A friend sent a message that included a quotation of 1 Peter 5:10. When I looked up the verse, it turned out to be from the New International Version, which is a mixture of interpretation and translation. The final phrase turned out to differ significantly from the Greek. What I found at the end of this study encouraged me, and I hope that, if you make it to the end of this post, it will encourage you, too.
NIV: [God] will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Literal Greek: [God] Himself will perfect, will confirm, will strengthen, will establish [you]
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Exegesis
The verbs at the end of 1 Peter 5:10 are an interesting study in themselves. When I look at the Greek, the first thing I notice is that
the four verbs form a list, A, B, C, D. The NIV rearrangement and translation (D, and He will make you 1, 2, 3) shifts attention away from God and towards the reader. It also detracts from the beauty of the author's literary style.
The second thing I notice is that the verbs are active voice* wherein God is the actor. The center of attention is not "you," it is God, and the active voice renders the action dynamic, as contrasted with the adjectives strong, firm and steadfast.
(*future indicative active, third-person singular)
The verbs can have a variety of literal and metaphorical meanings. The following links take you to pages that cite several of lexicons and cross-references.
1. katartizó: to complete, prepare -- https://biblehub.com/greek/2675.htm
to prepare, perfect, repair, bring into its proper condition
for its destination or use
"Restore" is weak because it means returning to a previous condition. I don't want to be returned to the previous condition wherein I gave in to so much sin. To accomplish God's mission for me, I need to be brought to maturity in Christ.
2. stérizó: to make fast, establish -- https://biblehub.com/greek/4741.htm
usually used with respect to decisions or motivation (e.g., James 5:8); to make firm or resolved; in second person, "establish your hearts" or "resolve to;" also implying, negatively, that God will remove distraction, doubt, and indecision (something I very much need)
3. sthenoó: to strengthen -- https://biblehub.com/greek/4599.htm
to strengthen for the mission ahead
4. themelioó: to lay the foundation of -- https://biblehub.com/greek/2311.htm
to attach to a firm, unmovable base (e.g., Luke 6:49-49, building the foundation upon the rock)
My paraphrase would be, [God] Himself will complete your preparation, strengthen your resolve, strengthen and energize you, and plant you upon a firm foundation [to accomplish the mission He gives you].
Eisegesis
In those five Greek words (the first was autos, Himself), I see a general preparing for a mission by training boys into men and sending them through specialty schools and training missions. Then he motivates and focuses the soldiers, giving them rest, food, and rapid transport, and places them upon impenetrable battlements. (You could word that much better than I, but you get the idea.)
NASB: After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
I read into this more implications. Since this five-part action of God follows the suffering and even death that the Christians were undergoing, the future time of this transformation has to refer to the general resurrection. Therefore, the verse implies a promise of the resurrection and of the glorified mind, spirit, and body that it will produce.
Moreover, it promises clarity and purpose. Though we might despair of the apparent purposelessness of suffering and trial in this life (which is addressed prior to verse 10), we will have both purpose and the ability to fulfill that purpose in the resurrection life.
What touches me, personally, from this word study
The idea that I will be resurrected seems static by itself. Most comments I hear about the resurrection life focus on freedom from aches, illnesses, and trials of life. While I appreciate that, it's never quite touched my heart, although the purposelessness in which I seem to exist could be considered a trial.
But in the context of my ennui and despair, when you tell me I will have purpose in the next life, and every aspect of the transformation promises clear purpose, the resurrection becomes much more real, much more attractive, and much more a source of anticipation.
Copyright 2019, Richard Wheeler; permission granted for personal or non-profit use, provided this copyright notice is included.
