Protected (5432) (phroureo) is derived from phrouros which means a sentinel. Phrouros in turn is derived from pro = before, toward + horao = behold, take special notice of, stare at more. The verb phroureo therefore means to pay attention to something, thus giving us a clear picture of the action involved in guarding or protecting. Peter's use of this term which was used in the military implies that those who have been born again are in a war and are under enemy attack. (cp similar military metaphor in 1Pe 2:11-note) Phroureo is used 4x in the NT (2 Cor 11:32; Gal 3:23; Phil 4:7; 1 Pet 1:5) and in the NAS is translated guard, 1; guarding, 1; kept in custody, 1; protected, 1. Phroureo is found in the Septuagint (LXX) 4 times but only in the apocryphal books. Phroureo has three primary nuances: (1) to maintain a watch, guard. Phroureo was was a military term used to describe the guarding performed by posting sentries. It carries the idea of setting a protective guard. It also conveys the idea of a garrison keeping watch over a town either in order to prevent hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight. Phroureo described the soldiers guarding Damascus when Paul made his escape: In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, (2 Corinthians 11:32) (2) to hold in custody, detain, confine as in Galatians where Paul explained that... "before faith came, we were kept in custody (phroureo) under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed." (Galatians 3:23) This meaning was consistent with the Roman use of prisons principally for holding of prisoners until disposition of their cases, just as the Law supervised us until we could place our faith in Christ. (3) to provide security, guard, protect, keep, this being the primary meaning in the present context. It is encouraging to examine three of the four uses of phroureo. In the past, the Lord kept us safe until we heard the Gospel and responded to it (Galatians 3:23). In the present, the peace of God keeps our hearts and minds at peace in troubled times (Php 4:7-note). Finally as Peter teaches, the Lord keeps us and will reveal His glory in us when Christ returns (1 Peter 1:5). The keeping power of our Lord is awesome. It is as strong as His strength and as eternal as His person. No Christian should ever doubt this providential care of the Lord. Spurgeon expresses the encouraging truth of God's guarding providence writing that... As sure as ever God puts His children in the furnace He will be in the furnace with them." John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) founder of the Christian Brethren movement speaking of God's protective care said that... God's ways are behind the scenes, but He moves all the scenes which He is behind. Phroureo is in the present tense which emphasizes our need for continual protection in our struggle in this present life as we await the next life of glory. We are constantly being kept guarded by the power of God which guarantees every believer's final victory even what may seen to them now as "against all odds"! The passive voice in the present context indicates that the "guarding" was being carried out by an outside force, specifically God, Whose power was continuously guarding us. Peter's point is that we will make it to heaven no matter what trials we experience here, so hangeth thou in there. Barnes adds that the idea of phroureo is that "there was a faithful guardianship exercised over them to save them from danger, as a castle or garrison is watched to guard it against the approach of an enemy (see expositional notes on Psalm 121 describing our Helper and Keeper). The meaning is, that they were weak in themselves, and were surrounded by temptations; and that the only reason why they were preserved was, that God exerted His power to keep them. The only reason which any Christians have to suppose they will ever reach heaven, is the fact that God keeps them by His own power. If it were left to the will of man; to the strength of his own resolutions; to his power to meet temptations, and to any probability that he would of himself continue to walk in the path of life, there would be no certainty that anyone would be saved." (Barnes' Notes on the Bible) While our inheritance is being kept guarded in heaven under the watchful eye of God, we are being garrisoned about by God’s protecting care for it. The Almighty God stands sentinel over us all our days guarding our "going out and our coming in from this day forth and forever" (see notes on Psalm 121). The Guard is never changed. He is on duty 24 hrs/day ("24/7"), year in and year out until we arrive safely home. Believers are not kept by their own power, but by the power of God. Our faith in Christ has so united us to Him that His power now guards us and guides us. We are not kept by our strength, but by His faithfulness. How long will He guard us? Until Jesus Christ returns We are in His hand (Jn 10:29). The story is told of a Scotsman, who was typically economical, leaving instructions that only one word should be engraved upon his tombstone. That word taken from this verse was the single word KEPT (KJV translation). Eternal security is not based on the faith of men, but on the faithfulness of God. Aren't we all thankful for this truth! J Vernon McGee: in his quaint style writes... My friend, do you think He can keep you? Oh, I am weary of the emphasis being put on the work of the flesh. We are being told that if we follow some little set of rules, we can become “adequate Christians.” I wonder if the fellows who are giving all these messages have reached some celestial level which the rest of us have not been able to attain. They ask, “Are you sufficient, are you satisfied?” My answer is, “No—I am pressing on the upward way, I am pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I am not satisfied. I have not found life sufficient.” My friend, let me add a strong statement that may startle you: You cannot live the Christian life! Perhaps you are asking, “Do you really mean that?” Yes, I do. I would challenge you to show me a verse or any Scripture where God has asked you to live the Christian life. He has never done that...The only way in the world that you can live the Christian life is by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the fact that you are kept by the power of God—right on through until the day when you will be delivered to Him in heaven. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos) BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH: tous en dunamei theou dia pisteos: By the power of God - The guard on duty is not like a human guard who might fall asleep and fail to guard us from the enemy. Perhaps you might want to "refresh" your mind regarding the "Guard" Who is protecting you until the last time... Psalm 121 1 I Will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. 8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever. (See verse by verse commentary on site - Psalm 121: A Commentary)