The First Letter of the Apostle
PETER
Author:
Peter one of the original apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Date:
Sometime between 65 and 67 AD.
Theme:
Peter wrote to Jewish believers in Christ (1 Pet 1:1) because he was the apostle to the Jews (Gal 2:8-9). However, the blessed truth he writes down came by the inspiration of God’s Spirit and is for all believers in all times. The command the Lord Jesus gave to Peter in Luke 22:31-32 he partly fulfilled by writing this letter. Countless believers in Christ have been strengthened in their faith through what Peter wrote here. Some key words are “hope”, “suffering”, “grace” and “glory”. The principal theme is the suffering of believers and the glory that will follow.
Contents:
The Trinity and believers:
The Father chose them, the Spirit set them apart,
the Son is their Master and Redeemer 1:2
The hope of believers 1:3-9
This hope comes through the new birth 1:3
It is a living hope 1:3
It is based on the resurrection of Christ 1:3
It is related to an eternal inheritance 1:4
It is a hope for something that God keeps safe in heaven 1:4
It is a hope living in those who are kept safe themselves 1:5
It is a hope that gives great joy 1:6
It is a hope associated on earth with grievous trials 1:6
It is a hope joined with faith and love toward Christ 1:7-9
The salvation of believers, the sufferings and
glory of Christ were revealed in the OT 1:10-12
How believers in Christ should live 1:13—2:3
Being ready for action 1:13
Being obedient 1:14
Being holy 1:15-16
Having the reverent fear of God 1:17
Recognizing the price of redemption 1:18-21
Possessing love for fellow believers 1:22
Being assured of the new birth 1:23
Understanding what is temporary and what is eternal 1:23-25
Renouncing all evil attitudes 2:1
Growing by feeding on the Word of God 2:2-3
The living Stone and living stones 2:4-8
Who and what believers are 2:9-10
What believers are to do 2:11-21
The example Jesus set for us 2:22-25
Wives and husbands 3:1-7
The kind of life that inherits blessing 3:8-17
The reason for the death of Christ 3:18
What happened after Christ’s death 3:19-22
Be ready for troubles and suffering 4:1-4
God’s judgment will come 4:5-6
Living as though the end of this age were near 4:7-11
Suffering for Christ 4:12-19
We should not be surprised when it comes 4:12
We should rejoice when it comes 4:13
We should regard it as blessing 4:14
We should not suffer for the wrong reasons 4:15
We should not be ashamed to suffer for Him 4:16
We should praise God 4:16
We should consecrate ourselves to God 4:19
A word to church elders 5:1-4
A word to youth 5:5-6
What to do with life’s cares 5:7
How to resist the devil 5:8-9
Closing remarks 5:10-14