Benedictions and Doxology

Some traditional Hawaiians sing the doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” before they go out to the sea in their canoes. The Hebrews, too, praised God frequently. In fact, not praising God and not giving him thanks were sins (Rom 1:21).

Peter concluded his first epistle to the Hebrew Christians with two benedictions: 1 Peter 5:10–11 and 5:14b. His theme in this letter was “How to suffer amidst persecution.” His first benediction included that theme.

“The God of all grace who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus – while you are suffering for a while – will mend, focus, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the might for eternity. Amen.” (1 Pet 5:10–11)

Peter repeatedly referred to their salvation with “grace or gift” (1:10, 13; 3:7; 4:10; 5:5). As such, they wouldn’t have been surprised that he called God “the God of all grace.” The phrase “who called you to his eternal glory” further authenticated that this grace referred to the salvation of partaking in his glory because of Jesus Christ.

This same God, who invited them to share in his glory by grace and Jesus’s finished work, watched them in their trials. That, however, didn’t mean they would escape suffering; instead, they would suffer for a while. But while they were suffering, the God of grace stood by them to mend, focus, strengthen, and establish them.

Peter, a fisherman, was familiar with “mend” (kataritizo). Before going fishing, fishermen mended (kataritizo) their nets, which was what John, James, their father, and hired servants were doing when Jesus called John and James to be his disciples (Matt 4:21). Similarly, God would mend the broken hearts and torn bodies of his audience as they suffered.

Further, God would refocus or give them determination (sterizo) during their trials. The Samaritans wouldn’t let Jesus go through their village because he was focused or determined (sterizo) to reach Jerusalem unhindered (Luke 9:51). While Satan planned to destroy all the disciples, Jesus prayed for Peter alone so that he could refocus (sterizo) his fellow disciples (Luke 22:32). Peter knew the value of God refocusing or giving the determination during trials and failures that he blessed his people with the same prayer.

A common word for sickness or weakness was a-stheneo. By removing the “a” (a negative indicator), Peter said God would sthenoo them, meaning God would give them strength and health to endure suffering and trials.

The foundation of a building was called themelios. When a building stood on a solid foundation (themelios), as was the wise person’s house that was built on a rock, even when water arose and beat upon the foundation, it didn’t shake; it was firmly foundationed (themelioo) or established (Matt 7:25). Regardless of how much the trials and tribulation tried to shake them off their foundation, hope, faith, or salvation, the God of all grace will stand them firm.

Peter had carefully handpicked each of these verbs to affirm to his frightened audience that they had nothing to fear; God was on their side during their trials and tribulations. He would mend them like fishermen mended their torn nets, focus them as God refocused Peter after he had betrayed Jesus three times, strengthen them by giving them health, and establish or make them stand on a firm foundation, unshaken. He could do that because he was a mighty God.

The same benediction applies to us when we go through trials and tribulations. The God of all grace will be with us to mend, focus, strengthen, and establish.