1 & 2 Peter

Introduction to 1 Peter

Peter is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Loosely used, an apostle can be defined as one who carries the word of God. Strictly defined, “Only those who had been with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry to his resurrection were qualified to be his apostolic witnesses (). Paul qualified because he has seen the risen Christ ().”

Peter sends a letter of encouragement to mostly Gentile Christians undergoing suffering. He instructs them how to respond Christianly to their persecutors and urging them to live lives worthy of their calling.

Emphases of 1 Peter

Suffering for the sake of righteousness should not surprise us

Believers should submit to unjust suffering the way Christ did

Christ suffered on our behalf to free us from sin

God’s people should live righteously at all times, but especially in the face of hostility

Our hope for the future is baed on the certainty of Christ’s resurrection

Key Points of 1 Peter

Peter’s primary concern is for truly Christian living in the context of hostility and suffering.

The opening thanksgiving (v. 3-12) sets forth the themes of the letter:

salvation

hope for the future

suffering

genuine faith (which equates to faithful living)

The rest of the book is broken into three parts:

Part 1 - (1:13-2:10)

This section is a call to holy living, with emphasis on their life together as the people of God. A heavy emphasis that is used in this section is the picture of God’s election.

Part 2 - (2:11-4:11)

In this section, Peter informs them that they are God’s people… for the sake of the pagan world, which ironically are the ones responsible for their suffering.

Peter confirms this by giving them specific settings in which they can expect to suffer and urging them to possess and carry out Christlike submission in them.

He then appeals to all believers, specifically when facing suffering for doing good.

Christ’s death and resurrection serve as basis for holiness and hope.

Part 3 - (4:12-5:11)

He puts their suffering into a theological context, while urging elders to lead the others in properly Christian responses to undeserved suffering, as well as in their relationships to one another.