BBB Bible Series: 1 Peter Trivia Quiz

Answer: the precious blood of Christ

According to Peter, the value of the blood of Christ contrasts with the relatively perishable gold or silver. Further, the fact that Christians are ransomed with something so very precious indicates how important they and their redemption are to God. Since this is so, says Peter, how earnest are they to be in our discipleship, for which they have been saved! It is a common Christian teaching that the redemption of Christ's blood is available to all people who seek it sincerely.

Answer: love one another earnestly from the heart.

To paraphrase this instruction: Having consecrated yourselves to sincerely love one another, *do* love one another (put love into practice), "earnestly" (you were already sincere; Peter wants to emphasize what a wholehearted, dedicated love readers are to have for one another), "from the heart" - and, it must come from your new heart, from the source of your new life in Christ. This verse supports the idea that Christianity is not meant to be lived in holy isolation from the world, but in loving fellowship.

Note that this does not mean that no Christians are called to live in any of a number of solitary ways. Living as a monk, or a nun, or an ascetic hermit may also be a particular ministry to which one may be called, and many of these people exercise an important and personally satisfying prayer ministry on behalf of other Christians.

Answer: the kindness of the Lord

With the desire of one's whole being, as a newborn baby longs for its mother's milk, Peter advises his readers to long for the spiritual food which is the Word of God and the teaching of His Holy Spirit. Peter then adds that since they have tasted the kindness of the Lord, they know that He is good; therefore their desire should be all the greater for more of Him.

Answer: be submissive with all respect

Peter instructs Christian servants (the Greek word does not indicate slaves, in this case, but free people working for a wage) to show the respect to their masters which their relative positions require, and they are to do so equally to good masters and to harsh ones.

It is when Christian servants remain dutiful and respectful in harsh conditions that they are supposed to show their difference from people who would complain or be angry in the same position. The implication is clear that God is pleased with Christians who do not whine or complain, who do not get cross or impatient or frustrated however difficult the circumstances - but how many Christians are living up to this requirement?

Answer: to follow in Christ's steps

The Christian life, clearly, is not one of worldly success. Were someone to literally follow in Christ's steps, he or she would spend a few years in itinerant ministry, and then be crucified. What Peter is saying is that Christ's disciples are supposed to follow Him in this: they must live their lives in a way which shows that they have laid them down for the sake of others, that is, living selflessly. And they are to be prepared to surrender our lives entirely, should they be called to do that.

Answer: the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit

In other words, Peter would rather see women focus on developing a character which reflects the qualities of 'the fruit of the Spirit' described in Galatians 5:22-23, than see them concentrating on outward appearances. It will do many men no harm to take this message equally to heart!

Answer: with gentleness and reverence

Unfortunately there are some Christians whose defence of their faith leans toward verbal assault on others. In their vociferous upholding of Christ and the Bible, they lose touch with those qualities which the Bible teaches, which the Christian God desires, and which Christ gracefully gives: love, patience, kindness, gentleness... Peter says here that Christians must defend their faith - yes, they believe Christ is the only Saviour and the Bible is the only Word of God - but that that doesn't mean they need to be rude about it!

Answer: only in the past, because they now have to live to please God

Peter is acknowledging here that people often come into the Church of Christ from a past life of sin and selfish indulgence, but in this verse he exhorts them to leave all that behind, to cut it out of their lives. There has been *enough* time for all that: now is the time to live soberly, to be dedicated to the Lord's service.

Answer: so far as they share Christ's sufferings

Christians are to rejoice in suffering, Peter tells us, and should rejoice more, the more nearly their suffering approaches that of Jesus Christ our Saviour. This is a bizarre idea to most of us, but consider how Peter opened this letter: by reminding his readers that Christians have a new life and a new inheritance, and in this they must rejoice, although they may have to suffer some trials through which their faith will be refined; this purified faith will lead to the salvation of their souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9) The implication, more directly stated in James 1:2-4, is that suffering purifies and perfects, bringing the sufferer to resemble Christ more closely.

Answer: Cornerstone

All of these quotations describe the Messiah as a stone, but it is the quotation from Isaiah 28 which names Him a 'cornerstone': Peter is pointing to Jesus as the foundational 'living stone' upon which the whole of His Church is to be built, made up of all of those disciples who have become living 'stones', who have been brought into salvation through Him alone.