1 Peter 2:11

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

Dearly beloved {G27}, I beseech {G3870} you as {G5613} strangers {G3941} and {G2532} pilgrims {G3927}, abstain from {G567} fleshly {G4559} lusts {G1939}, which {G3748} war {G4754} against {G2596} the soul {G5590};

Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents not to give in to the desires of your old nature, which keep warring against you;

Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Commentary

1 Peter 2:11 serves as a powerful exhortation to believers, reminding them of their unique identity and calling in a fallen world. This verse transitions from Peter's theological declarations about the believer's new status to practical implications for daily living, emphasizing the ongoing spiritual battle against internal temptations.

Context

In the preceding verses, Peter establishes the profound identity of believers as a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9). Having declared who they are in Christ, he now moves to how they ought to live. He addresses them affectionately as "Dearly beloved," setting a tone of pastoral care before issuing a vital command. The recipients of this letter were scattered believers facing various forms of hardship and persecution, often feeling out of place in their society.

Key Themes

  • Alien Status and Sojourning

    The core of this verse lies in Peter's description of believers as "strangers and pilgrims." The Greek terms, paroikous (strangers, sojourners, temporary residents) and parepidฤ“mous (pilgrims, exiles, aliens), powerfully convey the idea that Christians are not permanent residents of this earthly realm. Their true citizenship is heavenly, reminding them to live with an eternal perspective and not be fully at home in the world's systems or values. This concept encourages a detachment from worldly pursuits and a focus on eternal values, understanding that our true citizenship is in heaven.

  • Spiritual Warfare Against Fleshly Lusts

    Peter issues a direct command: "abstain from fleshly lusts." "Fleshly lusts" (Greek: sarkikon epithymion) refers to desires originating from our fallen human nature, encompassing not only sexual desires but any sinful cravings or impulses that oppose God's will. The critical insight is that these desires "war against the soul." This vivid military imagery (Greek: strateuontai kata tฤ“s psychฤ“s, meaning "they wage war against the soul") highlights an active, internal conflict. These lusts are not passive temptations but aggressive enemies seeking to corrupt, enslave, and ultimately destroy one's spiritual well-being and relationship with God. It underscores the constant spiritual battle believers face, not just externally but within themselves.

  • Call to Abstinence and Holiness

    The command to "abstain" is a call to active self-control and separation from these harmful desires. It is a necessary discipline for maintaining holiness and living a life pleasing to God. As those who are "strangers and pilgrims," believers are called to live distinctively, demonstrating a lifestyle that reflects their heavenly calling rather than conforming to the patterns of the world.

Practical Application

For Christians today, 1 Peter 2:11 serves as a timeless reminder to live consciously with an eternal perspective. Recognizing our identity as temporary residents on Earth empowers us to prioritize God's kingdom and values over fleeting worldly pleasures and possessions. It calls for constant vigilance against the internal pull of sinful desires, understanding that these "fleshly lusts" are not benign but actively seek to harm our spiritual health and relationship with God. This verse encourages a disciplined pursuit of holiness, reminding us that our spiritual well-being is a battleground where active resistance and reliance on God's strength are essential for victory.

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Cross-References

  • 1 John 2:15 (33 votes)

    Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

  • 1 John 2:17 (33 votes)

    And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

  • Galatians 5:24 (25 votes)

    And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

  • 1 Peter 4:2 (20 votes)

    That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

  • Hebrews 11:13 (19 votes)

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Romans 8:13 (16 votes)

    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:15 (15 votes)

    For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.