BIG IDEA:
II. COMMENDABLE CONDUCT–ESPECIALLY SUBMISSION TO EVERY APPROPRIATE HUMAN AUTHORITY–IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO PERSECUTION AND THE BEST WAY TO GLORIFY GOD (2:11-3:12)
A. Introduction (2:11-13a)
1. Commendable Conduct Viewed Negatively (:11)
a. Description of Such Conduct (“lusts of the flesh”)
b. Reasons for Such Conduct
(1) Our Privileged Relationship — “Beloved”
(2) Our Pilgrim Residency here on this earth
“as strangers and sojourners”
(3) Our Personal Protection — “which wage war against the soul”
2. Commendable Conduct Viewed Positively (:12)
a. Description of Such Conduct–“excellent behavior; good deeds”
b. Reasons for Such Conduct
(1) Our Fishbowl Environment — “among the Gentiles”
“as they observe them”
(2) Our Maligned Reputation — “in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers”
(3) Our Unselfish Objective — that they might “glorify God in the day of visitation”
3. The Essence of Commendable Conduct is Submission to Every Appropriate Human Authority (:13a)
a. Description of Such Conduct
b. Reason for Such Conduct — “for the Lord’s sake”