Facing impending assaults on the gospel, Peter witnesses to the grace of God, the overwhelming reality of what God has done in Jesus Christ (Edmund Clowney). There are two ways to suffer – one is being dumb and the other is righteousness in Jesus Christ.
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
We should expect suffering. This should not surprise us. He calls Christians exiles. This is our place, it is here and now, but it also means we are exiles in this hostile world that is disappearing. We are on a journey, we are dispersed. The dispersion is a key to missions. They are sent, so that Christ will gather them back in.
He is reminding us of our priorities… persecutions will happen, we will suffer and will have communion in Jesus Christ. They will be a blessing, there should be no fear or terror that they will be disarmed. God is not against us, but he is for us. Peter calls us not to fear that we will be undone, but we will make a defense. (apologia) This word apologia is used 17 times in the NT. It means getting oneself off a charge. When Plato wrote the apology, it was a defense for Socrates. This term is taken up in the NT.
Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account. To explain, commend, to give reason, to set forth the hope that you have in you. Defense is put in between two spiritual compartments:
1. Set Christ apart. Apologetics is Worship. It is reverence to Christ. Lift up Jesus Christ.
2. And he says to always do this with gentleness and respect (reverence), to keep the dignity of the person you are speaking to.
What does it mean to be prepared and be ready? 1) discernment, ability to track trends, wisdom… men who had understanding (Hebrew: Binah) the times, to know what Israel ought to do. 2) Readiness in knowing the answers and 3) understanding the particular needs of the person addressing you.
What is Peter saying we are defending? HOPE. We are defending hope. This hope is not a wish, it is much stronger than this. It is certainty as to how things are and how they will come through. It is not just hope for the future, but understanding the reality of now and the way things will be throughout history.
Recall: The Great Divorce by CS Lewis. Heaven is real, earth is shadowy. His lesson is that you think earth is the real thing and heaven is flowery… but in reality heaven is real, earth is shadowy. We are connected to reality.
Note: the connection between Christianity and improvement in the world. Cling and hope. Clinging to a dying Christ is the hope (expecta) – the resurrection of the dead. You don’t need to know everything. You’re not expected to know everything, but you need to know the contours of the faith. You have to understand your faith that is communicable to those around you. You have to be able to translate to a language that people around you understands. It is a Christian outlook on the world.
The word apologia contains the word logos. It is also about words. The NT prizes words. We need not be ashamed by the use of arguments. The Gospel is news so it needs words in order to proclaim. Both the intellectual and emotional needs of an unbeliever. Peter says give an account or apology for the hope. It is wisdom and ministry.
For example: We live in a therapeutic culture. There is no right and wrong but there is insensitive. We nurture the inner child. We need to know the culture… We’re not here to win arguments, but we need to set the case – have deep content and utter reverence and respect to the person you are talking to… (do not demonize or dehumanize).