Articles
Character While Suffering - 1 Peter 3
Character While Suffering 1 Peter 3
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 NASB95
OR, as we have it in the ESV: “ 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. [ ESV]
In the Greek of v. 8 there are five adjectives without any verb. The NIV supplies the verb “live,” which captures well the implied imperative.193 Probably the implied imperative comes from the “to be” (eimi) verb, and the text would read, “You must be… NAC
Greek scholars like to point out that this section has five adjectives without any verb. In order to translate into English we need to supply a verb. NIV says we are all to ‘LIVE’, the ESV says we are ‘TO HAVE’, and the NAB95 says we are to BE. Whatever verb is supplied, these five adjectives must define our lives. Interestingly, these and similar demands are repeated in other letters: Col. 3:12; Eph. 4:1-2; Phil. 2:1-2, etc. They are important aspects of our character as disciples of Jesus.
Such character traits are to be DEVELOPED even in, or especially in, times of suffering! And such suffering that comes not from just normal life experiences and problems, but from persecution for being a disciple of Jesus. Do these actually describe your character? What are you doing to increase such in your daily living? Hugh DeLong
For a more involved discussion of these 5 words, cp. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/t7t7lxz8nspucdrgupp3b/03-Word-study-of-1-Peter-3-8and9.docx?rlkey=jfiyz7kmmx9926zy8e8dmsfkp&dl=0
