1 Peter 1-2

Intro

Author: Peter

After the Ascension, Peter stood up among the believers in Jerusalem’s upper room to guide the selection of Judas’s successor[1]

On Pentecost, Peter delivered the first gospel sermon, and later with John he healed a lame man at the Temple, addressed the people, and was arrested and questioned by the Sanhedrin[1]

He was arrested again and beaten; the Jerusalem church then sent him to Samaria to communicate the Holy Spirit to new disciples[1]

Peter traveled throughout the region, healed Aeneas at Lydda, raised Dorcas from the dead at Joppa, and received a vision that led him to preach to the Gentile centurion Cornelius at Caesarea[1]

Around 42–44 AD, Herod Agrippa I beheaded the Apostle James and imprisoned Peter. Peter was then miraculously released by an angel and fled Jerusalem[2]

Peter traveled extensively, preaching in the East and spending considerable time in Antioch, which served as a base for his apostolic journeys[2]

He journeyed through the provinces of Asia Minor, writing later to churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia[2]

Peter came to Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius in 42 AD and ministered there

Peter returned to Jerusalem for the first church council between 49–51 AD, approximately eight years after he had fled the city[2]

At Antioch, Peter initially had fellowship with Gentile Christians but withdrew when certain individuals came from James, fearing those of the circumcision—an action Paul confronted him about[1]

We know he travelled through Corinth as Paul stated that some people were calling themselves apostles of Cephas.

Peter wrote his first epistle from Rome, referring to the city as “Babylon” and mentioning that Mark and Silas were with him

He likely wrote his second Epistle from Rome as well although it is not mentioned.

He was crucified upside down near present-day Vatican either in 67 or 68 AD, around the fourteenth year of Nero’s reign —a date accepted by scholars and attested by both Eusebius and Jerome[3]. This was around the same time that Paul died. They were in Rome at the same time. In 2 Peter, he praises Paul’s writings.

Timeframe: 60-64 AD. Appears to be written before the persecution under Nero which began in 64.

Audience: The diaspora and their followers in modern day Turkey

Written to the leaders of the churches that had been established and growing over the past 30 years since the martyrdom of Stephen and the Christian persecution in Jerusalem.

He writes this letter toward the end of his life after spending 3 years with Jesus and then 30+ years spreading the gospel. This is a wise man imparting the wisdom God has blessed him with to the church.

Chapter 1

Greeting

V. 1 - From Peter to the Diaspora and their followers

This was about 30 years after these people left Jerusalem, so he was not just addressing them. He was addressing those that were part of their churches

v. 2 - God Chose you.

He is talking to the church as a whole. He is not referring to individuals being chosen as though some were not. He is referring to the people through which the Holy Spirit is doing His work.

Those that accept his gift are the ones He chooses to redeem the world through.

Matthew 5:13–16 ““You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

They have been chosen to be a light to the Gentiles.

He refers to the trinity in this verse.

God knew you.

Jesus died for you

Holy Spirit has made you holy and you now obey Him

Praise for salvation

After a brief greeting, the first thing he does is praise God.

V. 3

We are born again into a living hope.

We were once living with no hope because death was in our path.

Now in this new life we have a living hope because Jesus has overcome death.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”

Romans 6:5 “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14 “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

Through the resurrection of Christ, those in Him are guaranteed to also be resurrected.

We see Peter referring to the New Birth that Jesus taught as recorded by John in John 3

V. 4

Our new life gives us an imperishable inheritance.

Romans 8:17 “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Colossians 1:12 “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

Seinfeld car reservation.

Nobody can take this reservation from you. It is in heaven where it cannot be touched.

v. 5

God is guarding you and will not let the enemy take you .

John 10:27–29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

V. 6-9

…Or…

In this you SHOULD rejoice.

If you are not in a state of joy over this, you are in the wrong. This is the thing that you can constantly lean on that is forever secure that you can rejoice over, no matter what is happening in your life.

v. 10-12

The good news spoken of by the prophets for centuries is now available to you.

The angels who are highly esteemed by the Jews reading this even rejoice over this salvation.

Revelation 5:11–12 “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!””

13-17 - Your actions reveal your faith.

James 2:14–26 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

18-22 - …But your actions are not what saves you

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Titus 3:5–7 “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Romans 3:28 “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

Galatians 2:16 “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

23-25 - You will live forever

Chapter 2

1-3

V. 1 - Therefore, leave sin behind.

Romans 6:6–7 “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

We are no longer slaves to sin. But Peter clearly understood that we could still choose to fall into sin.

Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

Sin can deceive you.

You must keep your eyes on Jesus.

James 1:14–15 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

So be done with:

Malice

wickedness specifically toward others

Deceit

Lying

Cunning

Treachery

Hypocrisy

pretending

Acting like you have faith when you don’t

Jealousy

Envy

Covetousness

Slander

Gossip

Saying something about someone you wouldn’t say if they were in the room.

v. 2-3 - Drink milk

1 Corinthians 3:1–2 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,”

Peter is stating that if you practice the things above, you are spiritually immature.

We need to continue to drink spiritual milk, aka, live the basics of loving others and loving God.

v. 4-8

V. 4 - Christ is the cornerstone

Ephesians 2:20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,”

The cornerstone is the stone on which the entire building depends.

All other stones are lined up to it.

V. 5-8 - We are living stones

We are the stones that are aligned with Christ to build the church.

v. 6 - Anyone who trusts in, or aligns with, the cornerstone, will not be disgraced.

Those who do not align with Him will fall.

Any group that calls themselves part of the church that does not align with Christ, is not part of the church.

They will fall because they are not aligned to the cornerstone.

I.e. - The word condemns murder.

The word also states…

Psalm 139:13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”

We were alive in our mother’s womb.

To kill a baby in a mother’s womb is a sin.

If a church accepts and promotes abortion, they are not aligned with the Word, which is Christ. They are not a church. They are a club.

He is a stumbling block for people that do not align with Him.

Why???

V8. - because they do not obey God’s word.

9-12

Holy Priests

V. 9 - You are chosen because you do obey Christ.

You are royal priests.

You are priests

You are royalty.

None of the priests or kings of the OT can claim both except Melchizedek. But we can because Christ is.

Hebrews says Christ is a priest in the order of Melchizedek meaning he is both.

Romans 12:1–2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Your physical dedication to Christ is an act of worship.

Being a living a sacrifice means giving your life to Him who gave His life for you.

Since our lives are a sacrifice and we have the inheritance of the King, we too are royal priests.

As a result of this sacrificial living, you show others the goodness of God.

V. 10. From Hosea and summarized here and in Romans 9

Romans 9:25–26 “As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ””

v. 11-12

So do not engage with the sways of the world or you give up your priesthood. You are no longer a sacrifice for those around you.

v. 13-17

Submit to government

We who have come to Jesus Christ have transferred kingdoms and sworn allegiance to a new King. His agenda is ours. But until Jesus returns, we must live in this world of nations, rulers, and laws. Christians have a responsibility to civil government. Jesus told his disciples to give “to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt 22:21).

Peter had been listening to his Lord when he said that. He tells us to submit to every lawful human authority (2:13). This is God’s will (2:15) because he intends human rulers to punish those who do what is evil (2:14).

Paul agreed Rom 13:1–7

Unfortunately, though, in a fallen world, governments can be unjust and act in ways that are contrary to God’s rule. When that happens, we have a legitimate basis to protest

Acts 4:19–20 “But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.””

Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

We are not to use our freedom as God’s people as a cover-up for evil (2:16).

The world should find Christians to be honorable citizens who honor all people, love others, fear God, and respect ruling authorities (2:17).

V. 18-21

Slaves, follow your masters

V. 19-20 - Peter is referring directly to slavery.

But remove slavery from the picture. This still applies to all who are not slaves

If you have a job that is treating you unfairly and there is not currently a way out… do good and patiently endure

If you have a health issue you can do nothing about… do good and patiently endure

If the government is treating you unjustly… do good and patiently endure

If you have family that treats you poorly and you can’t get away from it… do good and patiently endure

Why???

V. 21

V. 22-25