This is the page for all my resources and documents for the book of First Peter. The first section contains documents that survey the entire book. The next section is broken down by each passage. Click the label of any passage to expand for access to documents and information about each individual passage. In each section, you can also click to see a detailed, annotated outline of each section. Feel free to use and distribute any information you find helpful as long as you give credit where appropriate.
Either a statement: "You are rejoicing in this"
Or a command: "Rejoice in this"
Possibly - "since it is necessary"
Literally - "stoop to look"
i.e. rashness, excess, passion, confusion, etc., to be in control of ones thought processes, restraint and moderation.
"As obedient children", "be holy because I am holy"
Therefore, holiness is measured in conformity to His person, character and will.
In the same way that God is - "like the Holy One Who called you"
Notice above that God's holiness is our standard for holiness.
The key term here is the word translated "unceasingly/continuously"
Points back to 1:23 where Peter says they have been born again. He continues this metaphor by telling them to act like figurative newborns in term of growth, both in putting aside their old life and craving the things of new life.
Basically reminding that this is a metaphor and not to push the imagery too far. It is spiritual nourishment from God that is the point.
Refers to the teaching of the word, but it also refers to much more than that, like the baby partakes of the 'life' of the mother in milk, we partake and participate in the life of Christ.
2c Purpose: so that you may grow in it into salvation.
In the form of a condition "if you have...", challenging the reader with the opposite possibility. But most likely an assumed condition "Since you have..." giving the reason.
Not all the benefits of the Christian are future, we have indeed experienced the kindness and goodness of Christ.
We are reminded of this past experience as a motivation to continue to crave the things of God, and in so doing, continue to experience His goodness and continue to grow into the consummating experience of His goodness, our salvation.
2:4-8 Sharing the destiny of the "stone"
Possibly imperative - "come to Him"
More likely means - "by coming to Him," "insomuch as we come to Him"
These passages were some of the most frequently quoted OT passages in the NT to talk about Jesus.
vv. 7b-8 spoke of the result of the choice for the unbelievers, now Peter elaborates on the other side of the coin for believers.
"This means that every Christian has the right of access to God; and that he must offer his work, his worship and himself to God." Barclay p. 199.
The light is the sum total of the relationships started in v. 9, the 'being a people' and 'receiving mercy' of v. 10, and the future rewards promised throughout. It is both present and future.
"In the broadest sense, the structure of 1 Peter is marked out by two occurrences of the direct address, 'Dear friends' in 2:11 and 4:12. These divide the epistle into three parts, 1:1-2:10, 2:11-3:11, and 4:12-5:14.
1. The theme of the first part is the identity of the people of God established on the basis of the great salvation Christ has accomplished on their behalf. Their identity as a 'chosen' people is affirmed programmatically in the address (1:1-2) and confirmed in the concluding pronouncements of 2:9-10...This identity as God's people rests on the experience of salvation (1:5, 9-10; 2:3) or rebirth (1:3, 22-23; 2:2-3).
2. The address, 'Dear friends, I appeal to you,' in 2:11 marks a shift from the identity of God's people to their consequent responsibility in a hostile world. If 1:3-2:10 expanded on their identity as 'chosen people' (cf. 1:2), the reference to them as 'aliens and strangers' in 2:11 serves as a reminder that they are at the same time 'living as strangers' (again cf. 1:2) in contemporary society. Their mission to the worlds is summarized generally in 2:11-12 and specifically in 2:13-3:12"
"These two words [aliens and strangers] give us two great truths about the Christian. (a) There is a real sense in which he is a stranger in the world; and because of that he cannot accept the world's laws and ways and standards. Others may accept them; but the Christian is a citizen of the Kingdom of God and it is by the laws of that Kingdom that he must direct his life....(b) The Christian is not a permanent resident upon earth; he is ont he way to the country which is beyond. He must therefore, do nothing which would keep him from reaching his ultimate goal." Barclay p. 201.
Overcoming the enemies within and the external enemies are not two separate things but are interrelated as two sides of the same coin.
"The emphasis here is on conduct that can be seen and appreciated as 'good' even by fellow citizens who are not believers in Christ." WBC p. 117.
12d they may see and take notice of your good works.
this could mean the day when God visits them with initial salvation, but more likely in 1 Peter it means the last day of either praise or judgment; that those who used to slander Christians would have been brought around by observing the lives of Christians to join their number and be a part of those who will glorify God in that day.
"Whether we like it or not, every Christian is an advertisement for Christianity, by his life he either commends it to others or makes them think less of it. The strongest missionary force in the world is a Christian life." Barclay p. 202.
Christian freedom can be the occasion for sinful self-deception - beware!
16c Pos: but as slaves to God.
Because Christians are slaves to God, they have responsibilities to the state, first to submit freely to good and just laws, even unpopular ones out of reverence to God.
Christians are not to use their freedom in Christ to break just laws or as an excuse to neglect their duties to the state.
The loyalties and responsibilities have a priority and precedence. Our responsibilities to God and the church are greater than our responsibilities to rulers and all people. But our responsibility to God keeps us from neglecting our responsibilities to all the others.
20a What credit is it?
13a Rhetorical question: Who will do evil to you?
This passage is about vindication!
It is the vindication of the Lord aimed at the point in history [Noah and the Flood] when it most plausibly seemed that God had failed (it may have seemed that way, but of course it was not true). God's enemies could cast this episode as an example of when they won out over God's plans and purposes. They may even have congratulated themselves on their victory for thousands of years and harbored the delusion that they could actually defeat God.
The cross of Christ would have added to the delusion of thwarting God's rule.
But Jesus quickly dispelled this illusion by raising from the dead and proclaiming His victory over all who stood against Him.
His apparent defeat was only part of His plan. And the only reason they could suppose that their animosity toward God had any success was God's grace and patience in allowing a delay of their inevitable total defeat.
The evil spirits were rejoicing in Noah's day.
The evil spirits were rejoicing at the cross.
The evil spirits were no longer rejoicing, because Christ proclaimed His vindication and victory.
During the time when Noah was building the ark, he probably looked like a fool, and he was subject to the mocking from all his neighbors.
In the same way, Peter's readers may have appeared foolish, subject to the mocking of their neighbors.
Just as Noah was vindicated in the flood, and Jesus was vindicated in the resurrection.
1-3 Live for the will of God.
6 Parenthetical explanation of the term "living and the dead"
cf. 1:22 - "Love one another fervently"
-cf. 1:6 "manifold trials" are met by God's "manifold grace"
17c What will be the end of those who disobey the Gospel of God?
18b How are the ungodly and sinners going to fare at the end?