THE word “finally” does not indicate the conclusion of the letter, but the conclusion of the exhortations to the various classes. The exhortation, “be ye all of one mind,” literally “be ye all likeminded,” cannot be pressed to refer to minute details but refers to a unity on the major and important points of Christian doctrine and practice that should be maintained among members of the Body of Christ.

The words “having compassion” are the translation of a Greek word from which we get our word “sympathy.” The word is made up of two Greek words, one word meaning “to be affected” by something, hence “to feel,” that is, to have feelings stirred up within one by some circumstance, the other word meaning “with.” The word means therefore, “to have a fellow-feeling.” It refers here to the interchange of fellow-feeling in either joy or sorrow.

The English word “sympathy” refers to the fellow-feeling we should have with those that suffer, and that is the secondary meaning of our Greek word. The primary meaning refers to a fellow-feeling with a brother Christian either in his joys or in his sorrows. It takes as much grace sometimes to rejoice with another saint in the way God has blessed him as it does to sympathize with someone who is in sadness. What a miserable thing this petty jealousy is among the saints. The words “love as brethren” are the translation of an adjective. The idea is, “Be loving brethren,” or “Be brethren who are loving.” The word here does not refer to the love that God produces in our hearts as one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is that human affection and fondness for one another as brother Christians which Peter spoke of in the first occurrence of the word “love” in 1:22.

II. Submission under Suffering (3:8–14)

Verse 8 describes the mutual love of Christians in the church; contrast it with the turmoil found in James 4. In vv. 9–14, Peter deals with the Christian who suffers in the world. This is the day-by-day suffering that we endure, not the “fiery trial” of special suffering that appears later (4:12ff). How should Christians act when persecuted by the world?

A. They must be a blessing (v. 9).

Read Luke 6:22–28. We conquer hate by showing love. The best way to meet the slanderer and persecutor is with patience and grace. Let God do the rest!

B. They must keep clean (vv. 10–11).

He refers to Ps. 34:12–16. “He who wills to love life” is the best translation of v. 10. “Eschew” means “avoid,” and “ensue” means “strive after.”

C. They must remember that God is watching (vv. 12–14).

God sees the problems and He hears our cries. He knows how to deal with those who persecute us for His sake. Rather than complain, we should rejoice that we are suffering for His sake (Matt. 5:11–12; Acts 5:41).

“Rendering” is literally “giving back.” “For” is the translation of a preposition meaning “in exchange for.” “Blessing” is not a noun, but a participle, “be constantly blessing.” “Thereunto” is literally “into this,” that is, “for this very purpose.”