1 Peter

Introduction to 1 Peter

1 Peter

Authorship of 1 and 2 Peter Audience Introduction to letter

1 Peter: Author

1 Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ”

1 Peter 5:1 “I appeal as a fellow elder”

1 Peter: Author (cont'd)

Attested by early church Irenaeus Clement Origen Cyprian Tertullian

Not only quoted 1 Peter Actually attributed it to Peter

1 & 2 Peter: Author (cont'd)

• 2 Peter was also quoted by early church

• Not as often as 1 Peter

• Example: Irenaeus, – Against Heresies, Book V– “a day of the Lord is as a thousand years.”– Phrased like 2 Pet 3:8, not like Psam 90:4– Similar in Justin Martyr Dialogue

• Also possible references by Polycarp, Clement, Ignatius, and others

1 & 2 Peter: Author (cont'd)

Same author for 1 & 2 Peter Often challenged due to different styles

1 Peter polished and formal 2 Peter more brash and unpolished

1 Peter 5:12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly

Gk Silvanus Silas also associated with Paul Assisted with 1 Peter, but not with 2

Peter

1 Peter: Paul and Silas

Paul and Silas Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey AD 51-54 Silas a leader in Jerusalem (Acts 15:22) Silas a prophet (Acts 15:32)

1 Peter: Paul and Silas

Silas Delivered letter from Jerusalem council

(Acts 15) Accompanied Paul to many cities

Syria, Cilisia, Derbe, Lystra, Phrygia, Galatia, Troas, Macedonia, Philippi (where he was jailed along with Paul), Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth

Helped Paul write 1 & 2 Thessalonians

Greatly influenced by Paul

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

• Eph 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

• Col 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

• 1Pe 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

• 1Pe 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

• Eph 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

• 1Th 5:6 ...let us be alert and self-controlled.

• 1Pe 3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands

• 1Pe 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert.

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

• 1Co 16:20 ...Greet one another with a holy kiss

• Rom 8:18 ... the glory that will be revealed in us.

• 1Pe 5:14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

• 1Pe 5:1 ... the glory to be revealed:

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

• Rom 4:24 ...for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

• Rom 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities...

• 1Pe 1:21 ... you believe in God, who raised him from the dead …

• 1 Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

• Rom 12:6-7 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;

• 1Pe 4:10-11 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides...

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

• 1Ti 2:9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,

• 1Pe 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

Style of 1 Peter similar to Paul

• Introduces himself as apostle

• Identifies audience (place, position in Christ)

• Grace and peace

• Lavish description of blessings in Christ

• Calls them to live appropriately in response

1 Peter: Similar to Paul

• 1 Peter – same message as Paul– Not two different gospels for Jew, Gentile

• Writing influenced by Paul through Silas– Style– Content

• Inspired by the same Spirit

1 & 2 Peter: Purpose

Purpose of 1 Peter

• 1Pe 5:12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

1 & 2 Peter: Purpose

Different purpose of 2 Peter

• 2Pe 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

1 & 2 Peter: Differences

Difference between 1 and 2 Peter

• Silas not involved in 2 Peter– Different style

• Different purpose

1 & 2 Peter: Author (cont'd)

Internal evidence in 2 Peter

• 2 Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ

• Eyewitness of transfiguration (2 Pet 1:16-18)

• Wrote a previous letter (2 Pet 3:1)

• Metaphoric reference to Noah and flood – (2 Pet 3:6, compare 1 Peter 3:20)

1 & 2 Peter: Author (conclusion)

• Both claim to be written by Apostle Peter– No good reason to doubt.

• Both teach consistent message– Grace– Appropriate response

• Differences are reasonable– Silas involved in 1 Peter only– Different purpose

1 Peter: Audience

• 1 Pet 1:1 … To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia

– Roman provinces in Asia Minor

• (1Pe 1:2) who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

1 Peter: Living Hope

1Pe 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter: Rejoice in Trials

1Pe 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter: Love, Joy and Salvation

1Pe 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter: Prophets and Angels

1Pe 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

1 Peter: Class 1 Conclusion

We have been chosen We have a great hope in our future

inheritance We are protected by God while we wait Our faith is tested by suffering We are receiving a great salvation So, rejoice!