1 Peter 1:13-21, God Has No Partiality

There’s a lot of talk about “prejudice” in our society.  It’s quite likely that, no matter what side you are on in the political circles, it’s not just a matter of talk but is a fact.  I say this because our Lord is concerned about this issue, even in and especially in His Church.  There are 4 words in this family, and this time I’ll just take them one at a time.  Each is a compound word, joining the Greek words pros (to, towards) + hoptanomai (to look at, behold) + lambanō (to take up something).  Put them together and we have “a respecter of persons, looking at someone with favorability.”

The masculine noun, a respecter of persons, is found once in Ac. 10:34.  Peter said to Cornelieus, "God is not one to show partiality."  The whole story throughout Ac. 10 is about this, God working on Peter’s Jewish attitude, that God’s choice of Israel meant that He thought less of the Gentiles.  The truth was that God choice Israel to be His avenue through which redemption would come to the entire world.  The OT makes it clear of God’s plan to provide a Savior for all the families of the nations. Study Rom. 15:7-13 and note the OT quotes that prove this point.

The feminine noun, respect of persons, is used 4 times. 

·       Rom 2:11: there is no partiality w/God. The context again is Jew/Greek.

·       Eph 6:9: no partiality by God to masters or slaves.  The bias that was acceptable in society has no place in the Body of Christ.

·       Col 3:25: judgment w/o partiality (context is same as above, slaves and masters).  Pay attention to this.  The issue is not “sharing the wealth,” as if impartiality means everyone is the same.  Everyone is not the same.  Some have more money than others, more education than others, a higher political standing, and so forth.  But all will be judged by the Lord on the same standard: what did you do with what you had, not what you didn’t have? 

·       Jas 2:1: do not hold the faith of Christ with personal favoritism/partiality. 

The verb, to have respect of persons, is also in James 2 (2:9) where James emphasizes the rich and poor in the Body of Christ.

The adverb has an alpha/”a” preceeding, making it negative: without respect of persons, and is found in 1 Pt. 1:17: the Father impartially judges each man according to his works.  The application is that, since we call on our impartial Father, we should live our lives here in fear.

Vine (on above 4 terms) says this: denotes respect of persons, partiality, the fault of one who, when responsible to give judgment, has respect to the position, rank, popularity, or circumstances of men instead of their intrinsic conditions, preferring the rich & powerful to those who are not so.