Perfect (2675) (katartÃzō from katá = with + artÃzō = to adjust, fit, finish, in turn from ártios = fit, complete) means to fit or join together and so to mend or repair. KatartÃzō conveys the fundamental idea of putting something into its appropriate condition so it will function well. It conveys the idea of making whole by fitting together, to order and arrange properly. When applied to that which is weak and defective, it denotes setting right what has gone wrong, to restore to a former condition, whether mending broken nets or setting broken bones. Katartizo is used 13x in NT (Mt 4:21; 21:16; Mk. 1:19; Lk. 6:40; Ro 9:22; 1Co. 1:10; 2Co. 13:11; Gal 6:1; 1Th 3:10; Heb 10:5; 11:3; 13:21; 1Pe 5:10) The NASB translates katartÃzō as follows: complete, 1; equip, 1; fully trained, 1; made complete, 2; mending, 2; perfect, 1; prepared, 4; restore, 1. There are 17 uses in the Septuagint - Ezr. 4:12, 13, 16; 5:3, 9, 11; 6:14; Ps. 8:2; 11:3; 17:5; 18:33; 29:9; 40:6; 68:9; 74:16; 80:15; 89:37 Peter is saying that God promises to repair the damage that sin and suffering have wrought. God will make us what we ought to be. To make fitted or equipped for a duty or function. To make someone completely adequate or sufficient for something. To thoroughly prepare something to meet demands. To supply that which is missing. Wuest adds that katartÃzō has in it the idea of equipping something or preparing it for future use." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos Vincent says that katartÃzō signifies to readjust, restore, set to rights, whether in a physical or a moral sense." (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. 1, Page 3-317) Westcott writes that the word includes the thoughts of the harmonious combination of different powers, the supply of that which is defective, and the amendment of that which is faulty. Hiebert notes that katartÃzō can also mean to bring to completion a process of making whole already begun" as in Jesus statement that "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained (katartÃzō), will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40) When the pupil's training is complete, he will be just like his master. Our standard of excellence is the perfection of Christ Himself. Hiebert in fact favors this intent here in 1 Peter 5:10, writing that God will not allow the work He has begun in them to fall short of His perfecting grace. (Hiebert, D. E. 1 Peter. page 319. Moody) KatartÃzō was sometimes used metaphorically of restoring harmony among quarreling factions in a dispute. KatartÃzō was used in secular Greek to describe a trainer who adjusts parts of the body, as a surgical term of the setting of a broken bone or putting a dislocated limb back in place or of the repairing and refitting of a damaged vessel (ship). KatartÃzō is used in other contexts of the strengthening or sustaining of a worn down people, of the mixing of medicine or of politicians appeasing factions and restoring unity (used by Herodotus for composing civil disorder) Barclay - Katarizo is "the word commonly used for setting a fracture, the word used in Mark 1:19 for mending nets. It means to supply that which is missing, to mend that which is broken. So suffering, if accepted in humility and trust and love, can repair the weaknesses of a man's character and add the greatness which so far is not there. It is said that Sir Edward Elgar once listened to a young girl singing a solo from one of his own works. She had a voice of exceptional purity and clarity and range, and an almost perfect technique. When she had finished, Sir Edward said softly, "She will be really great when something happens to break her heart." Barrie tells how his mother lost her favorite son, and then says, "That is where my mother got her soft eyes, and that is why other mothers ran to her when they had lost a child." Suffering had done something for her that an easy way could never have done. Suffering is meant by God to add the grace notes to life." (1 Peter 5 - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible) Like a doctor setting a broken bone, God will mend our broken lives and make us whole. TRIALS ARE TRAINING FOR REIGNING MacDonald - The final encouragement is that God uses suffering to educate us and mold our Christian character. He is training us for reigning... Trials make the believer fit; they supply needed elements in his character to make him spiritually mature. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson) That the God of all grace would perfect them "is a promise that God will supply all that is lacking in the elements of character upon which strength depends." (The Pulpit Commentary: New Testament) UBS Handbook Series - Perfect" is literally “restore,” denoting the idea of putting something in order, making something complete (compare Jerusalem Bible “will see that all is well again”; Phillips paraphrase “will make you whole”); it is a very fitting promise for Christians whose bodies are broken down because of persecution and whose wills are ever put to the test. A literal rendering of will himself perfect you may be misunderstood as a reference to complete sanctification in the sense of “make you perfect.” The focus here is upon restoration, not upon sanctification. An equivalent in some instances may be “will do for you all that is necessary” or “will fix everything up for you again.” (The United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series) Mills - Peter, who knew all about mending nets, says, “Do not worry, you think you are being torn apart by the lions in the lions’ den (that could have been a literal concern in his historic context-it certainly was a few years later), but God will put it all together again; He will restore you, don’t worry God will restore you!” 1 Peter : A study guide to the First Epistle by Peter. Dallas: 3E Ministries) Ron Ritchie writes that after we have suffered the "God of all grace" will restore you as a physician restores a broken bone. So if you humbly accept suffering from the hand of God, you can by God's grace have your weakness of character healed, and the greatness now missing but deeply desired in your life will be added to you. Raymond Ortlund writes that katartÃzō "translated “restore” is used in Mark 1:19 for the disciples repairing their fishing nets. The point is that, after we have suffered a little while and taken some hits and gotten knocked around, the God who called us into his eternal glory will repair us and restore us. We will not be damaged goods. We will not carry psychological scars. We will be happy and whole. And to that end God himself promises to make us strong, firm and steadfast. God is on a personal mission to prove a point that not even the devil can debate, viz., that the power is his forever and ever. And that power is on our side." (from his sermon entitled Learning to Lose with God: How to defeat the devil) Alexander Maclaren writes that katartÃzō "is employed here for that great work of Divine grace by which our defects are made good, the rents which sin has made mended, the tarnished purity given back, the scars effaced. That form of the Divine help answers to the deepest of our needs, and, in its incipient stages, is the first fruits of the great harvest of God’s grace which a believing soul reaps. We need first of all forgiveness and the removal of the guilt of our sins. All restoration of fallen men to the lost ideal of man, which is the likeness of God, must begin there, and then there follows a long process which the patient God carries on, mending us by slow degrees, and step by step supplementing this defect and repairing the results of that sin, till there be no gaps remaining needing to be filled and no flaws in character needing to be corrected. “‘Tis a lifelong task till the lump be leavened.” The restoring grace has to permeate all the crannies and corners of the soul. It must transform and expel, if it is to mend and restore. When we think of our own defects and see how much is lacking in our characters, we may well feel that nothing can ever fill up these. Then the confidence of this brave text may hearten us. It is the God of all grace to whom we look for our perfecting. No emptiness can be so vast and so empty that that “ all ” cannot fill it. No man can have gone so far from the right way, or had his nature so lacerated by sin’s cruel fangs, that that “all” cannot heal and repair the damage. Therefore the more we sound the height, and length, and breadth, and depth of our imperfections and sins, the more joyfully should we think of the completeness of that power which overlaps them on all sides and surpasses them in every dimension, and the more confidently should we exclaim, “ The God of all grace shall restore us and complete us.” (The Pulpit Commentary - Homily) KatartÃzō does not necessarily imply, that that to which it is applied has been damaged. For example, in Hebrews we read that by faith we understand that the worlds were prepared (put in order, equipped for the world might be made ready to fulfill its intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." (Heb 11:3-note) KatartÃzō was used in Hellenistic literature to describe the act of creation. Mark described James and John in the boat mending (katartÃzō) the nets." (Mk 1:19, same use by Matthew in Mt 4:21) Paul uses katartÃzō in his exhortation to the Galatians writing Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Gal 6:1) Believers who are walking by (being controlled by) the Spirit are to restore fallen believers. They are to in a sense help to "mend" them like a torn net that can no longer fulfill its intended function. As an aside note that manifesting the fruit of the Spirit is not a mystical experience. Paul writes the saints at Thessalonica that we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete (katartÃzō) what is lacking in your faith?" (1Th 3:10-note) Paul is using katartÃzō with the idea of completing or making good that which was needed in their faith. He was not criticizing the church but rather acknowledging that their faith had not yet reached full development, which is what he prayed and labored for. BKC - The Thessalonians were like tender young plants; their tender roots held them firm against the present storm, but they still needed to grow and mature. This is the first explicit reference to deficiencies in their spiritual condition— deficiencies due more to immaturity than to waywardness." (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary. 1985. Victor) Paul exhorted the Corinthians writing... Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete (thoroughly equipped) in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1Cor 1:10) Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to be perfectly joined together in opposition to being divided. In other words he wants the individual members of the church to be knit together, like the medical use describing the knitting together fractured bones. The disunion was unnatural and must be cured for the sake of the health and efficiency of the body of Christ in Corinth. In one of the great NT prayers, the writer of Hebrews prays for his readers: Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip (equipping so that they might be made ready to fulfill their purpose for which they were saved) you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Heb 13:20-21-note) In this section God uses the tool of suffering to fully equip His people for life and service. Peter’s promise is that God will intervene now. Yes, we suffer, but only for a brief moment, which pales to insignificance when compared to the eternal glory that awaits us. And, even as we wait we experience God’s work in our lives, mending us, strengthening us, that we may face life as firm and steadfast followers of our Lord. CONFIRM: sterixei (3SFAI): (Col 2:7; 2 Th 2:17; 3:3) The "God of all grace will Himself...confirm us" Confirm (4741) (stÄ"rÃzō from histemi = to stand as in 1 Pe 5:12 "stand firm in" the true grace of God. Histemi also root of "Resist" - anthistemi and of "firm" - stereos, both used by Peter in 1 Pe 5:9) means to make firm or solid, to set fast, to fix firmly in a place, to establish (make firm or stable), to cause to be inwardly firm or committed, to strengthen. The basic idea is that of stabilizing something by providing a support or buttress (a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building), so that it will not totter. Vine feels that stÄ"rÃzō is derived from stÄ"rix, a prop (something that sustains or supports). StÄ"rÃzō is used 14x in NT (Lk. 9:51; 16:26; 22:32; Ro 1:11; 16:25; 1Th. 3:2, 13; 2Th 2:17; 3:3; James 5:8; 1Pe 5:10; 2Pe 1:12; Re 3:2)and in the NAS is translated as - confirm, 1; determined, 1; establish, 2; established, 2; fixed, 1; strengthen, 6; strengthening, 1. There are 34 uses of sterizo in the Septuagint (LXX) - Gen. 27:37; 28:12; Exod. 17:12; Lev. 13:55; Jdg. 19:5, 8; 1Sam. 26:19; 2 Ki. 18:16, 21; Ps. 51:12; 104:15; 111:8; 112:8; Prov. 15:25; 16:30; 27:20; Song 2:5; Is 22:25; 59:16; Jer. 3:12; 17:5; 21:10; 24:6; Ezek. 6:2; 13:17; 14:8; 15:7; 20:46; 21:2; 25:2; 28:21; 29:2; 38:2; Da 7:28; Amos 9:4; In the present verse, stÄ"rÃzō refers to a divine promise that amid their sufferings, God will give the believers the needed fixity and immobility, and thus the inner strength and resolve to continue to resist the onslaughts of their adversary, the devil, and stand fast in their faith. And He will do the same for you, beloved. God will "confirm" you. He will make you as solid as granite and enable you to stand against the fiery ordeal and the storms of life. (Ron Ritchie) Commenting on stÄ"rÃzō MacDonald writes that Suffering makes Christians more stable, able to maintain a good confession, and to bear up under pressure." (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson) Barclay writes that stÄ"rÃzō means to make as solid as granite. Suffering of body and sorrow of heart do one of two things to a man. They either make him collapse or they leave him with a solidity of character which he could never have gained anywhere else. If he meets them with continuing trust in Christ, he emerges like toughened steel that has been tempered in the fire. (The Daily Study Bible) Doug Goins writes that We're being hardened and solidified and toughened through suffering, like fired and tempered steel." StÄ"rÃzō is used with a similar meaning in Second Thessalonians, Paul writing that when confronted by perverse and evil men, for not all have faith, the Lord is faithful (trustworthy, worthy of confidence, dependable, reliable) and He will strengthen (stÄ"rÃzō) and protect (military term - of a sentinel keeping guard, of the garrison of a city guarding it against attack from without > to guard against robbery or loss, watch over and defend, keep a person so that they remain safe) you from the evil one. (2Th 3:2-3) Paul teaches that we are to look away from faithless men to our never-failing God, Who will firmly establish us on the inside and guard us on the outside from the evil one (probably a reference to our "adversary, the devil... a roaring lion" and the ruler over evil men). Study the following uses of sterizo and note that although God is the One Who confirms or stabilizes us, we as believers also have a responsibility. According to Scripture, saints are stabilized or strengthened -- in our heart (1Th 3:13-note, 2Th 2:17) not physical heart but the center of spiritual activity = the inner self that thinks, feels, and decides = the center of emotions, feelings, moods, and passions), by being reminded of the truth (2 Peter 1:12 note); according to the gospel (Ro 16:25 note); by the certainty of the second coming (Js 5:8); as an answer to the prayers of other godly men and women (1Pe 3:12; 3:13 see notes 1Pe3:12; 13, 2Th 2:16, 17); and by the strengthening ministered through other saints who come alongside (e.g., Peter in Lk 22:31, 32, Timothy 1Thessalonians 3:2 [note], Paul in Ro 1:11 (note). So although Peter teaches that it is the God of all grace Himself Who ultimately stabilizes us, these other NT uses of sterizo teach that God also uses the the encouragement and prayers of other saints and the truth of the gospel to carry out this stabilization. Michaels adds that regarding stÄ"rÃzō it is worth noting that Paul’s uses of the same verb, in contexts of pastoral care of ethical admonition, consider it sometimes as a work of God (1Th 3:13-note; 2Th 2:17; 2Th 3:3; Ro16:25 note), sometimes as a responsibility of believers to each other (Ro 1:11; 1Th 3:2; cf. Acts 14:22)." (Bolding added. Michaels, J. R. Vol. 49: Word Biblical Commentary: 1 Peter. page 303. Dallas: Word). There is an excellent illustration of the meaning of stÄ"rÃzō in the Septuagint (LXX) where we read in the context of Israel battling the Amalekites that Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it and Aaron and Hur supported (stÄ"rÃzō - imperfect tense - over and over they would support) his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady (stÄ"rÃzō - perfect tense - they continued in a state of steadiness) until the sun set. (Ex 17:12-note) To get an added sense of the meaning of stÄ"rÃzō, hold your pointer over (or better yet click for context) the following four NT uses of the related verb, epistÄ"rizō - "strengthening the souls of the disciples" Acts 14:22; "strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message", Acts 15:32; "strengthening the churches", Acts 15:41; "strengthening all the disciples", Acts18:23. 1 Peter 5:10 is in a sense a fulfillment of a prophecy by Jesus. StÄ"rÃzō had special meaning for Peter, who had heard his Lord use this word to encourage him even after warning that their adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion would seek to devour him. Jesus declared to Peter Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift (literally to shake but here figuratively of inward agitation to test and prove his faith by trials and afflictions, which would separate good from bad in Peter's character) you like wheat (wheat was winnowed, the shaking being in order to separate the good part from the chaff which the wind would blow away) but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen (stÄ"rÃzō - aorist active imperative - command to do it even conveying sense of urgency) your brothers. (Lk 22:31-32) In Luke, we encounter a long section (Lk 9:51-19:44) which introduces a new facet of Jesus' ministry (and which has no counterpart in Matthew or Mark, though much of its material is found in other contexts in those Gospels), Luke gives us a vivid picture of the meaning of stÄ"rÃzō recording that it came about, when the days were approaching for (Jesus') ascension, that He resolutely (steadfastly and determinedly) set (stÄ"rÃzō) His face ("set his face" is a Hebrew idiom, common in the OT as illustrated in next note and implies fixedness of purpose, especially in the prospect of difficulty or danger) to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51). In the Septuagint (LXX), Greek translation of the Hebrew OT, God commanded His prophet Ezekiel Son of man, set (stÄ"rÃzō aorist active imperative - do it now, command, with urgency) your face (this Hebrew idiom "set your face" is used 11x in Ezekiel!) toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them. (Ezek 6:2-note) In the perfect tense stÄ"rÃzō means established permanently or stands fixed as in the description of Hades (which one day will be thrown into the Lake of fire, Re 20:13; 20:14 see notes Re 20:13; 14) Luke recording Abraham's words to the rich man that besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed (perfect tense of stÄ"rÃzō), in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us. (Lk 16:26) In short this verse clearly teaches that the choices of this life will determine one's eternal destiny, and once death has taken place, that destiny is fixed. There is no passage from the abode of the saved to that of the damned or vice versa. In his second epistle Peter wrote Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established (stÄ"rÃzō - perfect tense speaks of permanence) in the truth which is present with you." (see note 2 Peter 1:12) In other words, the perfect tense indicates that these saints had become stabilized in the truth at some point of time in the past and were still in a state of being set fast or placed firmly upon it. Their knowledge of the Word and the sound doctrines of the faith were set in their minds as it were. However, there is always the danger of a preoccupied moment or a forgetful hour and so the truth that we have been permanently fixed in the sphere of the truth is one which needs to be constantly reiterated. Perhaps as you read this verse, beloved, you too need to be reminded of your firm and eternally secure position in Christ. For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established (stÄ"rÃzō)" (Ro 1:11-note) Vine has an interesting note on this verse in his discussion of stÄ"rÃzō writing that to establish is to cause to lean by supporting. Ministry of God’s Word which leads us into fuller dependence on God, is ministry which establishes us. The Hebrew word for “believe” literally means “to lean upon” (cp 2Chr. 20:20); “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established,” where “believe” and “established” represent the same word. The means of this constant confirmation, then, is the impartation of spiritual benefit, and the response of faith." (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson) In a beautiful doxology, Paul emphasizes like Peter that saints are stabilized by God... Now to Him Who is (continually) able to establish (stÄ"rÃzō) you according to (in agreement with) my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past. 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen." (see notes Romans 16:25; 16:26; 16:27) In other words it is through the gospel which Paul preached ("my gospel") that God is able to establish the minds and hearts of believers in the truth, to settle, ground , and make them firm in Him. The point is that God Who uses the proclamation of His Truth to buttress the faith of His children. We sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen (stÄ"rÃzō) and encourage you as to your faith." (see note 1Thessalonians 3:2) Timothy was to buttress their faith with the intent of firmly establishing it. Strong faith is a result of knowing all that God has revealed, and has a firm foundation in sound doctrine. No faith can be strong without knowledge and understanding of the truth. May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints." (see note 1Thessalonians 3:12; 3:13) Again Paul teaches that is is the Lord who establishes and makes firm His saints. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace comfort and strengthen (sterizo) your hearts in every good work and word." (2Th 2:16-17) MacDonald writes that Paul is praying not just for encouragement in the midst of distress, but strength to move forward in the battle. The word “retreat” wasn’t in the apostle’s vocabulary, and it shouldn’t be in ours either. Don’t miss the expression every good word and work. Truth on our lips is not enough; it must be worked out in our life. So in our lives there should be the order of teaching and doing, doctrine and duty, preaching and practice. (Believer's Bible Commentary) James writes... You too (like "the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil") be patient; strengthen (stÄ"rÃzō - aorist active imperative - command to do this now - it is urgent) your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (The imminency of Christ’s return is a frequent theme in the NT and is that promised time when your "eternal glory in Christ" will come to fruition)." (James 5:8) James gives the saints a command to buttress up their hearts like a wall and make them stable. But I thought Peter said God was the One Who would confirm or stabilize us? That's true but in this passage James exhorts those about to collapse under the weight of persecution to shore up their hearts with truth, in this case the great truth that Christ is coming back to bring us home. Our hearts should be buttressed by this sure hope of the second coming. Jesus warns the church at Sardis Wake up (gregoreuo as in 1 Peter 5:8 - note "be on the alert" - there was no time for indifference; they could not just go with the flow, they had to reverse it), and strengthen (stÄ"rÃzō - aorist imperative - command to do this now - it is urgent) the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. (see note Revelation 3:2) The God of all grace will Himself make you stable, firmly fixed on the Rock of your salvation, resolutely setting your will toward your eternal home. The believer who is established will not be moved by the lion's loud roar. Spurgeon comments that we cannot have (this confirmation and establishment) until after we have suffered a while. We cannot be established except by suffering. It is of no use our hoping that we shall be well-rooted if no March winds have passed over us. The young oak cannot be expected to strike its roots so deep as the old one. Those old gnarlings on the roots, and those strange twistings of the branches, all tell of many storms that have swept over the aged tree. But they are also indicators of the depths into which the roots have dived; and they tell the woodman that he might as soon expect to rend up a mountain as to tear up that oak by the roots. We must suffer a while, then shall we be established. (from his sermon "A New Year's Benediction" on 1 Peter 5:10) STRENGTHEN: autos...sthenosei (3SFAI): (Ps 138:7; Zech 10:6,12; Lk 22:32; Php 4:13; Col 1:22,23) God's strength to us to meet the demands of life. Strengthen (4599) (sthenóō from sthénos = strength) denotes the idea of God giving them strength to bear all their sufferings without wavering in their faith. It means to cause someone to be or to become more able or capable, with the implication of a contrast with weakness. This verb is found only in this verse in the NT. Peter says that the God of grace promises to Himself provide the strength needed to resist the devil, holding one's ground when he roars. Barclay says that Through suffering God will strengthen a man. The Greek is sthenóō, which means to fill with strength. Here is the same sense again. A life with no effort and no discipline almost inevitably becomes a flabby life. No one really knows what his faith means to him until it has been tried in the furnace of affliction. There is something doubly precious about a faith which has come victoriously through pain and sorrow and disappointment. The wind will extinguish a weak flame; but it will fan a strong flame into a still greater blaze. So it is with faith." (The Daily Study Bible) Commenting on sthenóō MacDonald writes that Persecution is intended by Satan to weaken and wear out believers, but it has the opposite effect. It strengthens them to endure. (Believer's Bible Commentary) Wiersbe says Peter refers to - God’s strength given to us to meet the demands of life. What good is it to stand on a firm foundation if we do not have power to act?...Strengthen means just that: God’s strength given to us to meet the demands of life. What good is it to stand on a firm foundation if we do not have power to act?" (Bolding added) (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) Goins writes that this word is literally, we will be "filled with bodily strength." It's like bodily discipline through exercise which toughens up a flabby body, replacing fat with muscle. That's what God's doing to us through suffering. In our suffering we have the perspective of the Olympic athlete who is in training because he is shooting for the gold medal. He knows that's where he's headed, he knows that's the purpose in all of his pain and difficulty. ESTABLISH: autos...themeliosei (3SFAI): Note that some manuscripts omit this verb, which accounts for its omission in the ASV, although the majority of texts support it as in the original text. Establish (2311) (themelióō from themélios = foundational, fundamental, describing that which lies beneath, foundation (stone), base and reference is always to something secure and permanent in itself) means to lay a foundation or provide with a foundation, to place on a firm, secure foundation. The radical notion of themelióō is to ground securely. Figuratively, it refers to providing a firm basis for belief or practice establish, strengthen, settle (place so as to stay, establish or secure permanently), cause to be firm and unwavering. Themelioo is used 5x in the NT (Matt. 7:25; Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23; Heb. 1:10; 1 Pet. 5:10) and is translated in the NAS as: establish, 1; firmly established, 1; founded, 1; grounded, 1; laid the foundation, 1. There are 40 uses of themelioo in the Septuagint - Josh. 6:26; 1 Ki. 5:17; 7:10; 16:34; 2 Chr. 8:16; 31:7; Ezr. 3:6, 10; 7:9; Job 38:4; Ps. 8:3; 24:2; 48:8; 78:69; 87:5; 89:11; 102:25; 104:5, 8; 119:90, 152; Prov. 3:19; 8:23; 18:19; Song 5:15; Is 14:32; 44:28; 48:13; 51:13, 16; Amos 9:6; Hag. 2:18; Zech. 4:9; 8:9; 12:1 Vincent writes that The radical notion of (themelióō) is, therefore, to ground securely. (Vincent, M. R. Word studies in the New Testament. Vol. 1, Page 3-672) In masonry the "foundation" refers to the underlying base or support or the whole substructure of a building, providing a stable base for any superstructure. Peter says that the God of all grace Himself promises to place suffering, storm tossed saints on a firm foundation. Unlike the second term ("confirm", "establish") which refers to supports put around, themelióō refers to the secure foundation on which something rests, in this verse referring to the solid spiritual foundation on which God will establish Christians. The picture conveyed by themelióō is that of a house which is so firmly fixed on a foundation that it is not moved by winds or floods or figuratively by the stormy waves of suffering or the loud howling roar of our adversary, the devil. The refrain of the great hymn, My Hope is Built, beautifully describes the meaning of themelióō, the refrain declaring On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. The "aggregation" of four promises from the God of all grace in this single verse, all four unconnected by conjunctions, indicates a strong predisposition by God Himself and forms the ground for an unshakeable confidence in the believer who by faith lays hold of these great promises. One way to "lay hold" of these truths is to memorize this section of Peter (1 Peter 5:8-11) and then periodically "chew over" these truths in your mind (meditate, see the benefits of this spiritual discipline in Psalm 1). Commenting on themelióō MacDonald writes that This verb is related to the word “foundation” in the original. God wants every believer to be firmly planted in a secure place in His Son and in His word. (Believer's Bible Commentary) Doug Goins - Finally, Peter says God will settle us. He uses an architectural term in Greek. It means "to lay a foundation for a building." Suffering will drive us to the bedrock of our faith, to our foundation which is Jesus Himself. In suffering we figure out what's superficial in life, what's unnecessary, we're stripped of all the excess baggage and driven to the one thing that we can really build our lives on, Jesus Christ Himself. In that sense, suffering does us all a great service. It evaluates for us what's superfluous and what is essential." (Ref) Barclay - Through suffering God will settle (establish) a man. The Greek is themelióō, which means to lay the foundations. When we have to meet sorrow and suffering we are driven down to the very bedrock of faith. It is then that we discover what are the things which cannot be shaken. It is in time of trial that we discover the great truths on which real life is founded. Suffering is very far from doing these precious things for every man. It may well drive a man to bitterness and despair; and may well take away such faith as he has. But if it is accepted in the trusting certainty that a father’s hand will never cause his child a needless tear, then out of suffering come things which the easy way may never bring. (Daily Study Bible Series) Ritchie - God will...will lay in your lives a foundation of truth--a new set of values. In 2Corinthians 1, the apostle Paul wrote that suffering produced in him the knowledge that he should not trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead." Jesus summed up His Sermon on the Mount, teaching Therefore everyone who hears (so as to heed) these words of Mine, and acts (present tense - as a way of life) upon them (hearing is not enough - we must obey), may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded (themelióō - pluperfect tense - this tense emphasizes permanence or continuance of the founding) upon the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house (externally this house looked secure) upon the sand.27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell (severe testing revealed the true quality of the builders’ work), and great was its fall. (see notes Matthew 7:24; 7:25; 7:26; 7:27) The house founded on the rock withstood the storm. Wiersbe - The foundation in this parable is obedience to God’s Word—obedience that is an evidence of true faith (James 2:14-26-note). (Bible Exposition Commentary) Ye call me the “Way” and walk me not, Ye call me the “Life” and live me not, Ye call me “Master” and obey me not, If I condemn thee, blame me not. Ye call me “Bread” and eat me not, Ye call me “Truth” and believe me not, Ye call me “Lord” and serve me not, If I condemn thee, blame me not. —Geoffrey O’Hara Speaking of the Creation of the universe by the Lord Jesus Christ in order to substantiate the immutability of the Son, the writer of Hebrews (quoting Ps 102:25) states that God Himself declares that "Thou, Jehovah, in the beginning didst lay the foundation (themelióō) of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands" (Heb 1:10-note) Note that in this passage, God the Father addresses His Son as LORD, Jehovah, which leads one to the inescapable conclusion that Jesus of the NT is Jehovah of the Old. Paul prayed for the saints at Ephesus (a great prayer for us all to pray for our brethren) For this reason (because our new identity makes us the dwelling place of God), I bow my knees before the Father,15 from Whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man;17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded (themelióō - perfect tense - speaks of the permanence or continuance of this strong foundation of love, here an attitude of selflessness - as a consequence of the strengthening of the Spirit and of Christ’s indwelling) in love. 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. (see notes Ephesians 3:14;3:15; 3:16; 3:17; 3:18; 3:19) As a result of a believer's permanent union with Christ his or her position before God is holy and blameless and beyond reproach, if (this "if" is a first class conditional = emphasizes that they will continue = it could be translated "since") indeed you continue in the faith (not the Christian system of doctrine but their faith as exercised in the gospel message) firmly established (themelióō - having been firmly placed upon a foundation, well-grounded like a building on the firm foundation of the Rock, the Lord Jesus - perfect tense speaks of permanence - ) and steadfast and not moved away (not shifting - Colossae was in a region known for earthquakes) from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister." (see notes Colossians 1:22; 1:23) Paul is not saying that our salvation depends on our continuing in the faith. That interpretation would counter the truth of "firmly established" which in the perfect tense speaks of having been founded in the past with the present result that they are still founded, which speaks of the permanent condition of their foundation! This verse is not teaching that loss of salvation is possible. The proper interpretation is that a person who has been genuinely born from above is a new creation with a new power (the Holy Spirit) and a new desire (God in us willing and working to God's good pleasure cf Php 2:13 [note]) to persevere in faith which obeys. In other words, we are not saved by continuing in the faith. But we continue in the faith and thus prove that we are saved. Continuance is the proof of the reality. Of course there is always the danger of backsliding, but a Christian falls only to rise again (cf Pr 24:16). He does not forsake the faith. Every true believer will endure to the end, for our Lord declared "I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand." (Jn 10:28) Peter himself is a perfect illustration of the truth of this passage, for even though he temporarily denied His Lord, ultimately he endured to the end and by extra-biblical account was martyred by being crucified upside down! Wuest - In the case of those Colossians who professed to be recipients of this work of God, and who followed the Colossian heresy, this would only go to prove that their profession did not accord with the facts, namely, that they were never placed on that foundation, the Lord Jesus." ( Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament) Themelióō is used some 35 times in the Septuagint (LXX, Greek of OT Hebrew), for example we read that King Solomon "commanded and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation (LXX = themelióō) of the house with cut stones." (1Ki 5:17) "Thus all the work of Solomon was carried out from the day of the foundation (LXX = themelióō) of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed." (2Chr 8:16) Jehovah asks Job "Where were you when I laid the foundation (LXX = themelióō) of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding." (Job 38:5) David declares "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained (LXX = themelióō) 4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? (Ps 8:3-4) (Spurgeon's notes - Verse 3 Verse 4) Beloved, this same God of all grace, Who flung the stars into the sky is able to set your feet on a firm foundation! In a description of the rebuilding of Solomon's destroyed Temple, Ezra records that "when the builders had laid the foundation (LXX = themelióō) of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel." (Ezra 3:10) This last verse is an interesting parallel to this section of 1 Peter, as Peter likewise follows up the truth about God laying a firm foundation with a beautiful doxology of praise to Jehovah. This is a good practice to develop "For it is good to sing praises to our God, for it is pleasant and praise is becoming." (Ps 147:1) MacArthur sums this section up with the observation that "to perfect means to bring you to wholeness, to confirm means to set you fast, to strengthen means to make you strong, to establish you means to lay you as a foundation. They all speak of strength, resoluteness. And that's what God wants to do in your life through the spiritual battle. They ought to encourage you, those four words, in the spiritual battle. God Himself is there battling and through the battle you become perfect, confirmed, strong and established." Tom Constable - What Peter has done is pile up a number of closely related terms that together by their reinforcing one another give a multiple underscoring of the good that God is intending for them and even now is producing in their suffering.” (1 Peter 5 - Expository Notes) Some commentators such as Calvin feel these four verbs are somewhat redundant "there is not much importance with regard to the meaning. Besides, Peter intends the same thing by all these words" Hiebert - "the use of those four verbs is not redundant rhetoric; there is an orderly thought development. The first assured the readers that God would keep on perfecting His suffering children so that no defect would remain in them. The remaining three verbs suggest different aspects of His work. God will supply believers with the needed support so that they will not topple and fall, impart the needed strength so that they will not collapse, and set them upon an immovable foundation so that they will not be swept away." (Hiebert, D E. First Peter. page 319-320. Moody). Bengel thus sums up the whole - “Shall perfect, that no defect remain in you: shall stablish, that nothing may shake you: shall strengthen, that you may overcome every adverse force. A saying worthy of Peter. He is strengthening his brethren.” (Vincent, M. R. Word studies in the New Testament. Vol. 1, Page 3-672) Lacey - "The inevitable suffering of the Christian life always yields the same blessed result in the character of believers; it will refine the faith, adjust the character, establish, strengthen and settle the people of God." (Lacey, Harry. God and the Nations, p. 92) Wiersbe - "When an unbeliever goes through suffering, he loses his hope; but for a believer, suffering only increases his hope. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Ro 5:3, 4, niv). God builds character and brightens hope when a believer trusts Him and depends on His grace. The result is that God receives the glory forever and ever." (Bible Exposition Commentary) MY HOPE IS BUILT (Click to play) My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. Refrain On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.