1 Peter Simplified

Author & Audience

1 Peter 5:12 (NASB95)

12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

Peter is the Author of the Letter, But Silvanus May have Written

“Silvanus” is an Alternate Spelling of “Silas”

He was One of Paul’s Travelling Companions

1 Peter 5:13 (NASB95)

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.

Peter Sends Greetings From Babylon

He is Likely Referring to Rome as the New Babylon

They are the New Wicked Pagan Rulers of the World…

As Babylon was at One Time in OT History

The Recipients of the Letter are Gentile Christians in Several Different Regions

1 Peter 1:1 (NASB95)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

(Show Map)

Peter Refers to These Gentile Christians as:

Exiles Who are Scattered and Chosen By God

These 3 Descriptions are Reminiscent of OT Language Directed at Israel

They Were God’s Chosen People Who Were Called to Live as Scattered Exiles

Gentiles Who have Faith in Jesus are Now God’s Scattered Chosen Exiles Too

Purpose

These Gentile Christians Were Experiencing:

Persecution, Harassment, and Mistreatment By Their Greek/Roman Neighbors

Peter Writes this Letter to Encourage Them to Remain Faithful

Do What is Right, Even if it Leads to More Mistreatment

God will Reward Those Who Faithfully Endure

Peter Presents Jesus as Our Example to Follow

He Suffered for Doing Good

But this Didn’t Stop Him From Continuing to Do Good

Do What is Right, Even if it Hurts…

And Let God Take Care of the Rest

Summary

Chapter 1

Peter praises God for his great mercy…

Which has allowed us to be born again, because of the resurrection of Jesus

We now get to live with a great expectation…

Of an inheritance that is being reserved in heaven for us

Because of this, we are able to have a joy, even though we suffer in this present age

Suffering is like a refining fire

It can cause our faith to grow stronger when we endure

Even though we don’t yet see Jesus, we love him and trust him

And if we continue to do so, it will result in the salvation of our souls

Now we need to:

Prepare our minds,

Practice self control

And put all our hope in the glorious salvation that Jesus is going to bring to us

We need to live obedient and holy lives for God…

Not slipping back into our old ways of living that were all about satisfying our desires

God does not show favoritism

He will judge or reward everyone based upon how we live

So we ought to live in reverential fear of Him as our Father

He paid our ransom with something more precious than gold or silver

With the blood of Jesus

Now, because God resurrected Jesus and gave him a glorified body…

Our faith, and hope is in God

We have been purified and born again, through obedience to the gospel

Now we ought to love one another with a sincere heart.

Chapter 2

As newborn babies in Christ…

We should rid ourselves of all wicked and evil living…

And desire the pure milk of the gospel

Only by continuing to drink from the gospel…

Will we be able to grow up as mature Christians and inherit salvation

Peter tells these Gentile Christians that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of the new temple

They are living stones that make up His temple

And they are the priests that serve within His temple…

And make spiritual sacrifices to the glory of God

Those who don’t trust in and obey the chief cornerstone…

Will fall and meet a terrible fate

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NASB95)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Gentiles have been grafted in to the family of God

Peter lets them know how they ought to behave themselves…

As foreigners in this present age

1 Peter 2:11–17 (NASB95)

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Christian slaves are expected to be submissive to their masters…

Even if they are harsh and cruel

It pleases God when his people endure unjust treatment…

For his honor and glory

Chapter 3

Christian wives are also to live in submission to their husbands…

Regardless of if their husbands are Christians

It’s possible for a wife to win her husband to Jesus with her pure and reverent life

Christian women don’t need to concern themselves with fancy hair, clothes, or jewelry

Instead, they should focus on the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit

Trust God

Submit to your husbands

Do what is right

And don’t be afraid

Christian husbands also are to honor their wives…

And be considerate of their wants, needs, and feelings

Treat them with respect as equal heirs of the inheritance that is to come

1 Peter 3:8–18 (NASB95)

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

10 For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. 12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Just as the waters of the flood saved Noah and his family…

From the wicked and disobedient world they were living in…

Baptism now saves us

It is an appeal to God for a good conscience

Baptism saves us because of the resurrection of Jesus…

Who is at the right hand of God with all authority over all things

Chapter 4

Since Jesus suffered physical pain…

We need to be ready and willing to do the same

Those who suffer for Jesus, prove that they are…

Done with a life of chasing their own desires, and living in sin

Instead, they are more concerned with the desires of God

They’ve had enough of the desires of the world:

Sexual immorality

Drunken party lifestyle

And worship of false gods

This will cause their former friends to be surprised…

When they no longer join them in their reckless and wild living

They will be slandered for refusing to live such a lifestyle

But they need to remember that God is going to judge those who slander them

The end is near, so be alert and sober minded

Be fervent in your love for one another

Be hospitable to one another

Use the gifts that God has given you to serve one another

Don’t be surprised by the trials of suffering that you are experiencing

Be glad because it makes you partners with Jesus…

Who experienced the very same things

Those who suffer with him…

Will experience great joy when they see him return

If you are insulted or suffer for being a Christian…

Don’t be ashamed

Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name

The wicked will have it much worse in the final judgment.

1 Peter 4:19 (NIV)

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Chapter 5

Peter tells the elders of these churches to care for…

And watch over their flock out of eagerness to serve God

Don’t be a boss, master, or lord over the church

Be a leader, who leads by example

If they do this, they will receive a crown of great honor and glory when Jesus returns

Those who are younger need to accept the authority of the elders…

And act with humility toward everyone

Give all your cares, worries, anxieties to the Lord, because he cares for you

Stay alert because the real enemy is seeking to devour you like a lion

Stand firm in the faith against him…

And remember that you are not alone in your suffering

Your Christian siblings all over the world are going through the same things

God wants us to share in his Eternal glory

So After we suffer for a little while…

He will perfect, confirm, and strengthen us

Stand firm in God’s grace during these times of hardship

Key Passage

1 Peter 2:21–24 (NASB95)

21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Jesus is Our Example of How to Suffer

He is Our Example of How to Overcome Evil with Good

He Suffered for Us

Bearing Our Sins and Giving Us Hope of Eternal Life

Now, in Order to Inherit that Eternal Life…

We Must Be Willing to Suffer for Him as Well