1 Peter: It Will All End Well! - Intro
An interactive bible study of 1 Peter, complete with scripture, questions, a note section, as well as commentary from a messianic believer's perspective.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. - Matthew 16:18
Before We Start: A Little About This Letter
About the Author:
It is generally accepted that this letter was written by the Apostle Peter, or minimally at his dictation, one of the 12 original Talmud (disciples). By trade, Peter was a fisherman, but he now finds himself as a disciple, a student and a “witness of the sufferings of Messiah”. Evidence points to this letter originating in Rome and is estimated that this letter was dictated around 62-63 B.C. during the tyrannical reign of Emperor Nero. The letter is addressed to Messianic Believers scattered in “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”
Theme:
Persecution and suffering: Peter illustrates how those who put their trust in Christ both currently enjoy the promise of peace in their earthly suffering as well as bask in the joy of salvation in the end times.
Purpose:
When we first encounter the author of this book, he is introduced to us as Simon, his birth name. Simon finds himself in the inner circle of the disciples, and upon stating that Christ was the Messiah, Jesus changes his name to Kephas, or “rock” in Greek. Many years later, when the Bible was translated into English, the name “Peter” was used. The big point to notice here is that Jesus begins His transformative work on the inside of His chosen people, He does all heavy lifting, and concludes our spiritual metamorphosis to co-heir externally. Coming to faith is never a fake-it-till-you-make-it proposition. This letter is an encouragement to its readers. Its purpose is to provide a reminder of hope to those who endure suffering and persecution for accepting Christ and giving themselves entirely to God. Just as Christ endured much suffering and then entered glory, so too His followers will suffer before being glorified.
Outline
1. Greeting (1:1-2)
2. A Hope that Lives (1:3-12)
3. Goodness and a call to it (1:13-21)
4. The Word (1:22-25)
5. The Chosen People (2:1-12)
6. Living With the heavy hand of authority (2:13-3:7)
7. To sidestep Evil (3:8-13)
8. How to suffer well (3:14-4:19)
9. Elders to this (5:1-4) 10. Jesus does the lifting (5:5-9)
11. Remember and goodbye (5:10-14)
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26