Hope in Midst of Suffering 1 PETER

1 PETER A. Facts Asserted About Author 1. Name: Peter 1:1 2. Position: Apostle 1:1 Elder 5:1

3. Experience: Eyewitness of Christ’s sufferings 5:1 4. Writing Assistant: Silas 5:12 5. Co-greeters: “She who is in Babylon” “My son, Mark”

“Babylon” = metaphor for “Rome” Ancient Babylon who oppressed the Jews and was then overthrown became metaphor for governments hostile to God’s people, whom God will ultimately overthrow. Major modern difference: No Islam religion in any Biblical references to Babylon

B. Evidence of Jewish recipients 1. Foreigners of the Diaspora 1:1 2. Prophets spoke of grace to come to you in sufferings and glory of Messiah 1: Ancestors called “forefathers” 1:19-20C

C. Evidence of Gentile recipients 1. Evil desires when you lived in ignorance 1:14 2. Not a people but now a people 2: You spent enough time in the past doing what the pagans choose to do, living in sin, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4:3

Paul’s 4 th Missionary Journey

D. Recipients Circumstances 1. New converts who need grounding 1: Morally corrupt environment 4:1-4; 5:8 3. Persecution: a. suffering b. false accusations

E. Purpose: Exhortation to Live According to Hope 1. Encouragement in persecution 1:6, 7 2. Challenge to consistent Christian conduct 4: Instruction on position in Christ 2:13-3:8 4. Guidelines for church leadership 5:1

F. Familiarity with Life and Teaching of Jesus 1. Description of Christ’s meekness in suffering 2:21-25 with 5:1 (presence at trial) 2. Greek term egkombosasthe 5:5 “Tie on humility like a slave’s apron” (feet washing John 13:1-17)

3. Exhortation to “feed flock” 5:2 and references to sheep/shepherd relationship between believers and Jesus 2:25 (Charge to Peter to feed lambs John 21:15-22) 4. Reference to faith refined by fire 1:7 (prediction of Peter’s temptation Luke 22:31-32)

1 Peter Outline Hope in Midst of Suffering A. The Problem of Suffering 1:1-12 Greeting and Thanksgiving B. First Response: Holiness 1:13-2:10 Call to Christian Holiness First Christological Confession

1 Peter Outline (continued) C. Second Response: Right Living in Society 2:1-3:22 1. Citizens and slaves 2. Second Christological Confession 3. Wives and husbands 4. The entire church 5. Third Christological Confession

1 Peter Outline (continued) D. Suffering and Eschatology 4:1-19 Verse 19 Key Summary Encouragement to Perseverance E. Conclusions 5:1-14

The “Domestic Code” (Haustafel) in the Epistles Colossians / Ephesians 1 Peter Masters Slaves Husbands Wives Parents Children Government Citizens Husbands Wives Masters Slaves Elders Rest of Church

1 Peter - Problem Passages 1. 3:9 Preaching to spirits in prison A. Patristic: Christ in spirit--Gospel to dead men in Hades B. Augustinian/Reformers: Pre-existent Christ thru Noah C. Prevalent modern: Christ in intermediate state proclaiming victory to fallen angels 2. 3:21 Baptism that now saves you

1 Peter - Problem Passages 3. 4:1 One who has suffered in his body is done with sin A. Tendency to sin cured B. Victory over Apostacy shows loyalty and that sin lacks power C. Baptism context: sin lacks dominion (Rom 6)

1 Peter - Problem Passages 4. 4:6 Gospel was preached to the dead A. Second chance after death B. Spiritually dead in present life C. In life to those now dead physically