1 PETER – CHRISTIAN HOPE IN TIME OF TRIAL
INTRODUCTION
There are 21 epistles (letters) in the New Testament.
– Thirteen of them were written by the apostle Paul and are therefore known as the Pauline epistles.
The Pauline Epistles fall into three groups:
1) Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians.
2) The Prison Epistles – These four epistles are thought to have been written when Paul was under house arrest in Rome c 60-62 CE. Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians were written to churches. Philemon was a personal letter.
3) The Pastoral Epistles – 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus
– The Epistle to the Hebrews is by an unknown author.
– There are a further seven letters which are known as the General or Catholic Epistles because they do not address specific issues in one of the churches but were probably circular letters. These are: James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude.
1, 2 and 3 John, along with the Gospel of John and the Revelation, are known as the Johannine Writings.
1 and 2 Peter are known collectively as the Petrine Epistles.
DATE & PLACE OF WRITING
Peter’s first letter is thought to have been written shortly before the persecutions of Christians by the Roman emperor Nero which began in 64 CE. In 5:13 the author says that he is writing from Babylon. He may indeed have been writing from Babylon on the Euphrates but it is possible that he may have been writing from Rome. Some think that ‘Babylon’ may have been a code word for Rome; viewing it as the seat of ungodliness and corruption.
THE RECIPIENTS
The recipients are identified in 1:1 as ‘God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.’ The addressees were Christians scattered over a large area consisting of the four provinces of the Roman empire in Asia Minor in the first and second centuries CE (Pontus & Bithynia, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia). Peter’s first letter was written to fellow-Christians who were suffering, or about to suffer, persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ. It addresses various issues in a compassionate and sympathetic manner. It is referred to in 2 Peter 3:1.
THE AUTHOR
In 1 Peter 1:1 the author identifies himself as the apostle Peter. What does the New Testament tell us about Peter?
1. He was one of Christ’s disciples; also known as apostles and frequently referred to as ‘the Twelve.’
2. He was the most prominent member of the group of disciples. Their names are listed four times in the New Testament (Mt 10:2-4; Mk 10:16-19; Lk 6:12-16; Acts 1:13) and Peter’s name is first in every list. When the references to him are taken together he has more mentions in the New Testament than the apostle Paul (162 mentions). Peter (161), Simon (50), Cephas (6) and in Jn 13:6 ekeínos (that one) usually translated ‘Peter’ (1).
3. He had a popular name. There are other people called Simon in the New Testament:
Simon the Zealot Lk 6:15
Simon the father of Judas Iscariot Jn 6:71
Simon, a half-brother of Jesus Mt 13:55
Simon the Pharisee Lk 7:20
Simon the leper Mt 26:6
Simon of Cyrene Mk 15:21
Simon the magician Acts 8:9
Simon the tanner Acts 9:43
4. He was from Bethsaida near Capernaum (Jn 1:44: Mk1:21, 29) and worked as a fisherman (Mt 4:18; Mk 1:16). He and his brother Andrew seem to have been in a business partnership (Lk 5:4)) with James and John.
5. He was married.
‘And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.’ Mt 8:14
‘Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?’ 1 Cor 9:5
6. He did not have a religious education. In Acts 4:13 the Sanhedrin realized that Peter and John were ‘unlearned (agrámmatos) and ignorant men’. This does not necessarily mean that they were illiterate. ‘Without letters’ probably meant that they were not scribes i.e. had not had a formal religious education. Peter would have had the normal schooling of a Jewish boy at that time.
7. He was called by the Lord (Mt 4:18-20) who changed his name to Peter – ‘a stone’- this ordinary man became a great apostle.
8. He was committed to the Lord.
‘And they straightway left their nets, and followed him’. Mt 4:20
‘Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?’ Mt 19:27
9. He recognized and declared the Lord’s deity.
‘And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Mt 16:16
10. He was not perfect:
a) He spoke up when it was more appropriate to stay quiet (Mk 9:5-7).
b) He rebuked the Lord (Mt 16:21-23; Jn 13:6-9)
c) He denied the Lord three times (Lk 22:54-62). Later he was asked three times if he loved the Lord and was restored (Jn 21:17).
11. He had a varied ministry.
a. He was one of the most trusted disciples. Along with James and John, Peter was one of Jesus’ inner circle. Together these three men were privileged;
– to witness the power of the Lord in the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:37)
– to witness the preeminence of the Lord at the transfiguration (Mk 17:1-2)
– to witness the passion of the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk 14:32)
b) He suggested that there ought to be a replacement for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15)
c) He preached to large crowds on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40)
d) He healed a lame man (Acts 3:1-11).
e) He defied the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-22)
f) He dealt with the problem of Ananias and Sapphira’s hypocrisy (Acts 5:1-10).
g) He handled the problem of Simon the Magician (Acts 8:9-25).
h) He raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:32-43)
i) He took the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1 -11:18)
j) He wrote two epistles (1 Pet 1:1; 2 Pet 1:1).
12. He was martyred.
‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.’ Jn 21:18-19
THEME
The theme of suffering is prominent in 1 Peter. The word ‘suffering’ and similar words occur 21 times in the letter.
1:6-7 Suffering from trials permitted by God to test the Christian’s faith.
2:19 Suffering for conscience’s sake toward God.
3:14 Suffering for righteousness’ sake.
4:12-14 Suffering for the name of Christ.
5:8-10 Suffering as a result of Satanic opposition.
Chapter 1 SALVATION
Chapter 2 SANCTIFICATION
Chapter 3 SUBMISSION
Chapter 4 SUFFERING
Chapter 5 SHEPHERDING
Chapter 1 HOPE
Chapter 2 HOLINESS
Chapter 3 HOME
Chapter 4 HARDNESS
Chapter 5 HUMILITY
KEYWORDS
‘SUFFERING’
‘PRECIOUS’
‘ BE’
‘GRACE’
‘SALVATION’
‘REVELATION’
‘GLORY’
‘FAITH’
‘HOPE’
1 PETER 3:18-22 THE SPIRITS IN PRISON
1 PETER 4:1-6 THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THE DEAD
1 PETER 4:7-19 LIVING WITH ‘THE END’ IN VIEW
1 PETER 5:1-4 – EXHORTATION TO ELDERS
1 PETER 5:5-14 – CLOSING WORDS
Written Exposition 
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