1 Peter 2:11

1 Peter 2:11

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

a. NLT: Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

b. NIV: Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.

c. YLT: Beloved, I call upon you, as strangers and sojourners, to keep from the fleshly desires, that war against the soul,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.

e. Worrell Translation: Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly desires, which, indeed, war against the soul;

f. Wuest Translation: Dearly, loved ones [loved by God], I beg of you, please, as aliens and those who have settled down alongside of pagan [unsaved] people should, be constantly holding yourselves back from passionate cravings which are fleshly by nature [fleshly in that they come from the totally depraved nature], cravings of such a nature that, like an army carrying on a military campaign, they are waging war, hurling themselves down upon your soul.

1. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims…”

a. Dearly beloved [Strong: 27 agapetos ag-ap-ay-tos' from 25; beloved:--(dearly, well) beloved, dear.]

b. I beseech  you [Strong: 3870 parakaleo par-ak-al-eh'-o from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.]

1). Rick Renner Daily Devotional 12/11/16 The word “beseech” is the Greek word parakaleo, a compound of the words para and kaleo. The word para means alongside, as in one who comes up close alongside another person. The word kaleo means to call, to beckon, or to beseech. But when these two words are joined to form the word parakaleo, it presents the picture of one who has something so important to say that he pulls right up alongside his listener, getting as close to him as possible; then he begins to literally plead with him to take some course of action. This person urgently calls out, pleading with his listener to hear what he has to say and to do what he is suggesting.

c. as [Strong: 5613 hos hoce probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]

d. strangers [Strong: 3941 paroikos par'-oy-kos from 3844 and 3624; having a home near, i.e. (as noun) a by-dweller (alien resident):--foreigner, sojourn, stranger.]

1). Rick Renner Daily Devotional 12/11/2016 The word “stranger” is the Greek word paroikos, a word that describes an individual who lives among the citizens of a nation but is not a citizen himself. He is a foreigner or an alien in that nation. Even though he may have received the legal right to live there, he doesn’t have the same right to participate in society as does a legal citizen.

e. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. pilgrims [Strong: 3927 parepidemos par-ep-id'-ay-mos from 3844 and the base of 1927; an alien alongside, i.e. a resident foreigner:--pilgrim, stranger.]

1). Rick Renner Daily Devotional 12/11/2016: The word “pilgrims” is the Greek word parepidemos. This word depicts the attitude that believers must have about their present lives in this world. It describes a temporary traveler who is merely passing through a certain territory on the way to his final destination.

2.  “…abstain from fleshly lusts…”

a. abstain [Strong: 567 apechomai ap-ekh'-om-ahee middle voice (reflexively) of 568; to hold oneself off, i.e. refrain:--abstain.] [Zodhiates: to abstain or refrain.]

1). Rick Renner Daily Devotional 12/11/2016: The word “abstain” is the Greek word apechomai, which means to deliberately withdraw from; to stay away from; to put distance between oneself and something else; or to intentionally abstain. The word apechomai was a well-known word, so every person who read this word understood that Peter was telling them to put distance between themselves and the “fleshly lusts” that were raging all about them.

b. from [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. fleshly [Strong: 4559 sarkikos sar-kee-kos' from 4561; pertaining to flesh, i.e. (by extension) bodily, temporal, or (by implication) animal, unregenerate:--carnal, fleshly.]

d. lusts [Strong: 1939 epithumia ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):--concupiscence, desire, lust (after).]

1). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional Date Unknown: The command to abstain occurs only a few times in the New Testament, but there are three occurrences which are especially relevant for Christians today. One of these is 1 Thessalonians 4:3: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication.” The Greek word here actually applies to any type of sexual relationship outside of marriage, and the command is not merely for temperance or for “love” in one’s non-marital sexual relationships, but for total abstinence. This exhortation is perhaps needed more today than at any time since the days of pagan Rome, even for Christians and, unfortunately, Christian leaders. But that is not all. In the words of our text, we are also urgently exhorted to “abstain from fleshly lusts,” since these carnal desires are in mortal combat with our very souls. One must avoid situations which might initiate or encourage fornication or its kindred activities. But even that is not sufficient for the serious Christian man or woman. “Now we exhort you, brethren, . .  Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 22). The word here means anything that in outward form might appear to be evil, regardless of whether it is really wrong in itself or not. The Lord desires that we “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:10) and that we “give none offense” (1 Corinthians 10:32). A believer cannot afford to be careless in this warfare against his soul. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). HMM

3. “…which war against the soul;”

a. which [Strong: 3748 hostis hos'-tis, including the feminine hetis hay'-tis, and the neuter ho,ti hot'-ee from 3739 and 5100; which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same:--X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever).]

b. war [Strong: 4754 strateuomai strat-yoo'-om-ahee middle voice from the base of 4756; to serve in a military campaign; figuratively, to execute the apostolate (with its arduous duties and functions), to contend with carnal inclinations:--soldier, (go to) war(-fare).] [Zodhiates: to lead an army, wage war, to war, be a soldier, desires and lusts which war against right principles and moral precepts.]  

c. against [Strong: 2596 kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

d. the soul [Strong: 5590 psuche psoo-khay'; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from 4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from 2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew 5315, 7307 and 2416):--heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.]

1). A critical element in this armory is our thought life. We must control our thoughts and not allow the enemy to inject his thoughts or allow our undisciplined minds to continue to think contrary to the Scriptures.

a). 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2). When we fail to discipline our thought life we are providing supplies, provisions to our enemy to use against us.  

a).Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

b). provision [Strong: 4307 pronoia pron'-oy-ah from 4306; forethought, i.e. provident care or supply:--providence, provision.]

3). Christians who set their minds on the flesh are carnal minded. The carnal mind is an enemy of God

a). Romans 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

b). carnally [Strong: 4561 sarx sarx probably from the base of 4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):--carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).]

c). minded [Strong: 5427 phronema fron'-ay-mah from 5426; (mental) inclination or purpose:--(be, + be carnally, + be spiritually) mind(-ed).]

(1) To be carnally minded is to be a meat head. If we take advantage of everything God has provided to us in the New Covenant we can be victorious and reign in life.