Peter is working out a theology of how to live as a Christian in Roman Empire, as powerless Christians in a world that God loves, and he is no pie-eyed dreamer. \u201cDear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.\u201d Pure recapitulation. Peter is working out a theology of how to live as a Christian in Roman Empire, as powerless Christians in a world that God loves, and he is no pie-eyed dreamer. \u201cDear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1736],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-emerging-movement"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nIt is simplistic to see here Jesus as Example: as though Peter were saying, \u201cJesus suffered and you should have seen him; I did; here\u2019s how he did it; here\u2019s a lesson we can learn.\u201d No, Peter\u2019s theology, an emerging one to be sure, is this:
\nFirst, the word order of the NIV quoted above jumps ahead. Peter\u2019s order is this: \u201cyou fellowship in Christ\u2019s sufferings, rejoice, in order that you might find joy in his glory.\u201d First the fellowship; then the rejoicing. It is not a mental trick; it is not \u201cthink joyfully and you\u2019ll find it joyful.\u201d
\nSo, second, the key word is \u201cparticipate.\u201d The Greek word is koinoneite<\/em> (\u201cfellowship\u201d or \u201cparticipate\u201d). Peter\u2019s insight as he seeks to make sense of their condition is this: your sufferings participate in and fellowship in the very sufferings of Jesus. In other words, Jesus lived a life that recapitulated your life, our life, all of human life, and our life is meant to be lived out of his life. He lived the life we are to live. Not simply as an example which are summoned to copy. No, his is the perfect life and our life is a participation in his life.
\nThat is why Peter can urge them to consider the glory that follows \u2014 why? Because Jesus\u2019 life ended up in glory; so we are to live in his life and when we do we will end up in his glory.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"