Bible Study Commentary
1 PETER
Lesson 7: Love One Another
1 Peter 1:22-25
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25
but the word of the Lord stands forever."And
this is the word that was preached to you.
So far Peter instructed them to be mentally ready, to be holy, and to fear God. In this passage, Peter will exhort the early believers to love one another. Just like the earlier exhortations, Peter expected them to have this new attitude and lifestyle because of their genuine salvation (new birth) from God.
In the Jewish society, "purity" is related to holiness in the sense of being separated from all uncleanliness. Bodily cleanliness is mandated It is required in order to approach God in worship and to participate in religious feasts (see John 11:55, Acts 21:24,26). The usual mode of purification is the washing of the body and clothes.
What does the word "purified" mean in this passage?
answer: "Purified" in this verse is the result of their obedience to the truth. Looking back at verses 2 and 14 where it says "for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood...As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had...", we can say these verses refer to the cleansing and forgiving power of Jesus Christ. It also refers to their continuous obedience that results in moral purity (holiness).
What made Peter think that the new believers had a sincere love for one another?
answer: In verse 22, the believers had purified themselves by obeying the truth, and verse 23 shows that they had been born again.
How can Peter assume that obedience to the truth produces love for one another?
answer: Peter considers obedience as an integral part of salvation. Salvation means new birth (v.1:3). Since the early believers were obeying the truth, it tells us that they had received salvation, and had been born again. (1) Peter implies that the new life received in salvation has a natural desire to love one another. (2) Also loving one another is a command to those who obey the truth. The grammar in verse 22 indicates that their love for the brethren comes from their purification through obedience to the truth.
How should Christians love one another?
answer: Peter said that they should deeply love one another from the heart. The word "deeply" implies the need for a Christian to exert his own effort to express that love. "From the heart" implies that it is the Holy Spirit that places love in their heart. This reveal the twofold requirements of loving others: God changed their hearts, and their willingness to obey Him.
"23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."
In this verse, Peter clearly affirms the foundation of his exhortation to love: being born again. As in earlier exhortations, Peter is asking them to live out their salvation. He previously asked them to live in holiness because they had already been made holy. He is now asking them to practice love because they have been given a new loving heart.
What is the imperishable seed?
answer: The imperishable seed is the Word of God (see James 1:18). Seeds naturally die in the process of giving new life (e.g. John 12:24). Humans are given birth through a perishable seed. On the other hand, the Word of God, as the imperishable seed, gives new life (when received by faith), remains unchanged, and does not die.
24
For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.Verse 24-25a is a quotation from Isaiah 40:6-8. Peter refers to the writing of the prophet Isaiah several times in this letter (1:24-25; 2:6; 2:8; 2:9; 2:22).
Our passage uses two different Greek terms for ‘word.’ In verse 23 Peter uses ‘logos’ while in verse 25 ‘rhema’ is used. Both are common and can occasionally be a synonymous with each other. But logos could also mean Son of God (see John 1:1-18).
What is the purpose of quoting Isaiah 40:6-8? How does it relate to the message of our passage?
answer: The quotation is to support the point of verse 23; that man’s existence is temporal and perishable. The quotation also sets the contrast from man's old existence to the imperishable seed that has given them new birth. This implies that the new person will also live forever and not perish (John 3:16).
Can you explain from what we have studied the process of being born again by the imperishable seed?
answer: The seed is the Word of God which is also the truth (v.22) and the gospel (v.25). The Word of God was preached to the believers (v.25) and they responded with faith and obedience (v.22). The Word of God, like an imperishable seed, results in the birth of a new person (v. 3, 23). Of course, this whole process is the mysterious work the Holy Spirit (v.2, John 3:6-8).
Present Application
How important it is that we, as Christians, practice love towards one another?
answer: As Peter’s instruction suggests, becoming a child of God through new birth comes with the expectation that we should express the nature of our Father. Loving one another is evidence that we belong to God’s family. Whenever we refuse to practice love towards others, we are doing something that is contrary to our new nature as born again believers. Such attitudes will hinder us in our spiritual growth and will weaken us to live a life in likeness of Jesus Christ.
How important is the Word of God in our new life as Christians?
answer: It is very clear from Peter’s message that the Word of God is a vital part of our Christian life. It is the word that was preached to us that brings us our great salvation. Like a seed, we have been born again through the living and enduring Word of God. Unlike anything that exists in this world, the Word of God is imperishable for it continues to give us life and nurtures our growth as a child of God. Finally, our complete obedience to the truth (God’s Word) makes us to be like our Father, expressing His attributes such as deeply loving one another.
Is there anything else that you can learn from Lesson 7? How would you apply it to your life today?answer: [Write in your answer]
Summary Lesson 7: Peter exhorts the believers to love one another deeply. As born again believers, they now have a new life that has the ability to express the love of God towards others. They were given new birth through the living and imperishable Word of God. Let's go to Lesson 8.Note to teachers: If you have any questions, need additional clarification, or have comments concerning this commentary, please do not hesitate to inform me. CLICK HERE