Phrase

NT

1 Peter 5:5-9

esv

mine

Likewise,

Comparison

you who are younger,

Reference

be subject to the elders.

all of you,

Clothe yourselves, ... with humility

toward one another,

for “God opposes the proud

Negative

but gives grace to the humble.”

Positive

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble

therefore,

for this reason

Inference (v, 5)

Humble yourselves, ... (humble people rely on God's provision)

make yourself low in your own eyes

under the mighty hand of God

under whatever situation God has placed you in

Locative

so that at the proper time

for the purpose that in His own timing

Purpose

he may exalt you,

He will lift you up;

Result

[by] casting all your anxieties on him, (proud people take care of their own needs)

do this by releasing all your anxieties to Him

Manner

because he cares for you.

because He is concerned for your well-being.

Ground

Be sober- minded;

Don't be in a stupor;

Means

be watchful.

be alert.

Your adversary ... prowls around

Your great enemy is on the hunt

like a roaring lion,

like a hungry lion

the devil

he is called the devil

Appositive

seeking someone to devour (Satan loves proud people)

and he wants to eat you alive

Resist him,

Oppose him

firm in your faith,

by staying strong in your belief in Christ

knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced

understanding the reality that these are the same things going on

by your brotherhood

by your fellow Christians

Association

throughout the world.

all around the world

phrasing

notes

Just a Few Thoughts

Humility is the key to a successful life. There appear to be two facets of humility in this passage: (1) Humility within the Church – Peter exhorts the believers to be submissive to the elders and each other. The chapter starts off with an exhortation to all the elders to govern with gentleness. Peter then includes the elders along with the rest of the congregation when he says, "Clothe yourselves with humility...towards one another." He then gives the ground for that command. It is because God resists those who are proud but lifts up those who show humility. Those leaders who are humble will show humility in their leadership, and those congregants who are humble will willingly submit to the leadership. In this sense, humility is two-way street. (2) The most interesting portion of this Scripture for me, however, was Peter's second command of humility. After finishing up his first exhortation he launches into his second using the common inference word, 'therefore.' In other words, this is the practical part of the command. The command is once again humility, but with a different aspect. This time we are told how to humble ourselves. It is found in the Means of the participle 'casting.' It seems quite odd that giving our cares over to God is a means of being humble, but in the context of of the book of 1Peter it makes absolute sense! Peter's audience were exiled. They had been driven from their homes. Some of them were being falsely accused by non-believers. They were loosing their land as well as their reputation. If there was a time to be anxious this certainly would have been it. Yet, Peter gently instructs them to cast or to hurl all of that upon God. The reason for this is simple: He cares for you. The God of the universe commands that we bring our cares and anxieties to Him and leave them there. This is a sign of humility because a proud person wants to take care of their own problems. They need no help, nor do they want it. But a humble person gladly accepts the help. Are you showing humility by submitting to your elders and bringing your cares to God? Or are you a proud person who can do on their own?