1 Peter
This letter was written towards the end of Peter's life, to newly converted Gentiles living in Asia Minor. They were being persecuted for having converted to Christianity. So the purpose statement in 1 Peter 5:12 reads, “… to encourage and confirm that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.”
Greetings (1 Peter 1:1-2):
1. Peter indicates that the recipients were living in Asia Minor, or what is now Turkey. They would all be considered provinces in the Roman Empire.
2. Peter indicates that the Trinity is present in our salvation.
Praise God for salvation (1 Peter 1:3-12)
Peter emphasizes that salvation is a gift, which we receive from God. It had nothing to do with our own merit. Our new birth has everything to do with the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is what changes our lives. This new life is a lasting gift that God himself guarantees. He promises His protection, which will lead us to salvation to be fully revealed in the last time or end time. Because we
have a trustworthy God, we can even maintain our joy when trials come. Peter is sure there will be difficult times in the future for them but he puts this in God’s hands by saying that God intends to try our faith to test the genuineness of it.
The Old Testaments prophets announced beforehand the salvation message, about Jesus. They studied and looked into the salvation that comes through Jesus. This is also a call for us to study the scriptures concerning this salvation that we might know the God who made us, saved us, and will eventually reveal to us our ultimate salvation in heaven. Peter indicates that this salvation is not fully to be effected before Jesus is revealed (i.e. at His second coming). There is also here the idea that salvation is past, present, and future in scope. This section also teaches the inevitability of suffering for Christ.
Suffering seems to be not only characteristic of a Christian but we might almost say a divine necessity.
Be Holy (1 Peter 1:13-2:3)
The Christian must be like his God; "Be holy because I am holy." We are to mirror the attributes of our heavenly Father. Obedience is not optional. Disobedience would dishonor God or belittle what has been given to us through His grace, which was bought with the blood of Jesus.
Christian Identity (1 Peter 2:4-12)
Christians must not only be aware of salvation, but also of their own nature as "living stones" that form the temple of God. We need to realize that God Himself dwells within us. His presence is with us all the time (Matthew 28:20), not only when we worship, but also when we sin (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Paul makes it very clear in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, that this principle even extends to casual sex or to visiting a prostitute.
Then he explains that we are "… a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God." (1 Peter 2:9) Our task is to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9) We are not announcing, "Look what I did." but rather, "This is the work of Jesus."
God also requires that priests be holy and conduct themselves according to properly stipulated worship. (Leviticus 10 speaks of Aaron’s sons offering “strange fire” on the God´s altar. They didn´t follow the “right procedure” for worship.)
The first part of 1 Peter speaks of our Christian identity, the second part how we live out this identity. Before we can reproduce Christian life, we need to know who we are. Once we know who we are, we can make plans to be and do what we are in Christ.
The rest of the book answers the question, "How should a Christian live?” Peter does not give a doctrinal explanation of the life and work of Jesus. He does however give practical advice as to what it means to be a Christian in this world.
Submission to one another (1 Peter 2:13-3:7)
Ephesians 5:21 says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Peter says we must also submit to the authorities, even if they are corrupt. When he wrote 1 Peter, he was living under the corrupt government of the Roman Empire. Taxes were even collected on a commission basis!
The idea of "submitting to one another" is the basic principle of Christian relationships. Peter applies it to governments, wives, husbands, parents, children, masters, and slaves.
Suffering for good (1 Peter 3:8-4:19)
Peter took seriously the call of Jesus.
This letter was written towards the end of Peter's life, to newly converted Gentiles living in Asia Minor. They were being persecuted for having converted to Christianity. So the purpose statement in 1 Peter 5:12 reads, “… to encourage and confirm that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.”
Greetings (1 Peter 1:1-2):
1. Peter indicates that the recipients were living in Asia Minor, or what is now Turkey. They would all be considered provinces in the Roman Empire.
2. Peter indicates that the Trinity is present in our salvation.
Praise God for salvation (1 Peter 1:3-12)
Peter emphasizes that salvation is a gift, which we receive from God. It had nothing to do with our own merit. Our new birth has everything to do with the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is what changes our lives. This new life is a lasting gift that God himself guarantees. He promises His protection, which will lead us to salvation to be fully revealed in the last time or end time. Because we
have a trustworthy God, we can even maintain our joy when trials come. Peter is sure there will be difficult times in the future for them but he puts this in God’s hands by saying that God intends to try our faith to test the genuineness of it.
The Old Testaments prophets announced beforehand the salvation message, about Jesus. They studied and looked into the salvation that comes through Jesus. This is also a call for us to study the scriptures concerning this salvation that we might know the God who made us, saved us, and will eventually reveal to us our ultimate salvation in heaven. Peter indicates that this salvation is not fully to be effected before Jesus is revealed (i.e. at His second coming). There is also here the idea that salvation is past, present, and future in scope. This section also teaches the inevitability of suffering for Christ.
Suffering seems to be not only characteristic of a Christian but we might almost say a divine necessity.
Be Holy (1 Peter 1:13-2:3)
The Christian must be like his God; "Be holy because I am holy." We are to mirror the attributes of our heavenly Father. Obedience is not optional. Disobedience would dishonor God or belittle what has been given to us through His grace, which was bought with the blood of Jesus.
Christian Identity (1 Peter 2:4-12)
Christians must not only be aware of salvation, but also of their own nature as "living stones" that form the temple of God. We need to realize that God Himself dwells within us. His presence is with us all the time (Matthew 28:20), not only when we worship, but also when we sin (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Paul makes it very clear in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, that this principle even extends to casual sex or to visiting a prostitute.
Then he explains that we are "… a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God." (1 Peter 2:9) Our task is to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9) We are not announcing, "Look what I did." but rather, "This is the work of Jesus."
God also requires that priests be holy and conduct themselves according to properly stipulated worship. (Leviticus 10 speaks of Aaron’s sons offering “strange fire” on the God´s altar. They didn´t follow the “right procedure” for worship.)
The first part of 1 Peter speaks of our Christian identity, the second part how we live out this identity. Before we can reproduce Christian life, we need to know who we are. Once we know who we are, we can make plans to be and do what we are in Christ.
The rest of the book answers the question, "How should a Christian live?” Peter does not give a doctrinal explanation of the life and work of Jesus. He does however give practical advice as to what it means to be a Christian in this world.
Submission to one another (1 Peter 2:13-3:7)
Ephesians 5:21 says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Peter says we must also submit to the authorities, even if they are corrupt. When he wrote 1 Peter, he was living under the corrupt government of the Roman Empire. Taxes were even collected on a commission basis!
The idea of "submitting to one another" is the basic principle of Christian relationships. Peter applies it to governments, wives, husbands, parents, children, masters, and slaves.
Suffering for good (1 Peter 3:8-4:19)
Peter took seriously the call of Jesus.
“Whoever
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me. For whoever desires to save
his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s
will save it. For what will it profit a
man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and
My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also
will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:34-38 (Mark is recognized as recording what Peter said.)
Look
at the relationship to Christ mentioned over and over in this section about
suffering.
On being a leader (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Peter is making a comment about what Jesus said at the Last Supper with his disciples in Mark 10:42-45 (see Luke 22:25-30), where Jesus indicates that leadership comes by service and not with any expectation of return.
The attitude of a leader (elder is a synonym for pastor in the New Testament) ought to be one of a servant and not a tyrant, or boss. We ought to remember that we are all servants of Jesus.
Advice for young people (1 Peter 5:5-11)
This letter also advises young people to submit to one another as well as to the elders. The opposite of a submissive attitude is pride. Peter is aware that young people have to remain steadfast in their hope in Christ. If our hope is not firmly in Christ, we may well be seduced by the devil or the world. Our strength must be in Christ and not ourselves.
Final Greetings (1 Peter 5:12-14)
Here at the end of the letter, Peter declares his purpose for writing the letter; "... to encourage and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it." (1 Peter 5:12) Peter wants the new believers in Christ to be secure against any persecutions that may arise.
On being a leader (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Peter is making a comment about what Jesus said at the Last Supper with his disciples in Mark 10:42-45 (see Luke 22:25-30), where Jesus indicates that leadership comes by service and not with any expectation of return.
The attitude of a leader (elder is a synonym for pastor in the New Testament) ought to be one of a servant and not a tyrant, or boss. We ought to remember that we are all servants of Jesus.
Advice for young people (1 Peter 5:5-11)
This letter also advises young people to submit to one another as well as to the elders. The opposite of a submissive attitude is pride. Peter is aware that young people have to remain steadfast in their hope in Christ. If our hope is not firmly in Christ, we may well be seduced by the devil or the world. Our strength must be in Christ and not ourselves.
Final Greetings (1 Peter 5:12-14)
Here at the end of the letter, Peter declares his purpose for writing the letter; "... to encourage and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it." (1 Peter 5:12) Peter wants the new believers in Christ to be secure against any persecutions that may arise.
Peter had an assistant, Silvanus, who helped him write the letter.
Babylon (vs. 13) is a substitute name for Rome. This indicates that there was much hostility to Christians in Rome at this time.
