Introduction to First Peter

I. Author

A. His Name (1:1)

1. Given name is Simon ()

2. When Jesus met him, He called him Cephas. Peter is the Greek equivalent to Cephas.

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a. The name “Cephas” does not appear in the gospels after , but it is used 5 times in the writings of Paul (; ; ; ; ).

b. The Lord continued to use the name Simeon when addressing him (; ; ).

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B. His Family

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1. His father was a Jew named Jonah or John (; ; )

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2. He has at least one brother, whose name was Andrew ()

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3. He was a married man and had children (; ; - c.f. )

C. His Life Prior to Being Called by the Lord

1. His hometown was Bethsadia ()

2. He was a fisherman ()

D. He Was Uneducated ()

E. He Could Be Impetuous and Impulsive (; ; )

F. He Was “An Apostle of Jesus Christ”

1. He was one of the original twelve appointed by the Lord ()

2. When the apostles are listed he is always listed first (; ; ; ).

a. This does not mean that he was preeminent among the apostles

Paul was not “at all inferior to the most inferior to the most eminent apostles” ()

b. Perhaps he appears first because he was a leader among the apostles (; , etc.)

II. The Recipients of the Epistle (1:1b-2)

A. “To the Pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”

1. Pilgrims is translated as “strangers” (KJV), “sojourners” (ASV), “aliens” (NASV), and “strangers in the world” (NIV)

a. It seems that the term pilgrim is used in a spiritual sense.

1) This conclusion is based on its use throughout the book of 1 Peter (; )

2) It was addressed to Christians who were living in the world as aliens. Their citizenship is in heaven.

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b. It seems that both Jews and Gentiles are addressed in the book

1) Some passages would have been more easily understood by Jews

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2) Other passages seem to indicate Gentile recipients

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2. “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”

a. These are districts in what was known as Asia Minor in Peter’s day.

b. They are located in what is today known as Turkey.

B. The Spiritual Condition of the Recipients

1. “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”

a. Elect - they were part of God’s chosen people

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b. “According to the foreknowledge of God”

1) “Foreknowledge” means to have knowledge Beforehand

2) There is no doubt that God’s foreknowledge plays a part in man’s salvation.

a) Christ was offered according to God’s foreknowledge ()

b) Foreknowledge does not mean that God chose the individual apart from their choice.

1. If God chose us apart from our will then many Bible passages do not make any sense (; )

2. In his foreknowledge God determined that those who obey the gospel would be his elect or chosen ones.

3) “In sanctification of the Spirit”

a) Sanctification means to set apart or to consecrate.

b) One is sanctified by the Spirit when they obey what the Spirit has revealed

4) “For obedience and sprinkling the blood of Christ”

a) The purpose of God’s plan is to bring man to obedience without which he cannot be saved

b) “Sprinkling the blood of Christ”

This is an allusion to

III. Theme and Purpose of 1 Peter

A. Purpose

1. Prevent apostasy

2. Encourage Christians to persevere in the midst of suffering

B. Theme

1. Rejoice in your suffering ()

2. “Be holy even as I am holy” ()

IV. Basic Outline of 1 Peter

A. You Are A Holy People (1-3:12)

B. You Will Be Persecuted For Christ’s Sake, But Rejoice In This Suffering (3:13-4)

C. Exhortations In Light of Suffering (5)

Questions

1. Who is the author of the book? Peter

2. What was the author’s given name? What other names does he go by in scripture? Simon. Peter and Cephas

3. What do we know about Peter’s family from scripture? He was the son of Jonah/John, he had a brother names Andrew, and was married with kids.

4. How does Peter identify himself in the epistle? As an apostle of Jesus Christ

5. Why does Peter refer to the recipients as pilgrims or strangers? They were people who had their citizenship in heaven.

6. Where were Pontus, Galatia, Asia, and Bithynia located? Asia minor, known as modern day turkey.

7. Does being “elect according to God’s foreknowledge” mean that God picked the individuals that were going to be saved? Give a reason for your answer. No, it means he has determined that those who live in a certain way and they would be saved.

8. How does the Spirit sanctify? When they obey what the Spirit has revealed.

9. What was Peter’s reason for writing 1 Peter? To prevent apostasy and encourage Christians to perseverance in the midst of suffering.

10. What is the theme of the epistle? Rejoice in your suffering and “be holy as I am holy.”