1 Peter
Author: Peter
Peter writes to elect strangers scattered through Asia Minor, calling them a holy people who should not be surprised by suffering.
Outline
A living hope (1)
An inheritance reserved in heaven is the reason for joy in heaviness, and they are to be holy as God is holy.
A chosen people (2–3)
Living stones, a royal priesthood, and instructions for households sit under the example of Christ’s suffering.
The fiery trial (4–5)
Suffering as a Christian is distinguished from suffering as an evildoer, and elders are told to feed the flock.
Key verses
1 Peter 1:3
God has begotten them again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 2:9
They are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, called out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 5:7
They are to cast all their care upon God, because he cares for them.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writes to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The readers are resident aliens in five Roman regions. The letter assumes they are being spoken against, and it tells them how to live so that the slander has nothing real to hold. Silvanus is the one by whom Peter has written. Mark is with him. The church that is at Babylon salutes them. Whether Babylon is the city on the Euphrates or a name for Rome, the letter comes from a distance to people who do not have the protection of being at home.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, you love. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. The prophets inquired of this salvation. The angels desire to look into it. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end. As he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. You were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever. All flesh is as grass.
Laying aside malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speakings, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word. Coming to Christ, a living stone, disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God, you also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Unto you which believe he is precious. You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. In time past you were not a people, but are now the people of God. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Servants, wives, and husbands are addressed under the example of Christ, who did no sin and bare our sins in his own body on the tree. If you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you. Be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
The end of all things is at hand. If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. Elders are to feed the flock without lording it over the heritage. Cast all your care upon him, for he cares for you. Your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion. Resist him, knowing the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren. First Peter is written so that strangers under slander would know they are a priesthood, and that suffering for doing good is not a sign they have been forgotten.