Devotional
I've heard the Bible described as shallow enough for kids to play in; yet deep enough to drown an elephant.
I get that. The Bible has these images and stories that stick with us and transform us, even children. David and Goliath, Noah and the Ark, a stone rolled away from a grave. The Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament were taught and understood long before the majority of folks could read; long before the printing press. You don't need to know how to read - much less possess a PhD - to understand a story about a loving God who would do anything to have a relationship with you.
But I had this professor who once said, "Yes, the Holy Spirit can leapfrog over your inability to understand...but why would we want to make the Spirit have to do that?"
In other words, just because we can understand parts of the Bible without a particular ton of effort doesn't mean that we should stay satisfied with that. Just because we may not feel called to learn Greek and Hebrew doesn't mean that we're absolved of study and intentionality in understanding the Scriptures.
In these last few verses of 1 Peter, we have references to lions, the devil, Silas, Mark, Babylon, and kisses of love. Every one of these is worthy of its own study:
Lions - used in the Old Testament for leaders who exploit the poor and marginalized (Proverbs 28:15; Ezekiel 22:25; Zephaniah 3:3). Is there a connection between Peter's political reality and who he's calling "the devil"?
Devil - there's no "satan" character in the Hebrew Scriptures until very late in their composition, coinciding with the Jews exposure to Zoroastrian thought.
Gospel of Mark - the owner of the "upper room" where Jesus held passover. Early Christian tradition holds that Peter told his recollections of Jesus to Gospel of Mark, who then wrote the earliest Gospel.
Babylon - a common cryptogram for the city of Rome. Most likely the subject of Revelation.
If you want to take some steps towards more engaged reading of Scripture, I recommend a good study Bible. Study Bibles range from a more devotional or inspirational approach; to the more scholarly, academic, or critical. Where as devotional Bibles are helpful for feeling encouraged, I think an excellently-researched scholarly study Bible aimed for general audiences is the best place to actually _learn. _Some suggestions are below:
NIV Cultural Background Study Bible: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310431581
The Harper Collins Study Bible: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061228400
The Jewish Study Bible: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0199978468/
The Jewish Annotated New Testament: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0190461853
Pray
Father, Son, and Spirit: I thank You for the gift of Your Word. Give me the wisdom to understand it; and help me to find the time and make the effort to grow in my understanding. Amen.
On 5:1-4: