The First Letter of Peter

Facts: 1) Author: Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ(1:1) 2) Date & Place: AD , in Rome. 3) Historical background: AD 64 Great fire destroyed much of Rome. Emperor blamed the Christians for the fire. To be a Christian was a criminal act.

Waves of oppression and persecution from Rome moved out to the whole empire. During this period Apostle Paul was beheaded, Apostle Peter was crucified upside down. Peter wrote this circular letter to encourage the suffering Christians. (5:12) Recipients: “chosen exiles of the Dispersion” (1:1-2)

For 1 Peter we shall study: The outline of 1 Peter The recipients. The letter’s theological message and its significance today Two difficult verses Some issues to consider for today

Outline of the Letter: The letter follows a similar pattern to Paul’s letter: 1:1-2Opening Greeting 1:3-12 Praise to God For His Mercy The main body of the letter begins with an expression of praise to God modelled to the Jewish ‘berakah’ (benediction) beginning with ‘Blessed is …” (Heb ‘barak’) 1:13-5:11 Body of the Letter 1:13-2:10Respond to God’s grace shown in Christ. 2:11-3:12Live positively in a non-Christian society. 3:13-4:11Do what is right even if it brings suffering 4:12-5:11In your suffering be joyful, maintain the unity of the church, and resist the forces of evil, confident in the love and power of God. 5:12-14 Closing Greetings

Who were the Recipients?: 1:1-2 identifies the intended readers as ‘chosen exiles of the Dispersion’ scattered across four Roman provinces. The term ‘exiles of the Dispersion’ suggests that the readers were Jewish people, the Greek Diaspora being a standard term for Jews living outside Palestine. But 1:18 and 4:3-4 speaks of their former way of life in terms that a Jew would typically apply to Gentiles and never to fellow-Jews. ‘Dispersion’ must be seen as a metaphorical description of God’s messianic people, both Jews and Gentiles, in churches scattered across the pagan world.

What is The Letter’s Message to the Churches? Peter’s theology is a practical theology geared to encourage his readers. The key themes from the letter are: 1)Christian existence in a hostile environment. 2)The Grace of God in Christ 3)The Household of God 4)God’s People 5)Facing Suffering 6)Christian Responsibilities

1) Christian Existence in a hostile environment Peter acknowledges the reality of the reader’s suffering and that it should not come as a surprise (4:12) Because it is part of the ongoing battle between God and the forces of evil (5:8-9) Suffering calls for the final judgment (4:17-18) Suffering is unjust (1:19; 3:14), and puts faith to the test (1:6-7) Suffering involves experiencing verbal abuse (3:16; 4:4), intimidation (3:14) and sometimes formal accusations of crimes against society (2:12) How does the letter address this situation?

2) The Grace of God in Christ Peter’s aim is to encourage his suffering readers to stand firm in the Grace of God (5:12) He affirms that God’s activity is focused on their well-being and salvation (1:2). He stressed the hope and security derived from Jesus’ resurrection. (1:3-11) He assures the liberation made possible through Christ’s saving death (1:18-19; 2:24-25; 3:18). Christ’s present exaltation and victory over evil (3:18-22) The work of Christ in past, present and future reverses the Christian past life of ignorance and futility (1:14,18), provides a secure hope in their present suffering (1:5-7) and brings the promise of future glory (1:4)

3) The Household of God In contrast with their ‘homelessness’ in society, Peter affirms the dignity and status of his readers by describing them as ‘the household of God’ (2:5, 4:17) They are reborn (1:2,23; 2:2) into the family of which God is the father (1:3, 17), a great family of brothers and sisters (2:17; 5:9).

4) God’s People Though his readers are ‘nobodies ‘ in society, Peter confers on his readers a new identity by addressing them in languages that the OT applies to Israel. (2:9-10) 1:16 ‘You shall be Holy, for I am holy’ takes up the fundamental calling of Israel and a key theme of the letter’s appeal to its reader.

5) Facing Suffering Suffering can be viewed as God’s will, in that it can contribute as Christ suffering did to the outworking of God’s purpose (3:17-18) Those who suffer through being identified with Christ experience the blessing that comes from the presence of His Spirit and the assurance of his ultimate victory (4:13-14; 5:10) They can hold their heads high despite everything that is thrown at them (4:16,19)

6) Christian Responsibilities What strategy does Peter urge for living in a non-Christian society? A mutually supportive community (1:22; 2:17; 3:8; 4:8) A distinctively ‘holy’ community (1:2, 15-16, 22) Engagement with society. Live the good life (2:12, 15, 20; 3:13-17; 4:19) Contribute positively to society. (3:1-2,6) Bear witness to Christ (2:9; 3:1, 15)

2 Difficult verses: (1 Peter 3:19, 4:6) ‘Christ’s descend into hell’ and His victory over evil’ Some belief that after his death Jesus ‘descended into hell’ to offer salvation to people who had already died. 1 Peter does not support this belief. 1)3:19:Between his death and resurrection, Christ went to the prison where fallen angels are held captive to await final judgment and there preached to the angels who are said to have left their proper state and married human women during Noah’s time (cf, Gen. 6:1-4; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). The message he preached to these evil angels was a declaration of victory. 2)Peter is assuring his readers that they have nothing to fear from those who threaten and oppress them. Christ has defeated the forces of evil, both supernatural and human, and will ultimately bring them to judgment.

3) 4:6 ‘The gospel was proclaimed even to the dead’ refers to the evangelization of those who are now dead (at the time of writing) but who received the gospel before they died. This follows appropriately from the reference to the ‘dead’ in v.5. The thrust of Peter’s argument is that those who presume to condemn others in their lifetime will ultimately be brought to judgment themselves. Those who were condemned by society in their lifetime will be vindicated by God in the final judgment.

Some Issues to consider for Today: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUFFERING FOR ONE’S FAITH: Like other forms of suffering, it provokes the question: why does God allow it? Where is He in it all? Peter offers no easy answers, but suggests positive significance can be found in such suffering.

Some Issues to consider for Today: THE MEANING OF HOPE: Peter speaks not of hoping for something to turn up, but of hope rooted in God (1:21; 3:5). Hope is grounded in the resurrection of Christ (1:3), because of which they need not fear the forces of evil (3:22). It looks to His coming victory when all that is wrong in the world will be set right (2:12, 4:7-19; 5:10-11). Such hope is worth bearing witness to (3:15).

ENGAGEMENT WITH SOCIETY: Peter’s exhortation to positive involvement in society – both showing respect for what is positive in society and living counter-culturally in the midst of it – can provide a vision for committed living in society today. For Christians in the context of persecution it,means not turning one’s back on society

DISCUSSION QUESTION 1.Compare the teaching in 1 Peter 2:13-17 with that in Rom. 13:1-7 on how Christians are to relate to the state and civil authorities. How much do they have in common and what is distinctive about each? How, if at all, is it appropriate to follow their teaching here in Singapore?