Confirm (4741) (stērízō from histemi = to stand as in 1 Pe 5:12 "stand firm in" the true grace of God. Histemi also root of "Resist" - anthistemi and of "firm" - stereos, both used by Peter in 1 Pe 5:9) means to make firm or solid, to set fast, to fix firmly in a place, to establish (make firm or stable), to cause to be inwardly firm or committed, to strengthen. The basic idea is that of stabilizing something by providing a support or buttress (a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building), so that it will not totter. Vine feels that stērízō is derived from stērix, a prop (something that sustains or supports). Stērízō is used 14x in NT (Lk. 9:51; 16:26; 22:32; Ro 1:11; 16:25; 1Th. 3:2, 13; 2Th 2:17; 3:3; James 5:8; 1Pe 5:10; 2Pe 1:12; Re 3:2)and in the NAS is translated as - confirm, 1; determined, 1; establish, 2; established, 2; fixed, 1; strengthen, 6; strengthening, 1. There are 34 uses of sterizo in the Septuagint (LXX) - Gen. 27:37; 8.12" class="scriptRef">28:12; Exod. 17:12; Lev. 13:55; Jdg. 19:5, 8; 1Sam. 26:19; 2 Ki. 18:16, 21; Ps. 51:12; 104:15; 111:8; 112:8; Prov. 15:25; 16:30; 27:20; Song 2:5; Is 22:25; 59:16; Jer. 3:12; 17:5; 21:10; 24:6; Ezek. 6:2; 13:17; 14:8; 15:7; 20:46; 21:2; 25:2; 28:21; 29:2; 38:2; Da 7:28; Amos 9:4; In the present verse, stērízō refers to a divine promise that amid their sufferings, God will give the believers the needed fixity and immobility, and thus the inner strength and resolve to continue to resist the onslaughts of their adversary, the devil, and stand fast in their faith. And He will do the same for you, beloved. God will "confirm" you. He will make you as solid as granite and enable you to stand against the fiery ordeal and the storms of life. (Ron Ritchie) Commenting on stērízō MacDonald writes that Suffering makes Christians more stable, able to maintain a good confession, and to bear up under pressure." (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson) Barclay writes that stērízō means to make as solid as granite. Suffering of body and sorrow of heart do one of two things to a man. They either make him collapse or they leave him with a solidity of character which he could never have gained anywhere else. If he meets them with continuing trust in Christ, he emerges like toughened steel that has been tempered in the fire. (The Daily Study Bible) Doug Goins writes that We're being hardened and solidified and toughened through suffering, like fired and tempered steel." Stērízō is used with a similar meaning in Second Thessalonians, Paul writing that when confronted by perverse and evil men, for not all have faith, the Lord is faithful (trustworthy, worthy of confidence, dependable, reliable) and He will strengthen (stērízō) and protect (military term - of a sentinel keeping guard, of the garrison of a city guarding it against attack from without > to guard against robbery or loss, watch over and defend, keep a person so that they remain safe) you from the evil one. (2Th 3:2-3) Paul teaches that we are to look away from faithless men to our never-failing God, Who will firmly establish us on the inside and guard us on the outside from the evil one (probably a reference to our "adversary, the devil... a roaring lion" and the ruler over evil men). Study the following uses of sterizo and note that although God is the One Who confirms or stabilizes us, we as believers also have a responsibility. According to Scripture, saints are stabilized or strengthened -- in our heart (1Th 3:13-note, 2Th 2:17) not physical heart but the center of spiritual activity = the inner self that thinks, feels, and decides = the center of emotions, feelings, moods, and passions), by being reminded of the truth (2 Peter 1:12 note); according to the gospel (Ro 16:25 note); by the certainty of the second coming (Js 5:8); as an answer to the prayers of other godly men and women (1Pe 3:12; 3:13 see notes 1Pe3:12; 13, 2Th 2:16, 17); and by the strengthening ministered through other saints who come alongside (e.g., Peter in Lk 22:31, 32, Timothy 1Thessalonians 3:2 [note], Paul in Ro 1:11 (note). So although Peter teaches that it is the God of all grace Himself Who ultimately stabilizes us, these other NT uses of sterizo teach that God also uses the the encouragement and prayers of other saints and the truth of the gospel to carry out this stabilization. Michaels adds that regarding stērízō it is worth noting that Paul’s uses of the same verb, in contexts of pastoral care of ethical admonition, consider it sometimes as a work of God (1Th 3:13-note; 2Th 2:17; 2Th 3:3; Ro16:25 note), sometimes as a responsibility of believers to each other (Ro 1:11; 1Th 3:2; cf. Acts 14:22)." (Bolding added. Michaels, J. R. Vol. 49: Word Biblical Commentary: 1 Peter. page 303. Dallas: Word). There is an excellent illustration of the meaning of stērízō in the Septuagint (LXX) where we read in the context of Israel battling the Amalekites that Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it and Aaron and Hur supported (stērízō - imperfect tense - over and over they would support) his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady (stērízō - perfect tense - they continued in a state of steadiness) until the sun set. (Ex 17:12-note) To get an added sense of the meaning of stērízō, hold your pointer over (or better yet click for context) the following four NT uses of the related verb, epistērizō - "strengthening the souls of the disciples" Acts 14:22; "strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message", Acts 15:32; "strengthening the churches", Acts 15:41; "strengthening all the disciples", Acts18:23. 1 Peter 5:10 is in a sense a fulfillment of a prophecy by Jesus. Stērízō had special meaning for Peter, who had heard his Lord use this word to encourage him even after warning that their adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion would seek to devour him. Jesus declared to Peter Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift (literally to shake but here figuratively of inward agitation to test and prove his faith by trials and afflictions, which would separate good from bad in Peter's character) you like wheat (wheat was winnowed, the shaking being in order to separate the good part from the chaff which the wind would blow away) but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen (stērízō - aorist active imperative - command to do it even conveying sense of urgency) your brothers. (Lk 22:31-32) In Luke, we encounter a long section (Lk 9:51-19:44) which introduces a new facet of Jesus' ministry (and which has no counterpart in Matthew or Mark, though much of its material is found in other contexts in those Gospels), Luke gives us a vivid picture of the meaning of stērízō recording that it came about, when the days were approaching for (Jesus') ascension, that He resolutely (steadfastly and determinedly) set (stērízō) His face ("set his face" is a Hebrew idiom, common in the OT as illustrated in next note and implies fixedness of purpose, especially in the prospect of difficulty or danger) to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51). In the Septuagint (LXX), Greek translation of the Hebrew OT, God commanded His prophet Ezekiel Son of man, set (stērízō aorist active imperative - do it now, command, with urgency) your face (this Hebrew idiom "set your face" is used 11x in Ezekiel!) toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them. (Ezek 6:2-note) In the perfect tense stērízō means established permanently or stands fixed as in the description of Hades (which one day will be thrown into the Lake of fire, Re 20:13; 20:14 see notes Re 20:13; 14) Luke recording Abraham's words to the rich man that besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed (perfect tense of stērízō), in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us. (Lk 16:26) In short this verse clearly teaches that the choices of this life will determine one's eternal destiny, and once death has taken place, that destiny is fixed. There is no passage from the abode of the saved to that of the damned or vice versa. In his second epistle Peter wrote Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established (stērízō - perfect tense speaks of permanence) in the truth which is present with you." (see note 2 Peter 1:12) In other words, the perfect tense indicates that these saints had become stabilized in the truth at some point of time in the past and were still in a state of being set fast or placed firmly upon it. Their knowledge of the Word and the sound doctrines of the faith were set in their minds as it were. However, there is always the danger of a preoccupied moment or a forgetful hour and so the truth that we have been permanently fixed in the sphere of the truth is one which needs to be constantly reiterated. Perhaps as you read this verse, beloved, you too need to be reminded of your firm and eternally secure position in Christ. For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established (stērízō)" (Ro 1:11-note) Vine has an interesting note on this verse in his discussion of stērízō writing that to establish is to cause to lean by supporting. Ministry of God’s Word which leads us into fuller dependence on God, is ministry which establishes us. The Hebrew word for “believe” literally means “to lean upon” (cp 2Chr. 20:20); “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established,” where “believe” and “established” represent the same word. The means of this constant confirmation, then, is the impartation of spiritual benefit, and the response of faith." (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson) In a beautiful doxology, Paul emphasizes like Peter that saints are stabilized by God... Now to Him Who is (continually) able to establish (stērízō) you according to (in agreement with) my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past. 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen." (see notes Romans 16:25; 16:26; 16:27) In other words it is through the gospel which Paul preached ("my gospel") that God is able to establish the minds and hearts of believers in the truth, to settle, ground , and make them firm in Him. The point is that God Who uses the proclamation of His Truth to buttress the faith of His children. We sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen (stērízō) and encourage you as to your faith." (see note 1Thessalonians 3:2) Timothy was to buttress their faith with the intent of firmly establishing it. Strong faith is a result of knowing all that God has revealed, and has a firm foundation in sound doctrine. No faith can be strong without knowledge and understanding of the truth. May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints." (see note 1Thessalonians 3:12; 3:13) Again Paul teaches that is is the Lord who establishes and makes firm His saints. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace comfort and strengthen (sterizo) your hearts in every good work and word." (2Th 2:16-17) MacDonald writes that Paul is praying not just for encouragement in the midst of distress, but strength to move forward in the battle. The word “retreat” wasn’t in the apostle’s vocabulary, and it shouldn’t be in ours either. Don’t miss the expression every good word and work. Truth on our lips is not enough; it must be worked out in our life. So in our lives there should be the order of teaching and doing, doctrine and duty, preaching and practice. (Believer's Bible Commentary) James writes... You too (like "the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil") be patient; strengthen (stērízō - aorist active imperative - command to do this now - it is urgent) your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (The imminency of Christ’s return is a frequent theme in the NT and is that promised time when your "eternal glory in Christ" will come to fruition)." (James 5:8) James gives the saints a command to buttress up their hearts like a wall and make them stable. But I thought Peter said God was the One Who would confirm or stabilize us? That's true but in this passage James exhorts those about to collapse under the weight of persecution to shore up their hearts with truth, in this case the great truth that Christ is coming back to bring us home. Our hearts should be buttressed by this sure hope of the second coming. Jesus warns the church at Sardis Wake up (gregoreuo as in 1 Peter 5:8 - note "be on the alert" - there was no time for indifference; they could not just go with the flow, they had to reverse it), and strengthen (stērízō - aorist imperative - command to do this now - it is urgent) the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. (see note Revelation 3:2) The God of all grace will Himself make you stable, firmly fixed on the Rock of your salvation, resolutely setting your will toward your eternal home. The believer who is established will not be moved by the lion's loud roar. Spurgeon comments that we cannot have (this confirmation and establishment) until after we have suffered a while. We cannot be established except by suffering. It is of no use our hoping that we shall be well-rooted if no March winds have passed over us. The young oak cannot be expected to strike its roots so deep as the old one. Those old gnarlings on the roots, and those strange twistings of the branches, all tell of many storms that have swept over the aged tree. But they are also indicators of the depths into which the roots have dived; and they tell the woodman that he might as soon expect to rend up a mountain as to tear up that oak by the roots. We must suffer a while, then shall we be established. (from his sermon "A New Year's Benediction" on 1 Peter 5:10) STRENGTHEN: autos...sthenosei (3SFAI): (Ps 138:7; Zech 10:6,12; Lk 22:32; Php 4:13; Col 1:22,23) God's strength to us to meet the demands of life. 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