1 Peter 1-2

Key Themes (1 Peter)

The book of 1 Peter, written by the Apostle Peter, is a letter addressed to Christians facing persecution and suffering. Peter encourages them to stand firm in their faith and live out their Christian identity despite the hardships they endure. The letter emphasizes hope, holiness, and perseverance in the face of trials. The key themes include:

1. Suffering and Perseverance: A central theme in 1 Peter is the call to endure suffering with patience and perseverance. Peter encourages believers to see their trials as a test of faith that will result in praise and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed. This theme highlights the value of suffering as a means of spiritual growth and the importance of remaining steadfast in faith during difficult times.
2. Hope and Salvation: Peter emphasizes the living hope that believers have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This hope is anchored in the promise of eternal life and the inheritance that is kept in heaven for them. This theme underscores the assurance of salvation and the hope of future glory, which empowers believers to endure present sufferings.
3. Holiness and Christian Conduct: 1 Peter calls believers to live holy lives, reflecting the holiness of God. Peter urges them to abstain from sinful desires and to conduct themselves honorably among non-believers, so that their good deeds may glorify God. This theme emphasizes the importance of living a life that is set apart for God, characterized by moral integrity and good works.
4. The Identity of Believers: Peter reminds Christians of their new identity in Christ, describing them as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession. This theme highlights the privileged status of believers as God’s people, who are called to declare His praises and live in a way that reflects their identity in Christ.
5. Submission and Authority: Peter instructs believers to submit to human authorities, including government officials and employers, as a way of honoring God. He also addresses the relationship between husbands and wives, encouraging mutual respect and understanding. This theme emphasizes the importance of submission, not as a sign of weakness, but as an expression of faith and trust in God’s sovereignty.
6. The Example of Christ’s Suffering: Peter points to Christ as the ultimate example of suffering and endurance. Jesus suffered unjustly, yet He did not retaliate or threaten, but entrusted Himself to God who judges justly. This theme encourages believers to follow Christ’s example in their own suffering, trusting that God will vindicate them in due time.
7. The Role of Elders and Church Leadership: Peter addresses church leaders, urging them to shepherd the flock of God willingly and eagerly, not for personal gain but as examples to the believers. This theme highlights the responsibility of church leaders to care for the community with humility and integrity, serving as models of godly living.
8. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare: Peter warns believers to be alert and sober-minded, as the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He encourages them to resist the devil by standing firm in their faith. This theme emphasizes the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for vigilance and resistance against the forces of evil.
9. The Call to Mutual Love and Humility: Peter exhorts the Christian community to love one another deeply, to offer hospitality without grumbling, and to use their gifts to serve others. He also encourages humility, urging believers to humble themselves under God’s mighty hand. This theme underscores the importance of love, service, and humility in fostering a strong and supportive Christian community.
10. God’s Faithfulness and Care: Throughout the letter, Peter reassures believers of God’s faithfulness and care for them, especially in times of suffering. He reminds them to cast all their anxieties on God, who cares for them and will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish them after they have suffered a little while. This theme emphasizes God’s unwavering support and the promise of His ultimate deliverance.

1 Peter is a letter of encouragement and exhortation, calling believers to stand firm in their faith amidst suffering and to live lives that reflect their identity in Christ. Through its themes of hope, holiness, submission, and the example of Christ’s suffering, Peter provides guidance for how to navigate the challenges of the Christian life, holding fast to the hope of eternal glory and trusting in God’s faithful care.

What I Noticed Today (1 Peter 1-2)

1 Peter 1

In verses 1-2, Peter opens the letter using the typical format: the author (Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ), the recipients (the dispersed Christians), and a greeting.

In verses 3-12, Peter encourages the readers that it is through the resurrection of Christ that we have been born again:

• Praise God for He has given us a new birth into an inheritance that is imperishable through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• You are being protected by God’s power through faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed (in the rapture).
• You rejoice in this.
• You struggle in trials now, so the genuineness of your faith is refined and results in praise, glory, and honor at the return of Jesus.
• You love Him though you have not seen Him.
• You believe in Him and rejoice because you receive the goal of your faith; salvation.
• The message of grace given by the Old Testament prophets, has been revealed to you by those preaching the Gospel, directed by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.

In verses 13-25, Peter issues a call to the new believers to live a life of holiness befitting their new birth:

• Therefore (because these things have been revealed to you), prepare your minds and get serious about the grace brought to you by Jesus.
• Do not be conformed to the evil desires of the world.
• But be holy in all your conduct because the One who called you is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45).
• Conduct yourselves in reverent fear of God, who judges impartially.
• For you know, you were redeemed from an empty life by the precious blood of Christ.
• He (Jesus) was chosen before the foundation of the world to be made known to you, who, through believing in God who raised Jesus from the dead and gave him glory, is your savior.

• Obedience to the truth should cause a sincere love for your brothers.
• Love one another earnestly since you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (Isaiah 40:6-8).

1 Peter 2

In verses 2-10, Peter calls on the believers to repent of their sins and live a holy life:

• Rid yourselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
• Desire pure spiritual milk so that you may grow in your faith. (Psalm 34:8)
• You are living stones being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifice to God through Christ (Isaiah 28:16).
• Honor will come to you who believe.
• But those unbelievers will stumble because of their disobedience to God (rejection of God’s message) (Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 8:14).
• You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a possession of God (Deuteronomy 7:6, Exodus 19:6).
• Once you were not a people, but now you are.
• You had not received mercy, but now you have.

In verses 11-17, Peter urges the believers to live holy lives among Gentiles wherever they live and do good works, so your example will draw others to God.

• Avoid the fleshly desires that war against you.
• Conduct yourselves honorably so they will see your good works and glorify God.
• Submit to every human authority (obey the law) for the Lord’s sake.
• For it is God’s will that you silence foolish people by doing good.

• As God’s slaves live as free people. But don’t use your freedom to conceal evil.
• Honor (respect) everyone, love Christian brothers, fear God, and honor (respect) the emperor.

In verses 18-25, Peter directed Christian slaves to submit to their masters:

• Household slaves submit to you masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.

• It brings favor from God to endure suffering unjustly.
• There is no credit if you sin and endure punishment because you deserved it.
• Peter uses Christ’s example of enduring unjust suffering:
  • You were called to this because Christ suffered for you as an example for you.
  • He did not commit sin when he was reviled by reviling back.
  • He did not threaten but trusted God, who judges justly.
  • He bore our sins upon the cross so that having died to sin, we might live in righteousness.
  • You were healed by His wounds.
  • You were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd.

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• It is only through the grace of God that we have the strength to live as aliens in a foreign land. In some countries, very real persecution of Christians occurs on a daily basis. In other countries, Christians face the kind of slander that Peter refers to in this letter. Regardless, we are called to be a light to the World that others might see and come to Christ as a result of our witness.
• Our life in Christ is one of growth. Much like an infant who becomes a toddler, a teenager, and an adult, so too, we grow in our relationship with Christ. We become spiritually mature, not all at once but over time, and then, only if we pursue growth in Christ.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: 1 Peter 3-5