Use Your Mind, Don't Empty It: 1 Peter 1:13

For the most part, this blog is written under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Please understand, I am not saying I have any new revelation. I don't. All I have are the Holy Scriptures and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as I attempt to study and share what is within them (within the Scriptures). The reason I share this point is that this entry is no different to any other; ie. I am sharing what God is showing me but with a small difference. This scripture just happens to be a personal favourite, so I am pleased to be led to share it. It's always good when this happens, don't you agree? :-)

 "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).

As usual, I strongly urge you to read this verse in context, so let us assume you have at least read all of chapter 1.

Lets begin by 'unpacking' this verse. "Prepare your minds for action". Quite literally the Greek verb this clause is based upon  means to "gird up" (KJV has "gird up the loins of your mind"). It was used in relation to the habit of binding up ones robes in preparation for work or perhaps a journey. Hence here it used in a metaphorical sense for "getting your mind ready for action". It is also interesting to note that the verb we are discussing is an imperative participle in the Greek, so it carries the weight of a command, not a suggestion. Now there is even more to this verb in Greek (eg. because it is also an aorist participle, it could be translated as "having bound up") but I think we have enough here to understand the main point.

This exhortation by Peter to the reader is the antithesis (click here for a description of the word and its use. It's a great word derived from the Greek) to various mystical teachings both within and outside of the Church. Some argue that to come closer to God, we first need to 'empty our minds'. Well I disagree with that assertion. We have been given minds to use them, not disengage them, and we don't need to go a lot further than the next part of the verse to bolster the argument (Here are just a few other verses you could look at that could also support the argument: 1 Peter 5:8, Mark 13:33, 1 Corinthians 16:13).

So the verse continues "be self controlled" (NIV) or "be sober" (KJV). The Greek verb that this is based upon is also an imperative so we know it carries the weight of a command to  "be well balanced, self-controlled" (BDAG p.672).

Next lets look at the Greek adverb that "completely" is based upon. Now some versions have "completely" or "fully". Both of these are acceptable as it could also be translated "perfectly" or "altogether" as well (BDAG p.997). So we are to set or fix our hope completely on this grace that we will receive at the Revelation of our Lord Jesus (see also verse 7 which also ends in identical fashion which in Greek is "at the revelation of Jesus Christ").

So to finish then, we can say that it is God's intention for us to use our minds and to stay in control. We are not to switch off our brains because in my opinion, that could lead to loss of self-control, which is the opposite of what Peter has exhorted believers to do.