New Testament Survey: The Book of 1 Peter

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His

abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven

for you.” (1:3,4)

• Called Simon or Simeon (Acts 15:14; 2 Peter 1:1)

• Born at Bethsaida (John 1:44)

• Brother of Andrew; by trade, they were fishermen (Matthew 8:14)

• Andrew brought Simon to Christ; Jesus gave him the name Cephas, “Rock” (John 1:40-42)

• Jesus told them they would be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)

The Author: Simon Peter

• Called to be an apostle of the Lord (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:14-16)

• Peter’s ardor, earnestness, and courage made him a leader (Luke 6:14)

• One of three—Peter, James, John—in the “inner circle” (Matthew 17:1-5)

• Confessed Christ; the church was built on Christ—not on Peter! (Matthew 16:18,19)

• Peter was not the “chief apostle” (2 Corinthians 11:5)

The Author: Simon Peter

• Peter’s life is in two parts—before Pentecost; after Pentecost– Mother-in-law was healed (Matthew 8:14)– Caught a draught of fishes (Luke 5:1-11)– Attempted to walk on the sea (Matthew 14:28)– Confessed Christ twice (Matthew 16:18; John

6:68,69)– Witnessed raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37)

The Author: Simon Peter

• Peter’s life is in two parts—before Pentecost; after Pentecost– Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-5)– Miracle of tribute money (Matthew 17:24)– At Last Supper, the first to object to Jesus washing

his feet (John 13:1-10)– Boasted of his devotion to God (Luke 22:31-33)– Told by Christ that he would deny Him thrice

(Matthew 26:31-35)

The Author: Simon Peter

• Peter’s life is in two parts—before Pentecost; after Pentecost– Followed Christ into Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-

46)– Cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant when

Jesus was arrested (John 18:10-12)– Repented after denying Christ (Luke 22:62)– Accompanied John to the tomb (John 20:1-10)– Restored to the task the Lord had given him (John

21:15-19)

The Author: Simon Peter

• Peter’s life is in two parts—before Pentecost; after Pentecost– Preached the sermon recorded in Acts 2 (Acts 2:14-

39)– He and John healed a man (Acts 3:1-10)– He and John were arrested for preaching Christ

(Acts 4:1-22)– Rebuked Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)– Arrested again and beaten (Acts 5:27-41)

The Author: Simon Peter

• Peter’s life is in two parts—before Pentecost; after Pentecost.– Sent to Samaria to bring gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts

8:14-25)– Raised Dorcas at Joppa (Acts 9:38-42)– Saw a vision and preached the gospel to the first

Gentile convert (Acts 10)– Imprisoned by Herod Agrippa and miraculously

released (Acts 12:1-17)– Participated in circumcision conference (Acts 15:1-21)

The Author: Simon Peter

• Epistle written to “sojourners of the dispersion” (1:1)

• “Elect”—Christians, Jews, and Gentiles• Called out of darkness (2:9,10)• He looked upon the Christians as dispersed

among heathen nations of the world • During Nero’s persecution in Rome, many

sought safety in other provinces.

Background

• Letter intended for the churches in Asia Minor (1:1)

• Early part of Christians’ history with Rome—conflict not great

• On two different occasions, Paul called for rights as a citizen of Rome (Acts 16:36-39; 22:24-29)

• The Gospel of Christ had penetrated the society of the Roman Empire

Background

• Christians were now distinctly separated from Judaism; recognized as being different.

• Strict adherence to Christ’s resurrection and an invisible God excited opposition.

• Misunderstanding of talk about a coming judgment led to hatred.

• Activated by Nero’s accusations against the Christians.

• Rome’s changed policy targeted Christians for persecution and condemnation.

Background

• Peter wrote to address the current situation and the duties of God’s people.

• What do were learn in 1 Peter?– Elders in the church (5:1)– Some persecution going on (3:17; 4:12-19)– Slanderous attacks (4:14,15)– Ridiculed for withdrawing from certain practices

(4:4,5)– Accused of disloyalty to the state (2:13-17)– DATE—64-64 A.D.

Background

• Key word– Suffering (21)

• Key phrase– “Called out of

darkness into his marvelous light”

• Key chapter – Chapter 1

• Key verses– 1:23-25

“Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

Keys to 1 Peter

• Chapter 1—Salvation• Chapter 2—Spiritual growth and

behavior• Chapter 3—Honoring Christ• Chapter 4—Suffering for Christ• Chapter 5—The true grace of God

Main Points of the Chapters

• Chapter 1—Christ our source of hope and our redeemer (1,18,19)

• Chapter 2—Chief cornerstone, our example and sin-bearer (6,21,24)

• Chapter 3—Christ, our Lord (15,22)• Chapter 4—Christ, our sufferer (1,13)• Chapter 5—Christ, our chief Shepherd (4)

Christ in Every Chapter

• Major theme in 1 Peter: Suffering • Suffering Christians should bear their suffering

triumphantly.• No special merit; nor is it necessarily inevitable

(1:6)• It’s God’s will that we be allowed to suffer (4:19)• Not to be viewed as abnormal (4:12)• Not a sign of divine displeasure (3:18; 4:1)• Sharing in suffering is a privilege (4:13,14)

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• Suffering tries our faith; we must endure it.– “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little

while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1:6,7)

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• The attitude that the believer ought to have toward suffering:– Bear it patiently for Christ’s sake, as He suffered for

us (2:24)– Suffering is intended to produce positive effects in

our lives (5:10)– To be viewed in light of Christ’s second coming and

our hope in Him (1:7,13; 4:13)

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• Effects of suffering when it is properly borne and the benefits derived from enduring:– Affords an opportunity to provide evidence of one’s

faith—the readiness to give an answer to others (3:13-16)

– Purging or purifying effect (3:17-22)– Produces a watchfulness as the Christian confronts

sin all around him (4:1-11)– The suffering endured emphasizes the provisions of

God’s grace.

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• Suffering and God’s grace are linked…– Grace is one of God’s attributes (5:10)– God gives grace to the believers to enable them to

endure and be faithful (4:10; 5:5,12)– Grace is an attitude of God toward those who suffer

for His sake (2:19,20)– When we endure persecution, we show that God’s

grace is bountiful in nature (4:10)– It is a blessing to suffer for doing good; not so when

we suffer for our own wrong doing (4:12-16)

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• Salvation which they enjoyed:– Glory and a heavenly inheritance (1:3-5)– Lives of faith and love subject to severe testing and

refining (1:6-9)• The theme of the old testament prophets (1:10-12)

– Plea for holiness (1:13-21)– Mutual love for one another based on regeneration

(1:22-25)– As growing infants feeding on the word (2:1-3)– Living stones as a spiritual house (2:4-10)

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• Appeals to Christians as pilgrims to be blameless in the eyes of men (2:11,12)– Submissive to government (2:13-17)– In all relationships, to conduct themselves as

Christians in harmony with God’s will (2:18-25)– Wives are to submit to their husbands (3:1-6)– Husbands should deal gently with their wives (3:7)– Governed with spirit of love to attain divine blessings

(3:8-12)– Do not indulge in former sins (4:1-6)– Engage in prayer, hospitality, and good works (4:7-11)

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• Intensely practical in nature: – “be ye sober” (1:13)– “hope…for grace” (1:13)– “be holy” (1:15)– “pass the time..in fear” (1:17)– “love one another” (1:23)– “desire the sincere milk of the word” (2:2)– “submit to every ordinance of man” (2:13)– “honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God”

(2:17)

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• Intensely practical in nature: – “servants be subject to your masters” (2:18)– “wives be in subjection” (3:1)– “husbands dwell with wives…” (3:7)– “be of one mind…” (3:8)– “fear not” (3:14)– “neither be ye troubled” (3:14)– “sanctify…in your hearts” (3:15)– “arm yourselves” (4:1)– “think it not strange” (4:12)

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• Intensely practical in nature: – “rejoice” (4:13)– “let none of you suffer” (4:15)– “let him not be ashamed” (4:16)– “let him glorify God” (4:16)– “let them commit their souls” (4:19)– “submit to the elders” (5:6)– “be clothed with humility” (5:5)– “be vigilant” (5:8)

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• Christians are obligated to live their lives so as to have proper influence on the unsaved:

• Application of being “salt and light”– Right conduct offsets prejudice (2:12)– Right conduct offsets ignorance (2:15)– More potent than discussion or argument (3:1)– Puts to shame those who revile saints (3:16)– Serves the cause of divine justice by testifying

against those who have belittled (4:4,5)

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• A good deal of emphasis on divine truths concerning God:– He is holy (1:15)– Recognized as Father (1:17)– God and Father of Christ (1:3)– Creator of man (4:19)– Judge of all mankind (4:5)– Shepherd of His people (2:25)– Ultimate object of faith and our expectations (1:21;

3:18)

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• Emphasizes the doctrine of Christ:– Savior of the world before the foundation of the

world (1:20)– Sinless (2:22)– Suffered anyway (2:21)– Blood ransom for the lost (1:18)– Redeeming death (2:24)– Death for us (3:18)– Resurrection (1:3,21; 3:21)– Ascension (3:21)

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• Emphasizes the doctrine of Christ:– Victory over hostile powers (3:22)– Emphasizes that Christ deserves and receives the

title of Lord (3:15)– Stone rejected by man but approved by God (2:4)– Precious cornerstone of the saints (2:6,7)– He will be revealed in glory to consummate God’s

divine purposes (1:7,13; 4:13; 5:1)

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• Holy Spirit is pictured as active in God’s plan for human redemption:– Sufferings of Christ; glories to follow (1:11)– Effective in guiding men who now proclaim the

gospel (1:12)– Setting believers apart unto God (1:2)– Dwelling in the church, His habitation (4:14)

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• Concerning the saints, Peter writes that they are chosen of God: (1:2)– Called (1:15)– Born anew (1:23)– Living stones of the new temple (2:5)– Holy and royal priesthood (2:5-9)– God’s people (2:10)– God’s flock (5:2)– Saved by agency of water (3:21)

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• Peter also emphasizes Christ’s second coming:– Sufficient reasons for remaining watchful and alert

(1:13; 4:7)– Bring recompense for suffering (4:13)– Rewards for faithful service (5:4)– Glorious inheritance that is reserved in heaven for

the saints (1:4,5)– Points to these suffering Christians who are at the

horizon of their lives. In spite of what they endure, the glorious hope of Christ’s coming should bring them great encouragement!

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