1 Peter - Summary

First Peter: “An Exile’s Guide for Joyfully Enduring Suffering for Jesus’ Sake.”

Overview of 1 Peter

Summary: 1 Peter is a letter that addresses Christians facing persecution and suffering, encouraging them to "stand firm” in their faith and hope in Christ, amidst opposition and persecution because of their faith in Jesus. Specifically, the audience was Gentile Jewish proselytes living in 5 provinces in what is now modern Turkey, who had believed the gospel Peter preached. It is possible that these believers came to faith either directly through Peter’s Pentecost preaching some decades before (Acts 2.9; 41), or from the witness of those who were converted then. The letter aimed at encouraging them by confirming that they were, in fact, standing in the true favor of God (1Pe5.12) even as their suffering seemed to indicate the opposite.

Big Idea: The Christian’s path to “eternal glory” passes through opposition by the unbelieving world. Christians shouldn’t be surprised then, if they suffer for their faith, because they are called to follow Jesus, who suffered opposition and persecution from unbelievers and promised the same would come to those who followed him (Matt 10.22; 16:24-25; Mk 13.13; Jn 16.33). Arming themselves with this knowledge and a continued faith in the overruling power of God to bring his “exiled people” safely to their home is the key to successfully—even joyfully—suffering for their faith.

Teaching: Besides the original recipients, Christians since the time of the original writing have found strength and encouragement in their faith during times of opposition from the surrounding, fallen society from Peter’s letter. Peter, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, teaches Christians that:

Their new birth is supernatural and happened: (1Pe1.1-3)

by the foreknowledge and mercy of God the Father

through the atoning death of Jesus, who sprinkled them with his blood

for consecration by the Holy Spirit to a new life of a living hope

Their salvation (called an inheritance because they have become children of God) is completely guaranteed. (1Pe1.4-5) It is:

a grace predicted by the Old Testament prophets

perfectly preserved in heaven

reserved for them at the end of life

protected from loss by the power of God, who uses their faith as the guarding instrument of his power

Their suffering is an expected part of the Christian experience, but not without purpose; believers are called to rejoice in their trials, knowing that: (1Pe1.6; 2.21; 4.1; 4.12-19)

their faith is purified by such suffering

their faith can be effective in winning others to trust in God’s promise in the gospel

Jesus suffered first and foremost, so Christians are joining him when they suffer because of faith in him

their fellow Christians throughout the world are enduring the same thing; this isn’t unique to one group of Christians only

Their suffering comes because they live as “set apart” (1Pe 1.2; 1Pe3.16; 4.4))

It angers those whom these Christians used to behave like before they believed.

they will sometimes be slandered

because of that, Christians should, by God’s grace, live differently:

as citizens

in the home

in the church

The church demands careful shepherding, a specific kind of pastoral care (particularly true, given their state of suffering), characterized by: (1Pe5.1-4)

willing pastoring, as God would have it

eager, “no strings attached” service

demonstrating right behavior, as an example to follow, not domineering over the church, as though the members are there to be used

The opposition to their faith is spiritual—it is demonic. (1Pe5.8-9)

The devil’s attacks often cause believers to doubt that they are standing in the “true grace of God,” causing them undue anxiety over their circumstances.

Intentionally giving God the responsibility for their welfare—”casting our cares upon him”—is the way suffering Christians practice humility—accepting of God’s providential ruling over our circumstances and thus “resist” the devil’s attacks on us.

Staying humble by trusting in God to take care of our circumstances will ultimately lead to God “lifting up” the suffering-but-trusting believer.

Theology touched on in 1 Peter

As you continue to study the bible, you will note that different authors contribute to our overall understanding of God and his ways. Recall that comprehensively compiling and organizing all that the bible has to say into a set of concepts is called a “systematic theology.” Here’s a quick sample (not exhaustive) of some of the contributions 1 Peter makes to the following categories of a systematic theology:

Soteriology

(“study/theology of salvation”)

Election

1Pe1.1-2

1Pe2.9

1Pe5.13

Perseverance of the saints

1Pe1.4-5

Substitutionary Atonement

1 Peter 1:18–19

1 Peter 2:21-25

1 Peter 3:18

Sanctification

1 Peter 1:2

1 Peter 1:15–16

1 Peter 2:5

1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 4:1–2

1 Peter 5:10

Paschology

(“study/theology of suffering”)

1 Peter 1:6–7

1 Peter 2:19–21

1 Peter 3:14–17

1 Peter 4:1–2

1 Peter 4:12–19

1 Peter 5:9–10

Theology Proper

(“study/theology of the Person of God”)

Trinity

(“the study/theology of the Trinity”)

1 Peter 1:2 (this might more correctly be a verse that teaches more about soteriology and the ways that the persons of the Godhead contribute to it than a study of the Trinity)

Patrology

(“the study/theology of the Father”)

1 Peter 1:2–3

1 Peter 1:17

1 Peter 2:23

1 Peter 3:20

Christology

(“the study/theology of Christ”)

1 Peter 1:3–5

1 Peter 1:18–21

1 Peter 2:4–8

1 Peter 2:21–25

1 Peter 3:18–4:2

1 Peter 4:13–14

1 Peter 5:1

1 Peter 5:4

1 Peter 5:10–11

Pneumatology

(“the study/theology of the Holy Spirit”)

1 Peter 1:2

1 Peter 1:11–12

1 Peter 3:18

1 Peter 4:14

Bibliology

(“study/theology of the Bible itself”)

1 Peter 1:10–12

1 Peter 1:23–25

1 Peter 2:2

Eschatology

(“study/theology of ‘last things’”)

1 Peter 1:3–5

1 Peter 1:7

1 Peter 1:13

1 Peter 1:20–21

1 Peter 4:5–7

1 Peter 4:13

1 Peter 5:1

1 Peter 5:4

1 Peter 5:10

Angelology / Demonology

Angelology

(“study/theology of good angels”)

1 Peter 1:12

1 Peter 3:22

Demonology

(“study/theology of bad angels/demons”)

1 Peter 5:8-9