Commentary on First Peter (23)

Verse 13 begins with a "therefore" and indicates that here is Peter's conclusion from all that preceded – not only verses 10-12, but reaching back all the way to verse 3. God has chosen us for salvation in eternity, and in his great mercy, he has given us a new birth, a living hope, and an indestructible inheritance. Even now he is guarding our salvation through our faith, which is of greater worth than gold. We rejoice in this salvation – the prophets longed to see its fulfillment, and even the angels are stirred to holy curiosity and desire to learn about it.

"Therefore" – because of God's great mercy, because of the inexpressible and glorious joy that this produces in you, and because of the greatness of this salvation and the privilege of living in this time of fulfillment – Peter says, "prepare your minds…be self-controlled…set your hope fully on the grace…."

What is translated "prepare your minds for action" here literally says "gird up the loins of your mind" (KJV). The oriental expression refers to the act of gathering one's long and flowing robe, and tying it around his waist with a girdle, so that he may proceed unimpeded with whatever strenuous activity that he may need to perform (1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 4:29).

The NIV correctly conveys the meaning, for the expression indeed means to "prepare…for action." What it does not communicate is that this preparation is done by gathering up our loose garments so as to remove out of the way anything that would hinder our movements or that would cause us to stumble. However, Peter is not referring to physical activity, but he is saying that in light of the greatness of our salvation, we should prepare our minds in such a manner.

So when Peter continues and tells his readers to "be sober" (KJV), he is not just warning them against becoming drunk with wine, but he is mainly referring to mental intoxication. The NIV translates, "be self-controlled" and rightly conveys the intended meaning of mental alertness, sobriety, and discipline.

Remember that Peter is writing to encourage those who are facing or would be facing hardship and persecution, especially due to the fact that they were Christians. Later in the letter, he will give specific guidelines regarding the attitudes and the practices that are appropriate for the believers to assume when they come under these trials. Although he will continue to enrich the theological foundation that he has constructed, these beginning verses provide the background for all that would follow.

Here, then, is the conclusion that Peter draws from verses 3-12. Because of the greatness of our salvation, we are to prepare our minds for action by tightening our grip on our thinking, and by putting out of the way all the false beliefs, evil desires, and other distractions that would impede our progress. We must prepare our minds in such a manner so that we may remain spiritually agile, quick to grasp and follow the will of the Lord.

Rather than being mentally intoxicated by what the world offers, we are to remain clear in our minds and to exercise self-control over our thinking. Instead of looking toward the world for acceptance, for strength, or for comfort, we must direct our minds to set our hope on the present and future grace of God. This grace already belongs to us, and even now we are experiencing some of its benefits, but we look forward to its consummation when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Whether by its temptations or by its persecutions, whether by teaching us its attitudes or by presenting us with its rewards, the world tries to intoxicate our minds, by drawing all of our thinking into it, so that we would forget our homeland of heaven. If we do not stay sober and alert, ready to do right and to avoid error, the world would cause us to stumble with all its fanfare about career, culture, reputation, status, associations, entertainment, self-satisfaction, and so on.

But if we would prepare our minds and control our thinking, and then set our hope on the grace of God, then we will retain an otherworldliness that is proper to a citizen of heaven, and the world will neither be able to mold us nor to crush us. It is with this mindset, founded on an understanding on God's grace in our salvation, that we are prepared to follow Peter's upcoming instructions on how to think and behave when we undergo hardship and persecution.