1 Peter Study #14

“Dealing With the Devil”

1 Peter 5:8-14

Study #14 in 1 Peter Series

INTRODUCTION:

With this study we come to the close of this wonderful letter from the apostle Peter to the scattered Christians in the regions of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia in what is now the country of Turkey. He had many thoughts in mind when he began the letter, and he offered the believers many practical wise words of advice. 

TRANSITION:

But here in these closing verses of the letter Peter focuses on two themes: (1) the amazing and awesome grace of God, and (2) the importance of understanding how to deal with the devil, our ancient enemy, who wishes to do us harm. This subject makes some modern Christians uneasy because many are not sure they even believe in the reality of the devil anymore. Many self-declared Bible-believing, churchgoing “Christians” have sat for so long in liberal churches under modernist preachers that they have jettisoned many of the “old-fashioned” teachings of earlier Christianity. 

But obviously Peter didn’t get the memo. He, along with all the biblical writers, believed strongly in the reality of a personal devil, namely Satan, the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world, the father of lies, the author of all wickedness, and the chief enemy of God, who by the way, hates our guts too, because we belong to the Lord. Let’s dive right in. 

NOTES on the Text:

Verse 8: Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  

• “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.” – The word “spirit” is lacking in the Greek text, although it is implied. The Greek verb is νήφω (nēphō), meaning “to be clear-headed, to be calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate, discrete, and circumspect.” The second admonition, “be on the alert,” is the verb γρηγορέω (grēgoréō, from ἐγείρω), which means “to watch, to stay awake, to be vigilant.” Peter is urging all of us to always be vigilant because we are living behind the enemy lines in a spiritual war where the enemy wants to destroy us and will use any opportunity we give him.
• “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” – Peter makes it clear that in this war our enemy, our opponent, is none other than the Devil himself. He goes by many names, takes many forms, and has many titles but they all point to the same evil individual.

1.    Satan – Job 1:6, his name means adversary, who opposes or stands against.

2.    The Devil – Matt. 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8

3.    The Evil One ‒ 1 John 5:19; John 17:15; 2 Thess. 3:3

4.    Wicked One ‒ Matthew 13:19

5.    Beelzebul, ruler of the demons ‒ Matthew 12:24

6.    Belial ‒ 2 Corinthians 6:15

7.    Accuser ‒ Matthew 4:1; Rev. 12:10

8.    Adversary ‒ Job chapter 1 and 1 Peter 5:8

9.    Great Red Dragon ‒ Revelation chapter 12

10. Enemy ‒ Matthew 13:39

11. A murderer, a liar, and the father of lies ‒ John 8:44

12. Prince of the power of the air ‒ Ephesians 2:2

13. Roaring lion ‒ 1 Peter 5:8

14. The god of this world ‒ 2 Corinthians 4:4

15. Serpent ‒ Genesis 3; Rev. 12:9

16. Tempter ‒ Matthew 4:3

17. The Anointed Cherub who covers ‒ Ezekiel 28:14

• The English word “devil” comes from the Greek word, διάβολος (diábolos), which means “slanderer, liar, false accuser.” This also gives us the word “diabolical,” meaning devilish. These days many people have jettisoned the old belief about a literal devil. They claim that the biblical writers thought of evil in anthropomorphic terms, so they gave the concept of wickedness a name and a personality. They say that this is just a literary device. They totally reject the idea of a literal Satan, the leader of the fallen angels, a being of great intelligence and strength who pulls wicked strings behind the scenes to try and destroy the works of God. They scoff and sneer and make fun of us silly rubes who take the Bible literally.
• “…the devil prowls around like a roaring lion” – Lions roar mainly to proclaim their territory and to assert their power and dominance. This is especially important for male lions, who use their mighty roar to signal their presence and warn other males from encroaching on their domain. By doing this, they maintain the pride’s territory and safety. Their distinctive roar is generally delivered in the evening before a night’s hunting and then again at dawn.
• Satan claims this world as his own. He believes he has a right to it, and he defends his territory at all costs. He views us, God’s children, as enemies and interlopers. Because he hates God, he hates us too. He views us as vermin, as prey, and as food to be devoured. Lions also roar to express their power, thereby intimidating and frightening the other creatures in the area. Satan seems to get sadistic pleasure from frightening God’s children, but we need not fear him because God has told us in James 4:7, “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” That’s because he is a blowhard coward. Oh, make no mistake, he’s not afraid of us, but he’s deathly afraid of our Father. One more thing… nowhere in Scripture are we advised to flee from the devil. That would be a futile effort. But when we put on the armor of God, we have no need to fear the old dragon.  

Verse 9: But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

• “But resist him, firm in your faith,” – Who is “him”? The devil, obviously, from verse 8. And here Peter agrees with James. We must “resist” Satan. But how do we do that? Answer: by “standing firm in our faith.” Faith is the victory! Our faith in Christ, and our faith in The Faith, along with our dependence on the Holy Spirit, will fortify us to stand against him. The apostle Paul took up this same subject in Ephesians 6:11-17, giving us some very good practical information about how to deal with the devil: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
• “…knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” – There is an old expression in English: “Misery loves company.” That’s not exactly what Peter has in mind here but perhaps to a small degree. He tells his readers that the trials, persecution, and suffering they are experiencing are common to other believers in other times and other places. He says, in essence, “You aren’t alone in this. God has not singled you out for suffering and punishment. This is just part of following Christ. The devil hates you and the world despises you. That should come as no shock because that’s exactly the way they felt about our Lord Jesus.” 

Verse 10: After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 

• “After you have suffered for a little while,” – Your suffering will not go on forever, even though it might feel that way right now. Be comforted because help is coming and this storm will pass soon!
• There is a wonderful old Southern Gospel song written by Mosie Lister that I love. It is entitled, “’Til the Storm Passes By.” I think it expresses what Peter had in mind. You can listen to it here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jpr5HPyI4z8?si=pOtsiKLPRBdTTcJz   

Verse1:

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,

While the storm howls above me and there’s no hiding place.

’Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry,

“Keep me safe ’til the storm passes by.”

 

Chorus:

’Til the storm passes over, ’til the thunder sounds no more,

’Til the clouds roll forever from the sky.

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand.

Keep me safe ’til the storm passes by.

 

Verse 2:

Many times, Satan whispers, “There is no use to try,

For there’s no end of sorrow, there’s no hope by and by.”

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I’ll rise,

Where the storms never darken the skies. Chorus

 

Verse 3:

When the long night has ended, and the storms come no more,

Let me stand in Thy presence on that bright, peaceful shore.

In that land where the tempest never comes, Lord, may I

Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by. Chorus

 

• “…the God of all grace,” – Here the Apostle Peter bestows a unique title for God that is not found anywhere else in Scripture, “the God of all grace.” Our God is, in fact, the “God of all grace.” He is the ultimate source of all the grace in the universe. Just as there is no light apart from Him, there is also no grace apart from Him. The grace of God was important to Peter, proven by the fact that he mentioned God’s grace specifically eleven (11) times in his two epistles. Simon Peter was the recipient of God’s grace in Galilee when a resurrected Christ graciously called him again after Peter had denied the Lord. A remorseful Peter knew that he was an undeserving sinful man. Yet Jesus gave Peter his name, meaning “a rock.” He also commissioned Peter to feed the lambs of God’s flock and to strengthen his brethren. Peter had indeed “tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:3). In his epistles, he desires that we as followers also appreciate and treasure the “manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). The term manifold grace means that God’s grace is applied in different ways at different times. Sometimes, God’s grace does not look at all like grace! He sends us hardships, troubles, sicknesses, trials, and even persecution and death! Is this God’s grace? Yes! God’s grace is the same, regardless of circumstances. Here in 1 Peter 5:10, Peter outlined how the manifold grace of God works in our lives through suffering. He was writing to believers who were facing the fires of Roman persecution and the agonies of martyrdom by gladiators, lions, fire, and torture.
• “…who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,” – This same God of all grace who called us to follow Christ, to serve Him, and to even suffer for His name’s sake has also called us to share in Christ’s eternal glory. Because we are “in Christ” we too will share in that glory. Not only that, but Peter also says this same God of all grace is at work molding and shaping and conforming us into what He wants us to be. But how does He do that?   
• “…[He] will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” –

o   God’s grace “perfects” us. The perfection Peter speaks of here is not sinless perfection. Rather, it is the mending and making whole what is incomplete or broken. It is the verb, καταρτίζω (katartídzō), which means “to mend (what has been broken or torn), to repair, to complete, or to fit together.” The same word is used in Matthew 4:21 that says, “Going on from there [Jesus] saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.” As a Galilean fisherman, Peter knew the importance of this daily maintenance of nets and equipment. Similarly, the grace of God takes what is broken and torn in our lives and mends it for His glory, completing what is missing and making us whole!

o   God’s grace “confirms” us. This is the Greek word, στηρίζω (stērídzō), which means “to make stable, to place firmly, to set fast, or to fix.” Jesus used this very same Greek word when He said to Peter, “…But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32). Peter wrote this epistle in obedience to that command. He knew by experience that it is the grace of God that gives stability to a man. Peter had no stability in and of himself. He was an overly self-confident, impulsive follower of Christ; he vowed ultimate allegiance one minute and then denied the Lord in the next! Only the grace of God gave Peter stability in the Book of Acts; only by the grace of God do we possess stability also.

o   God’s grace “strengthens” us. This unique verb, σθενόω (sthenóō), meaning “to make strong or to strengthen”, is used only here in the entire Bible. It is what biblical scholars call a hapax legomenon, which literally means “said once” and refers to a word or an expression that occurs only once in the New Testament. The word, however, is related to the commonly used verb, ἵστημι (hístēmi), which means to “stand up, or take a stand.” God’s grace allows us to stand! Like Peter, who wept bitterly after his denial of Christ, we too are often driven to our knees by our failures and weakness. Peter surely remembered the day on the Sea of Galilee when he took his eyes off the Master and began to sink in the waves. What enabled him to miraculously stand on the water’s surface? It was the touch of the Master. It was the grace of our Lord that enabled Peter to stand again. At another time, God’s grace opened the prison doors when the angel bid Peter to rise. God’s grace empowered him to stand boldly before the Sanhedrin and declare the Gospel of salvation in Christ. So too, the grace of God empowers us to stand, and take our stand, when we would otherwise sink in despair.

o   God’s grace “establishes” us. God’s grace is our foundation. The Greek word here is θεμελιόω (themelióō), which means “to lay the foundation, to found, to make stable, to settle, or to establish.” It is the same verb Jesus used in describing the house that was “founded upon a rock” in Matthew 7:25. In Hebrews 1:10 it is used this way: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands.” In the same way that a house founded upon a rock can stand firm although battered by storms, wind, earthquakes, and floods, so also a life founded and established upon the grace of God will never crumble.

 

Verse 11: To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

• “To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – As Peter sat and pondered what he had just said under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I believe he was overcome by the awesomeness of the manifold grace of God. There arose in him a cry of praise that issued forth from the depths of his soul. Has that ever happened to you? While reading and meditating on God’s Word you are suddenly overtaken by the need to voice your praise and adoration to God, and to thank Him for so great a salvation. It has happened to me many times.
• At this point in the letter, we can observe a shift in the quality of the writing. Up until now the letter has been written in perfect literary Greek. The grammar and syntax have been flawless. But suddenly the letter changes, as though a foreigner with an accent has taken over the quill and ink. Why might that be? I believe that is exactly what happened.

Verse 12: Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!  

• “Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly,” – We know that Peter was getting up in years by the time of this writing. He was no longer a young man. History records his death in the year AD 67/68 during the reign of Nero. He was probably around 65 years old when he died. Based on historical evidence and careful examination of the text he composed this letter about 2 years before his death. Peter was a Galilean. Greek was not his first language. But during his 30+ years of ministry I am certain that he gained proficiency in speaking Koiné Greek. But one of the things Bible students observe about Peter’s two letters is the difference in the quality of the Greek between his first and second letter. This verse in 5:12 gives us the explanation. In 1 Peter he had help from his friend, Silvanus. In 2 Peter he was on his own, doing his best, but showing much less linguistic proficiency.
• So, who was Silvanus? You know him better by his more common name, Silas. Yes, that Silas! He was a faithful Christian. He was a beloved friend and fellow worker, not only of Peter, but also of Paul and of Timothy and many others. In the NT he is first introduced in Acts 15:22-29. He became a prominent early Christian leader and missionary companion of the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys. He played a key role in the establishment of the church in Thessalonica. He co-authored the New Testament letters 1 and 2 Thessalonians with Paul. He is remembered for his encouragement and strengthening of the early Christian communities and for his contributions to the spread of the Gospel in the first century. But there is something else you need to know about him, something you might guess from his Greek name. He was also a native Greek speaker, and thus able to help Peter with the writing or this letter. He must have served as Peter’s amanuensis, his scribe, taking down the dictation as Peter spoke the words, but making any necessary corrections to the grammar and syntax. But I believe that changed at this point in the letter. Peter wrote verses 12-14 with his own hand, adding his personal touch.
• “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” – Here Peter reemphasizes the theme of the letter, the true grace of God, and urges his readers to stand firm in it, despite their trials and persecution.

Verse 13: She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.

• “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings,” – This verse has left many Bible students scratching their heads. Scholars have put forth various opinions, but nobody knows for sure exactly what Peter had in mind here. However, most scholars agree that it refers to the church (ekklesia, ἐκκλησία), which in Greek is a feminine word. Peter apparently was writing this letter from “Babylon.” He might have been referring to the literal city of Babylon, on the Euphrates River in Iraq, which still existed in those days. Or he might have been in the “other” Babylon, the one in Egypt, which was a Roman military fortress near the present city of Cairo. Or it might even be a symbolic way of referring to either Rome or Jerusalem. During the later part of Peter’s ministry both cities were famous for their wickedness and spiritual rebellion, just like ancient Babylon was. As a Biblical concept, “Babylon” as the city of this world, stands in contrast to “Jerusalem” as the city of God. In any regard, this was one church greeting another.
• “…and so does my son, Mark.” – We know that Peter was married because Jesus healed his mother-in-law from a serious illness. This is recorded in three of the Gospels, in Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, and Luke 4:38-39. However, the Bible does not tell us whether Peter and his wife had any children. But here we have Peter speaking about his “son, Mark” who, along with Silvanus, was apparently with him when he penned this letter. But who was he?
• This is none other than John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, a friend and traveling companion to Paul and Barnabas, a close associate of Peter, and a key figure in the early church. We first learn about him in Acts 12:12, 12:25, and 15:37-39. We know that he was a resident of Jerusalem, and his mother, Mary, owned a home that served as a meeting place for the early Christians. He was also the cousin of Barnabas. Young Mark, probably still a teenager, joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey as their assistant but for some reason deserted them in Pamphylia and returned home to Jerusalem. This desertion caused a sharp division between Paul and Barnabas, leading them to separate and form two teams. On their next missionary journey Barnabas took John Mark, and Paul chose Silas as his companion, the very same Silas (or Silvanus) mentioned in verse 12. Despite Paul’s earlier disappointment and frustration with Mark, some years later the two of them reconciled. In his later letters, Paul speaks favorably of Mark, indicating reconciliation and mutual respect. In Colossians 4:10, Paul writes, “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.” At the end of his life, writing in 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul acknowledges Mark’s value to his ministry: “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” It is evident that Peter regarded Mark affectionately, calling him “my son” here in 1 Peter 5:13. Church history records that Peter and Mark had a close friendship and that Peter was a great influence in Mark’s life. Moreover, when we carefully examine the style and perspective of the Gospel of Mark, most biblical scholars agree that Peter was Mark’s primary source of information for his Gospel. Peter was an eyewitness, and Mark’s writing reflects Peter’s perspective on the events.

Verse 14: Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ. 

• “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” – Some have argued that Peter is hereby introducing a new practice into the church, but that is not true. The kiss of love and peace was already part of the culture, as it is in many places in the world. Peter just sanctioned its use in the churches of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia as a sincere expression of Christian love. In some places Christians bow to one another as a sign of love and respect. In other places they shake hands and say, “God bless you” or “Peace be with you.” When I went to Brazil as a missionary in 1968, I discovered that Brazilian Christians hug one another (o abraço) and kiss each other (o beijo) on the cheeks. That took some getting used to, but I grew to love it. The “holy kiss” or “kiss of love” is mentioned five (5) times in the New Testament, so you can see it was something that was widely practiced.

§  Romans 16:16 – “Greet one another with a holy kiss”

§  1 Corinthians 16:20 – “Greet one another with a holy kiss"

§  2 Corinthians 13:12 – “Greet one another with a holy kiss”

§  1 Thessalonians 5:26 – “Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss”

§  1 Peter 5:14 – “Greet one another with a kiss of love”

• “Peace be to you all who are in Christ.” – Outside of Christ there is no peace. He is the Author of Peace, the Prince of Peace. He alone can give us peace. In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” The world talks about peace, longs for peace, seeks peace but they are always looking for it in the wrong places. If they would just stop, and contemplate Christ, and turn to Him in faith, He would pour out His peace on them in abundance. Their hearts would no longer be troubled and afraid.