Aliens (3941) (paroikos from para = beside + oikos = dwelling, home) means literally to dwell near and thus to have a home alongside of. It refers to a person living in a foreign land alongside of people who are not of his kind or to a period spent in a foreign land without taking out or being granted rights of citizenship. In short, paroikos refers to dwelling at a place only for a short time. The idea is that of a sojourn which describes one's stay in a foreign place as a temporary resident. Today we say something like believers are "short timers", dwelling temporarily and not being tethered to this terra firma on which we currently reside. It is interesting that while believers are referred to as sojourners on earth, the very opposite description is applied to unbelievers (especially in the Revelation) who are categorized as Earth Dwellers (see note) (katoikeo = take up permanent above + ge = earth)! Dear saint, would your choices this past week (month, year, etc) give evidence that your are living more like a a "short timer" or an "earth dweller"? We as believers don't belong in the godless society we are residing in. We're outsiders and our citizenship is in heaven, Paul explaining that... our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (see notes Philippians 3:20; 3:21) We are aliens this should be our theme song... This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through, My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. Our status in this world is as those who do not belong which is why John writes... Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever. (1John 2:15, 16, 17) Believers have the high and holy privilege of for as Paul writes God has... He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (see note Colossians 1:13). It is a privilege to be redeemed (1Pet 1:18 see note; 1Pe 1:19 - see note). It is a privilege to be made a citizen of heaven (Phil 3:20 see note; Phil 3:21 see note). And here in verse 11, Peter says the responsibility and practice that comes with our privileged position is that we should shun the things of this present evil age, for as John says the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (Satan). Look at the Psalmist's prayer I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Thy commandments from me. (Ps 119:19) (Spurgeon's note) We are aliens in this world but not in that to come in which we are now fellow citizens. (Eph 2:19 -See note) Paroikos is used to describe the patriarchs especially Abraham who went out not knowing where he was to go (see notes Hebrews 11:9, 11:13) as well as the children of Israel (Acts 7:6). Peter's point is that as saints we are no longer citizens of this present evil age but are destined for another world where we will live eternally as heavenly citizens, children in the family of God! Doctrine always precedes duty and this great truth should affect how we conduct ourselves in this evil "foreign" land. Heaven is our real home and we are merely temporary dwellers on earth. Furthermore, since we do not know at what time our Lord might return, we should live in anticipation of His coming by holding lightly the things that are passing away and "clinging tightly" by faith to the future hope (certainty) of heaven (cp 1Pet 1:5 - note; 1Pet 1:13 - note). (See related study of Christ's Second Coming) Numerous Scriptures allude to the fact that saints are aliens and strangers - consider taking a few moments and pondering these passages (Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:2-3; Luke 14:26,27,33, Lev 25:23, Hebrews 11:9,10,13 Genesis 23:4; 47:9; Lev 25:23; 1Chr 29:15, Ps 39:12; 119:19, 54) Here are all 4 uses of paroikos in the NT... Acts 7:6 "But God spoke to this effect, that his offspring would be aliens in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. Acts 7:29 "And at this remark Moses fled, and became an alien in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. Ephesians 2:19 (note) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, 1 Peter 2:11 (note) Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Paroikos is use 32 times in the (Gen. 15:13; 23.4" class="scriptRef">23:4; Exod. 2:22; 45" class="scriptRef">12:45; 18:3; Lev. 22:10; 25:6, 23, 35, 40, 45, 47; Num. 35:15; Deut. 14:21; 23:7; 2 Sam. 1:13; 1 Chr. 5:10; 29:15; Ps. 39:12; 105:12; 119:19; Jer. 14:8; 49:18; Zeph. 2:5) Aliens and strangers describe the Christian in his position in this world because he has died to this world, Paul testifying... may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14) The truth of our death with Christ to the power of sin, the control of Satan and the lure of this present evil age prompted Paul's great exhortation to the saints at Colossae... If (Since) then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (See notes Colossians 3:1; 3:2; 3:3). Remember beloved of God, you are not a citizen of earth trying to get to heaven but a citizen of heaven sojourning on earth. Never forget that... This world is your passage, not your portion! AND STRANGERS: kai parepidemous: A pilgrim in a hurried world and flurried, Where hearts are aching and where hopes are buried; Where bowers of ease and pleasures are enticing, Where heedless lives the good are sacrificing; A world of turmoil and of strife and danger— Yes, I'm a pilgrim here, and I'm a stranger. —Wm. M. Runyon