attentive to his/her prayers
(v.12).
- - God will exert a position against the person who is doing the perpetrating.
(v.12)
- - But God will not necessarily protect the innocent victim from further unjust suffering
(v.14) because apparently He establishes that the blessings that come from the unjust suffering will have greater value for the sufferer perhaps long-term than that person receiving no blessings that come from avoiding the suffering.
Conversely, what do the contents of verses 10-12 imply about how God will respond to a person's suffering if that person is living in sinful ways that are contrary to what is being promoted in verses 10-12?
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v.13
What principle is implied in this verse and why is it important enough to state here?
- - Perpetrators tend not to inflict unjust suffering on potential victims who are making efforts to extend good to the perpetrator - i.e. if the perpetrator is benefiting, he is less prone to bite the source of the benefits to him.
Understanding this dynamic gives the potential victim a foundation from which to formulate and implement a good proactive game plan.
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v.14a
What principle does verse 14a add to the implication in verse 13? Why or how is this principle valid?
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BIG IDEA: God will enact blessings upon those who suffer unjustly if they consistently respond rightly and godly.
A paradox: great blessing can come from great mistreatment.
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MAIN POINT: What would you say is the main point in these verses?
IMPORTANT SUB-POINTS: What are some other important points God is making here in these verses?
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APPLICATIONS: What applications can you think of for how we should respond to the concepts in these verses?
PERSONALIZED APPLICATIONS: From these verses, what do you think God wants
you to learn, or know, or remember, or put into effect in your life?
How are you going to do that?
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Works Cited:
Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library
CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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Copyrights:
Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2014 Mel W. Coddington, and permission is hereby granted that this document may be
used, copied, and distributed
non-commercially to non-profit organizations, individuals, churches, ministries, and schools worldwide, provided the
copies are distributed at no charge and retain this sources documentation as supplied herein. This document is not for sale, resale, or for use as a gift or premium to be offered in connection with solicitations or contributions.
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File name: 1Peter3_8-14a-Lesson.___ (.htm, .doc, .pdf)
Translation used: NIV, quoted or referred to in various places within this document
Source: www.BelieverAssist.com
Updated: December 26, 2016
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