# 3.2.3 1 Peter Babylon, The Bishop the Soul and Believers
## Introduction
- LIVE HOLY ( 1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.) -- GOD OVERSEES -- BABYLON
- a strong distaste for Babylon == A building block of a mature faith is a HATRED for sin. It is the other sdie of the coin of a LOVE FOR GOD's HOLINESS.
- Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom.
> Genesis 13:12 — Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
- hate even the garment spotted
> Jude 1:23 — And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. [hating the sin that contaminates their lives]
- abstain from teh appearance of it.
> 1 Thessalonians 5:22 — Abstain from all appearance of evil.
## I. Babylon
> 1 Peter 5:13 — The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
- Not Just Fallen, but Opposed to God and the CITY OF GOD
- Babylon is mentioned **287 times** in the Scriptures, more than any other city **except Jerusalem**.
- In Genesis 4:16,17 Cain went out from the presence of the LORD ... Cain built a city (Enoch = **THE CITY OF MAN**). Cain being uninterested in being ruled by God and attempting to ensure his legacy of self rule by building cities
> Augustine in his writing "The City of God": framed all of human history around the conflict between two cities: the City of God (built on love of God) and the City of Man (built on love of self). He identified Cain as the founder of the earthly city, whose rebellious lineage directly birthed the spirit of Babel and imperial Rome/Babylon.
- Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9), Syrian Assaults (2 Kings 6:8), Assyrian Captivity (2 Kings 17:6), Babylonian Captivity (2 Kings 24:10), Mystery Babylon (Revelation 17:5), "Rome"/"Egypt"/"?" (1 Peter 5:13)
> Daniel 4:28-33 — ...31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
- Before her ultimtate Judgment, There will be an increasing "normalization of evil" (UPSIDE DOWN WORLD):
- Refusing the Mark of the Beast to buy, trade and sale will be characterized as **criminal** - capital crime.
- Refusing to worship the Beast or his image, will be characterized as **idolatry**.
- To speak the TRUTH of God's Word, will be condemned as **spreading lies and false information**.
- State sponsored corruption will be accepted **"as they way things are"** and any rebellion (verbal, action, inaction) against Babylon will be characterized as **acts of terrorism**.
- or a season Babylon will be the standard of the world, but she will be judged for her corruption.
- Babylon is an unholy (ANTI-CHRIST) union of the religious, commercial and political systems of the world. The system will be judged in two stages (17:16 and 18:21): Religious (Revelation 17) and Commercial/Political (Revelation 18). **A DECEPTION YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL. (Matthew 4 "All of the kingdoms of the world!...")**
1. COMMERCIAL: "Parallel Economy"
2. POLITICAL: What we do and how we do it are not the same instruments and motivations in the hands of a believer.
3. RELIGIOUS: Not merley competive with genuine faith but **TROUBLESOME** to it. (Mark 16:14- "who is doing this stuff?")
> John 16:33 — These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. **In the world** ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
- Babylon is the "city"/"society" that has forgotten God, in that they have refused to RETAIN Him in their hearts and minds. [acknowledge]. An Unholy Society Opposed to the Holy Society.
> Romans 1:28 — And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; [like a minted coin; A = negative; failing the test --- "RETAIN; APPROVE GOD IN THEIR MIND" => "REPROBATE; OVER TO THEIR DISQUALIFIED MIND"]
> Deuteronomy 8:8:10-20 — When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11 **Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments**, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; 17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
**THE BELIEVER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BABYLON. THE BELIEVER OPPOSES and RESISTS BABYLON.**
- 1 Peter 1:1 "elect scattered..."; 1 Peter 1:6 "Manifold Tempations" (patience/endurance needed); 4:12 "fiery trial"; 1:17 "Time of your sojourning"; 2:11 "strangers and pilgrims"; 3:17 a place where you may "suffer for well doing"; 2:8 & 3:22 contrast: "rock of offense" & in heaven "all subject" to Christ; 4:3 "the will of the Gentiles"; 4:6 "the dead"; 5:8 "your adversary the devil"
> Revelation 18:4 — And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, **Come out of her, my people**, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
- Peter teaches much (and we will get into more detail another time) on subjection. And frames the nature and character of our resistance to BABYLON is found truly in our SUBJECTION to God.
- 1 Peter is NOT WRITTEN TO BABYLON, but the elected scattered in her midst!
- THINK ABOUT THE SONGS WE SING: This old world is loosing its hold, I'm Getting Ready to Leave this World, I'll Soon be Gone, We're Marching to Zion,
- (find missing notes)
## II. The Bishop of the Soul
1 Peter 2:25 overseer... inspects, protects, the sheep;
Rod and staff - Under the the rod
God oversews your soul as a shephwrd hos sheep. Not just over the flock, over the body but individually. He cares nurtured saves and inspects
1 peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Review Babylon:
- Source of fiery trial - to serve God in Holiness is a rebuke to it and opposes it - accusers of those who in good consvienve seeve God
- Stranger alien in - sojourn in it in fear
- Excel despite it
- Ch5 as a roaring lion devour
Preview of Believers:
- maintaining faith toward God and a good testimony
- Distaste for it (eschew evil)- christ evil spoken of vs glorified ch. 4
- hidden man of the heart - in christ Jesus
- unity love as brethren
- honest vonversation in midst
- free without using liberty as a cloak
- the stewards of the manifold grace of God
- the house of God (family) gods heritage
- dead to sin alive to righteousness
- partakers of Christs sufferings
**How litle we make God appear.** Dividions vs full gospel. Beliebers bsptism ... idol of movements.
Preserving HIS Word to all genrarations. Dovtrime of the Bible.
> Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
...........
## 1. Nature of God - triune
- 1 Peter 1:2
- Elect according to the foreknowledge **of God the Father**,
- through sanctification **of the Spirit**,
- unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of **Jesus Christ**: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
## 2. Father - Begotten us
> 1 Peter 1:3 — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy **hath begotten** us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {abundant: Gr. much}
> Psalms 100:3 — Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
## 3. Judge 3:16-20 - to be feared- long suffering of God in Noah ch.3 - both the quick and dead - begins in house of God - every mans work
- spiritual warfare
> 1Pe 3:18 ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
> 1Pe 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
> 1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
> 1 Peter 5:5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
## 4. Bishop (commit the keeping)
- who resjsts the proud and gives grace
- The will of God "acceptable to God"
- the eyes of tge lord are upon righteous ch. 3
- god giveth ability
## 5. Chief Shepherd
## 6. The God of All Grace . 1 peter 2: is gracious
Faithful. The object of our faith
Disallowed stone - heqd of corner - stone of stumbling - suffered unjustly
His marvelous light
Faithful Creator
He that sufgerws in flesh veased from sin
=====
-Primary Titles for God
-The Father (1:2, 1:3, 1:17) – Used frequently to establish both the believer's identity as a child of God and God's role in election.
-The Creator (4:19) – Specifically phrased as "a faithful Creator" (pistos ktistēs), highlighting His reliability to protect those who are suffering.
-The Judge (1:17, 2:23, 4:5) – Portrayed as the one who "judges impartially according to each one’s deeds" and who stands "ready to judge the living and the dead."
-Descriptive Titles & Divine Attributes
-While not single-word titles, Peter uses these distinct, formal phrasing blocks to define God’s character:
-The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:3) – The formal opening blessing.
-The God of all grace (5:10) – The source of ultimate spiritual strength, who calls believers to eternal glory.
-He who called you (1:15, 2:9, 5:10) – Peter repeatedly refers to God by His action of "calling" believers out of darkness into his marvelous light.
-The Holy One (1:15) – "As He who called you is holy, you also be holy."
-It is worth noting that Peter also uses prominent titles for Jesus Christ that closely mirror Old Testament titles for God:
-The Shepherd and Overseer (Guardian) of your souls (2:25)
-The Chief Shepherd (5:4)
-Lord (1:3, 2:3, 3:15) – Peter frequently applies the Old Testament title Kyrios (Lord) directly to Jesus.
## III. And the Believer
### A. REVIEW
#### 1. Review of Babylon:
- Source of fiery trial - to serve God in Holiness is a rebuke to it
- accusers of those who **in good conscience** serve God
- Stranger alien in - sojourn in it in fear
- The Believer can Excel despite it (maintains an honest conversation in the midst)
- Ch5 The devil as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour
#### 2. Review of the Bishop of the Soul
- **(11)** The Father (1:2, 1:3, 1:17); The Creator (4:19); The Judge (1:17, 2:23, 4:5); The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:3); The God of all grace (5:10); He who called you (1:15, 2:9, 5:10); The Holy One (1:15); The Shepherd and Overseer (Guardian) of your souls (2:25); The Chief Shepherd (5:4); **Lord** (1:3, 2:3, 3:15)
- Care Taker, Overwatch
### B. The Believer Overview
#### 1. Descriptions Of (do some as a quiz, find a verse that demonstrates X)
- maintaining faith toward God and a good testimony to all men ( 1Pe 1:5 **kept ... through faith** 1 Pe 5:9 **stedfast in the faith**)
- BE HOLY AS GOD IS HOLY: Distaste for Babylon (eschew evil)- christ evil spoken of vs glorified 1Pe 4:14 **Christ evil spoken of**
- in christ Jesus 5:14 **all that are in Christ Jesus**
- unity 1 Peter 3:8 love as brethren
- free without using liberty as a cloak
- the stewards of the manifold grace of God
- the house of God (family) gods heritage
- dead to sin alive to righteousness
- partakers of Christs sufferings
#### 2. The Believer Has...
- 1:12 "holy Ghost sent Gospel - good news!"
- 1:4 an incorruptible inheritance
- 1:5 "end time salvation" and 1:9,10 "the "Salvation of the Soul"
- 1:11 "the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow"
- a "call to holiness" (to be like Jesus) 1:14,15,16
- a "grace of sanctification"
- "the elect of God" (**ACCORDING TO** foreknowledge of God, **THROUGH** sanctification of the Sprit, **UNTO** obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus) <- CAUSE, MEANS and PURPOSE
- Hope in this world and BEYOND
- "the revelation of Jesus Christ"
### C. Peter
#### 1. 1:1 **PETER** - One Believer to Another
> 1 Peter 1:1 — Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
#### 2. What do you know about Peter? (What are his qualifications? Do YOu know who I am?) 1:1
- 156 Occurrencces of "Peter" in the Bible. 93 in Matthew to John; 56 in Acts alone. 7 verses in remaing N.T.
- Mt 4:18 two brothers, two fishermen "Simon & Andrew"
- The name "Petros" = "a (piece of) rock" larger than "a stone"
- We have just 2 letters from Peter in the N.T. (Early church tradition holds that Mark wrote his Gospel by recording the memories and preaching of Peter.)
- The story of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law is recorded in three of the New Testament gospels: Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, and Luke 4:38-39. ( Mt 8:14 ¶ And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.) --- the Apostles SEEM TO HAVE left their familial responsibilities to follow Jesus,
- Paul said, "the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter" Galatians 2:7 Paul Links the source of his Apostleship and Peter's as one: Ga 2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
- Galatians 2:11 ¶ But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because **he was to be blamed.** <= **THERE WAS AN INCIDENT**
- What Peter Didn't live, but Taught, where did that counsel come from? It does and should mattter who is teaching you.
### D. ELECT **ACCORDING TO** - **THROUGH** - **UNTO**, 1:2
> 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied
- **ACCORDING TO** foreknowledge of God, **THROUGH** sanctification of the Sprit, **UNTO** obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus
> show relationships of cause, means, and purpose.
- UNTO: for the PURPOSE OF...
### Subjection/Submission
> 1 Peter 2:13 ¶ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
> 1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
> 1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
> 1 Peter 5:5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, **submit&& yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be **subject** one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
In 1 Peter, the primary Greek word used for “submit” or “be subject” is hypotassō (ὑποτάσσω), which literally means "to arrange under" or "to yield to proper order". However, across English translations and the underlying Greek text, Peter relies on a rich web of related terms and expressions to convey submission, deference, and posture.
**English translators render hypotassō and related concepts using several distinct terms**:
- Obey / Obedience: Rendered in passages like 1 Peter 1:2, 1:14 (as "obedient children"), and 3:6 (where Sarah obeyed Abraham).
- Yield / Yielding: Often used in modern dynamic translations (like the NLT or Amplified) in 1 Peter 2:13 and 5:5 to capture voluntary deference.
- Be Subordinate / Subordinate Yourselves: (e.g., NABRE, NRSV) for 1 Peter 2:18 and 3:1.
- Humility / Humble Yourselves: Found in 1 Peter 5:5–6 ("clothe yourselves with humility" / "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God").
- Honor / Respect: Rendered in 1 Peter 2:17 ("Honor everyone... Honor the emperor") as an active manifestation of submissive deference.
## Conclusion