Peter addresses this epistle to "pilgrims” in a world that is growing increasingly hostile to Christians. These believers are beginning to suffer because of their stand for Christ, and Peter uses this letter to give them counsel and comfort by stressing the reality of their living hope in the Lord. By standing firm in the grace of God (5:12) they will be able to endure their "fiery trial" (4:12), knowing that there is a divine purpose behind their pain. This letter logically proceeds through the themes of the salvation of the believer (1:1 -2:1 2); the submission of the believer (2: 1 3-3: 1 2); and the suffering of the believer (3:1 3-5:1 4).
The Salvation of the Believer (l: 1-2:121: Addressing his letter to believers in several Roman Provinces, Peter briefly describes the saving work of the triune Godhead in his salutation (1:1-2). He then extols God for the riches of this salvation by looking in three temporal directions (l'3-.l2). First, Peter anticipates the future realization of the Christian’s manifold inheritance (1:3-5). Second, he looks at the present joy that this living hope produces in spite of various trials (1:6-9). Third, he reflects upon the prophets of the past who predicted the gospel of God's grace in Christ (1: l-12).
The proper response to this salvation is the pursuit of sanctification or holiness (1:13-2:10). This involves a purifying departure from conformity with the world to godliness in behavior and love. With this in mind, Peter exhorts his readers to "desire the pure milk of the word, that [they] may grow" (2:2) by applying “the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1:23) and acting as a holy priesthood of believers.
The Submission of the Believer (2: I3-3: I2): Peter turns to the believer's relationships in the world and appeals for an attitude of submission as the Christlike way to harmony and true freedom. Submission for the Lord’s sake to those in govemmental (2: I 3-l 7) and social (2:1 8-20) authority will foster a good testimony to outsiders. Before moving on to submission in marital relationships (3:1 -7), Peter again picks up the theme of Christian suffering (mentioned in 1:6-7; 2:12, .l8-20) and uses Christ as the supreme model: He suffered sinlessly, silently, and as a substitute for the salvation of others (2:21-25; cf. ls. 52:1 3-53:1 2). Peter summarizes his appeal for Christlike submission and humility.
The Suffering of the Believer (3:13-5:14): Anticipating that growing opposition to Christianity will require a number of his readers to defend their faith and conduct, Peter encourages them to be ready to do so in an intelligent and gracious way (3:13-'16). Three times he tells them that if they must suffer, it should be for righteousness' sake and not as a result of sinful behavior (3:17; see2:20; 4:15- 16). The end of this chapter (3:18-22) is an extremely difficult passage to interpret, and several options have been offered. Verses 19-20 may mean that Christ, during the period between His death and resurrection, addressed demonic spirits or the spirits of those who were alive before the Flood. Another interpretation is that Christ preached through Noah to his pre-Flood contemporaries. Verse 2l teaches that the inner attitude of repentance and identification with the work of Christ saves a person and this attitude is reflected in water baptism.
As believers in Christ, the readers ore no longer to pursue the lusts of the flesh as they did formerly, but rather the will of God (4:1-6). ln view of the hardships that they may suffer, Peter exhorts them to be strong in their mutuol love ond to exercise their spirituol gifts in the power of God so thot they will be built up (4:7-1 1). They should not be surprised when they are slandered and reviled for their faith because the sovereign God hos o purpose in all things, and the time of judgment will come when His name and all who trust in Him will be vindicated (4:12-19). They must therefore “commit their souls to Him in doing good" (4:19).
ln a special word to the elders of the churches in these Roman provinces, Peter urges them to be diligent but gentle shepherds over the flocks that hove been divinely placed under their core (5: I -4). The readers as a whole are told to clothe themselves with humility toward one another and toward God who will exalt them at the proper time (5:5-7). They are to resist the adversary in the sure knowledge that their calling to God's eternal glory in Christ will be realized (5:8-l l). Peter ends his epistle by stating his theme ("the true grace of God") and conveying greetings and a benediction (5:12-14).
First Peter:
by Rob Morgan
Apr 10, 2013
First Peter:
Peter addresses this epistle to "pilgrims” in a world that is growing increasingly hostile to Christians. These believers are beginning to suffer because of their stand for Christ, and Peter uses this letter to give them counsel and comfort by stressing the reality of their living hope in the Lord. By standing firm in the grace of God (5:12) they will be able to endure their "fiery trial" (4:12), knowing that there is a divine purpose behind their pain. This letter logically proceeds through the themes of the salvation of the believer (1:1 -2:1 2); the submission of the believer (2: 1 3-3: 1 2); and the suffering of the believer (3:1 3-5:1 4).
The Salvation of the Believer (l: 1-2:121: Addressing his letter to believers in several Roman Provinces, Peter briefly describes the saving work of the triune Godhead in his salutation (1:1-2). He then extols God for the riches of this salvation by looking in three temporal directions (l'3-.l2). First, Peter anticipates the future realization of the Christian’s manifold inheritance (1:3-5). Second, he looks at the present joy that this living hope produces in spite of various trials (1:6-9). Third, he reflects upon the prophets of the past who predicted the gospel of God's grace in Christ (1: l-12).
The proper response to this salvation is the pursuit of sanctification or holiness (1:13-2:10). This involves a purifying departure from conformity with the world to godliness in behavior and love. With this in mind, Peter exhorts his readers to "desire the pure milk of the word, that [they] may grow" (2:2) by applying “the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1:23) and acting as a holy priesthood of believers.
The Submission of the Believer (2: I3-3: I2): Peter turns to the believer's relationships in the world and appeals for an attitude of submission as the Christlike way to harmony and true freedom. Submission for the Lord’s sake to those in govemmental (2: I 3-l 7) and social (2:1 8-20) authority will foster a good testimony to outsiders. Before moving on to submission in marital relationships (3:1 -7), Peter again picks up the theme of Christian suffering (mentioned in 1:6-7; 2:12, .l8-20) and uses Christ as the supreme model: He suffered sinlessly, silently, and as a substitute for the salvation of others (2:21-25; cf. ls. 52:1 3-53:1 2). Peter summarizes his appeal for Christlike submission and humility.
The Suffering of the Believer (3:13-5:14): Anticipating that growing opposition to Christianity will require a number of his readers to defend their faith and conduct, Peter encourages them to be ready to do so in an intelligent and gracious way (3:13-'16). Three times he tells them that if they must suffer, it should be for righteousness' sake and not as a result of sinful behavior (3:17; see2:20; 4:15- 16). The end of this chapter (3:18-22) is an extremely difficult passage to interpret, and several options have been offered. Verses 19-20 may mean that Christ, during the period between His death and resurrection, addressed demonic spirits or the spirits of those who were alive before the Flood. Another interpretation is that Christ preached through Noah to his pre-Flood contemporaries. Verse 2l teaches that the inner attitude of repentance and identification with the work of Christ saves a person and this attitude is reflected in water baptism.
As believers in Christ, the readers ore no longer to pursue the lusts of the flesh as they did formerly, but rather the will of God (4:1-6). ln view of the hardships that they may suffer, Peter exhorts them to be strong in their mutuol love ond to exercise their spirituol gifts in the power of God so thot they will be built up (4:7-1 1). They should not be surprised when they are slandered and reviled for their faith because the sovereign God hos o purpose in all things, and the time of judgment will come when His name and all who trust in Him will be vindicated (4:12-19). They must therefore “commit their souls to Him in doing good" (4:19).
ln a special word to the elders of the churches in these Roman provinces, Peter urges them to be diligent but gentle shepherds over the flocks that hove been divinely placed under their core (5: I -4). The readers as a whole are told to clothe themselves with humility toward one another and toward God who will exalt them at the proper time (5:5-7). They are to resist the adversary in the sure knowledge that their calling to God's eternal glory in Christ will be realized (5:8-l l). Peter ends his epistle by stating his theme ("the true grace of God") and conveying greetings and a benediction (5:12-14).