Verse by Verse

Through the

Books of 1 & 2 Peter

by

Dr Grant Richison

Copyright © 1995-2005 by Dr. Grant Richison

http://www.crusade.org/word

1 Peter

Introduction

I. AUTHOR

A. Peter (1:1, 8; 5:1)

1. Peter’s given name was Simon.

2. Jesus gave him the name Cephas (John 1:42).

o Cephas means stone or rock.

o The Greek translation of the Aramaic word Cephas is petros which also means stone or rock.

o Peter is the only man in the New Testament called by this name.

3. Peter occupied a favored place among the apostles.

4. He occupied a central place in the book of Acts (first 12 chapters).

5. He married and lived in Capernaum.

6. He worked in fishing business with his brother Andrew.

7. The Lord came to him in a special appearance after the resurrection (Luke 24:34; 1 Co. 15:5).

8. God used Peter to win 3,000 souls to Christ on Pentecost.

9. Peter had an important part in the first Church council in Acts 15 (ad 50; Peter is not mentioned after this in the book of Acts).

10. Paul refers to Peter in Galatians 1:18; 2:11; I Cor. 1–4; 9:5.

B. Peter was literate but unschooled.

1. Called from his trade as a fisherman.

2. Called to be a fisher of men (Luke 5:1–11).

C. Peter’s public ministry spanned 30 years and stretched from Jerusalem to Rome.

D. Peter employed Silas as his secretary to write the letter (I Pet. 5:12).

o Silas was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:36–37).

E. Parallels between I Peter and his sermons in Acts:

o Cf. I Peter 1:20 with Acts 2:23; cf. I Peter 4:5 with Acts 10:42; Cf. I Peter 2:7–8 and Acts 4:10–11

o In each passage, Psalm 118:22 is quoted and applied to Christ to refer to his rejection by Jewish leaders.

F. I Peter is quoted extensively in early church history.

o This epistle was quoted extensively in the early church in such writings as the letters of Polycarp, Clement and Irenaeus.

o Martyred by Nero (Tertullian, Cyprian, Lactantius; Clement of Rome, Dionysius of Corinth tell us he suffered martyrdom).

o Origin said he was crucified with his head downwards.

o He died ad 67–68.

II. DATE

A. ad 64

B. This was shortly before Nero’s persecution.

o Peter warns that persecution is imminent.

III. DESTINATION

A. Peter wrote to the five Roman provinces of Asia Minor in what is modern day northern Turkey.

B. Many Jews lived in these provinces therefore many quotations from the Old Testament are found in I Peter (1:1).

o “Dispora” (Jews who lived outside Palestine and yet looked on it as their native land)

C. To Christians everywhere (1:18–19, 23; 2:10, 24).

D. Peter was especially the apostle to the Jews (Gal. 2:7–8).

E. The epistle was written predominantly to Hebrew Christians but also includes Gentile Christians.

III. PURPOSE

A. The purpose of I Peter is to enable Christians to face persecution in the grace of God (5:12), to prepare them for suffering.

B. A secondary purpose is to encourage believers to face persecution and suffering (1:6–7; 5:8–9).

C. Peter encourages believers to lift their eyes above present difficulties to God’s grace.

o He shows ...