1Peter 5:8-11 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
‘Sober’ [Greek: nepho] to live soberly, to drink no intoxicants; live soberly and righteously (Tit. 2:11-12). Translated be sober (1:13; 5:8; 1Thess. 5:6, 8) and watch (4:7; 2Tim. 4:5). It was counted a disgrace even among the heathen to be drunk in the day, hence the admonition to live as children of light and of the day (1Thess. 5:5-8).
‘Vigilant’ [Greek: gregoreo] to be awake. Translated “vigilant” (5:8); “wake” (1Thess. 5:10); “watchful” (Rev. 3:2); and “watch” 20 times (Matt. 24:42-43; 25:13; Acts 20:31; 1Cor. 16:13, Col. 4:2; 1Thess. 5:6; Rev. 3:3; 16:15; etc.). Never be off your guard. Be ready every moment to resist the devil (5:9; Jas. 4:7; Eph. 4:27).
‘Adversary’ [Greek: antidikos] an opponent in a suit; properly the defendant, but also the plaintiff or the one who brings suit.
‘Devil’ twenty-one names and titles of satan: Devil (5:8; Matt. 4:1-11; Eph. 6:11); adversary (5:8; 1Tim. 5:14); satan (Luke 10:18; 11:18; Rev. 12:9); Belial (2Cor. 6:15; Deut. 13:13); Lucifer (Isa. 14:12-14); dragon (Rev. 12:3-17; 13:2-11; 20:2); serpent (2Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:9); enemy (Matt. 13:39; Luke 10:19); tempter (Matt. 4:3; 1Thess. 3:5); wicked one (Matt. 13:19; 1Jn. 5:18); Beelzebub (Matt. 10:25; 12:24); the god of this world (2Cor. 4:4); the prince of this world (John 12:31); accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10); prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:1-3; 5:12); the anointed cherub (Ezek. 28:11-17); angel of light (2Cor. 11:14); prince of devils (Matt. 12:24); the thief (John 10:10); king over all the children of pride (Job 41:34); leviathan (Job 41:1; Isa. 27:1).
‘Roaring lion’ seven things satan is compared to a roaring lion (5:8); a fowler (Ps. 91:3); fowls (Matt. 13:4, 19); a wolf (John 10:12); a thief (John 10:10); a serpent (Rev. 12:9; 20:3); a great red dragon (Rev. 12:3-12).
‘Walks about, seeking whom he may devour’ clear examples of how satan seeks to devour believers as clearly seen in Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7. He cannot devour just anyone therefore he constantly seeks those who will allow him through disobedience and ignorance of God Word.
‘Devour’ [Greek: katapino] to gulp down. Translated “devour” (5:8); “drown” (Heb. 11:29); “swallow” (Matt. 23:24); and “swallow up” (1Cor. 15:54; 2Cor. 2:7; 5:7; Rev. 12:16). It is not everyone that satan can gulp down. Those who obey the eight commands of 1Peter 5:5-9, cannot be swallowed up by him.
‘Whom resist stedfast in the faith’ this method of satanic defeat is open to every child of God (Jas. 4:7).
‘Same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world’ these refer to persecutions of Christians in all the world and not to diseases. The word for afflictions means the same as the sufferings of Christ in 1Peter 5:1, and not to sicknesses and diseases. It is [Greek: pathema] a hardship or pain; subjectively an emotion or influence – and it is not necessary for Christians to be sick in order to enjoy the blessings of 1Peter 5:10. ‘Make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you’ four blessings from suffering persecutions are given: (1) Perfection – to be perfect (2Cor. 13:11). The Greek word katartizo meaning to adjust; put in order again; restore; repair; settle by mediation. Translated “mend” (Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19); “restore” (Gal. 6:1); fit (Rom. 9:22); “prepare” (Heb. 10:1-39); “frame” (Heb. 9:3); “perfectly joined together” (1Cor. 1:10); “be and make perfect” (5:10; Matt. 21:16; Luke 6:40; 1Thess. 3:10; 2Cor. 13:11; Heb. 13:21). (2) Establishment in the faith [Greek: sterizo] strengthen (Luke 22:32; Rev. 3:2); establish (5:10; 2Pet. 1:12; Rom. 1:11; 16:25; 1Thess. 3:2, 13; 2Thess. 2:17; 3:3; Jas. 5:8); fix (Luke 16:26); and set (Luke 9:51). (3) Spiritual strength [Greek: sthenos] to bind together and strengthen so there will be no danger of warping, splitting, or falling apart. (4) Settling or grounding one in the faith [Greek: themelioo] having a good foundation.
Living the Word 