Wednesday 07 May 2014

Background

Violence, cataclysm, and catastrophe - are these the images thatcome to mind when we hear warnings that the "end of all things isnear"? Most early Christian writings are laced with the expectationthat Christ would soon return to end the suffering of the faithfuland establish God's everlasting reign. While there was theexpectation of God's coming judgement, the end was not viewed innegative terms. The word for 'end' in Greek is 'telos,' which canalso mean goal or ultimate purpose. For the author of 1 Peter,God's ultimate purpose is salvation, revealed in the death andresurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is the goal toward whichChristians strive. And the passage also anticipates the reign ofGod which brings about the end of things as they are.

Verses 7-11 are situated at the end of a much longer section ofmaterial that begins in the epistle's second chapter. In chapters 2and 3 the letter's author encourages Gentile converts toChristianity to revere God and follow the example of the sufferingChrist. He instructs them to fulfil their social obligations todifferent forms of authority so they can't be accused of anywrongdoing. The letter also promises that God will vindicateChristians for any injustice they suffer at the hands of others.One may infer from the letter than Christian converts in Asia Minor(now modern-day Turkey) were suffering. People insulted them fortheir beliefs. There was the underlying threat of violent abuse.Even in these circumstances, Christians are to love their enemies.People are encouraged with the words that "the end of all things isnear" - their goal is at hand.

The letter then moves to relationships amongst Christians, whoare the household of the faithful. Mutual love is the dominanttheme. A key Greek word is 'agape', which means self-giving love.Christians express their love and forgive one another of sin. 1Peter understands sin to have a corporate character. Sin amongstChristians damages the community spiritually and threatens itstenuous place in the larger society. Christians are not to cover upwrongdoing, but to reveal and obliterate it through practising thelove and forgiveness exemplified by Jesus Christ. Faith, then, isintensely social for this community of Christians. And oneimportant sign of their faith is the love they share and theirwillingness to forgive one another.

To Ponder

• What is your response to verse 7 when you read it as: 'Theultimate purpose of your faith is near'?

• How might the way Christians treat other Christians impact theway they are viewed by larger society?

• Why might the idea that all sin is social in character beimportant for us today?