An Introduction to 1^st Peter, Lesson One

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by Lane Rogers

I. Authorship of 1^st Peter

A. Evidence in Favor of Petrine Authorship.

1. The Affirmation of the writer. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1).

2. External historical Confirmation.

   a. Papias (80-120 A.D)--quotes Peter as that of an Apostle.

   b. Clement of Rome (95 A.D.) --uses phrases found only in 1^st Peter 12 different times.

   c. Polycarp (120 A.D), --quotes 1^st Peter and attributes the words to the apostle Peter.

   d. Irenaeus (180 A.D. ) --quotes the letter as from the apostle Peter.

   e. Clement of Alexandria (190 A.D.) -- quotes freely from every chapter.

   f. Tertullian (220 A.D. ) --quotes 1^st Peter 2:20 and 4:8 as God's word.

3. Consistency of Contents and Style

   a. Similarity to Peter's Sermons in Acts.

   (1) Death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, all in fulfillment of OT prophecy. 1^st Peter 1:10-12; 1:18-21; 2:21-23; 3: 18, 21-22 compared with Acts 2:20-31; 3: 13-14.

(2) Jesus as head of the church by virtue of his resurrection from the dead and ascension. 1^st Peter 1:21; 2: 4-9; 3:22; 5: 4 compared with Acts 2:22-26, 30-34; 4:11-12; 5:30-31.

(3) Necessity of Baptism for salvation. 1^st Peter 3:31 compared to Acts 2:38. (4) Second coming of Jesus to save the elect and judge the world. 1^st Peter 1:5, 7, 13; 2:12; 4:13, 17; 5:4 compared with Acts 3:19-23; 10:42.

4. Familiarity to Jesus' teachings and experiences.

(1) The Old Rugged Cross called a “tree” in 1^st 2:24.

(2) “Cloth yourselves with humility” from 1^st John 5:5. Reminiscent of Christ girding himself with a towel and washing the feet of his disciples. John 13: 1-6.

(3) Witnessed the trial and crucifixion of Jesus (1^st Peter 2:23).

(4) Peter's responsibility to shepherd the flock as given him directly by Jesus (1^st Peter 5:1-4 and Jn. 21:15-17).

(5) The Word of God as seed: Ist Peter 1:23 and Luke 8:11.

(6) The rejected stone of Psalms 118:22 referring to Jesus (I Peter 2:7 and Matt. 21:42

(7) Not returning evil for evil, but giving s blessing instead. I Peter 5:7 and Matt. 6: 24-33.

(8) God's blessings on those who suffer for righteousness and are reviled for Christ. I Peter 3:14; 4:14; and Matt. 5:44-45; 10-11.

(9) Casting all your care on Him for He cares for you. I Peter 5:7 and Matt. 6: 24-33.

(10) He who humbles himself will be exalted. I Peter 5:5-6 and Lk. 18:14.

5. His Christian Understanding of the Old Testament.

(1.) I Peter 1:1 --”Scattered Aliens”

(2) I Peter 1:1-2 -- “The Chosen of God”

(3) I Peter 1:4 – the “inheritance”

(4) I Peter 1:10-11—the O.T. Prophecies predicted the suffering of Christ and the glory to follow.

(5) I Peter 1:16 - “You shall be holy for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44ff)

(6) I Peter 1:19 - “a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of”

(7) I Peter 1:24-25 –“'the word of the Lord abides forever.”

(8) I Peter 2: 4-6 - “Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone” (Isa. 28:16)

(10) I Peter 2:7 - “ “The stone which the builders rejected became the very corner stone. (Psalms 118:22).

(11) I Peter 2:8 - “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Isa. 8:14).

(12) I Peter 2:9 - “a chosen race” (Deut. 10:15; Isa. 43:20f)

(13) I Peter 2:9 - “a royal priesthood” (Isa.61:6; 66:21).

(14) I Peter 2:9 - “a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6)

(15) I Peter 2:9 - “ a people for God's own possession” (Deut. 7:6)

(16) I Peter 2:10 - “you were once not a people but now you are the people of God. (Hos. 1:10)

(17) I Peter 2:10 - you have not received mercy but now you have received mercy” (Hos.2:23)

(18) I Peter 2:11 - “I urge you as a stranger and aliens” (Lev. 25:23 and Psalms 39:12)

(19) I Peter 2:22 - “who committed no sin, nor way any deceit found in his mouth. ( Isa. 53:9)

(20) I Peter 2:23- “while being reviled he did not revile in turn. (Isa. 53:7)

(21) I Peter 2:24 - “He bore our sins in his body” (Isa. 53:4,11).

(22) I Peter 2:24 - “His wounds you were healed (Isa. 53:5)

(23) I Peter 2:25 - “you were continually straying like sheep (Isa. 53:6).

(24) I Peter 3:5 - “in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God,....submissive to their husbands.

(25) I Peter 3:6 - “Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord” (Gen. 18:12)

(26) I Peter 3:10 - “Let him who loves life and see good days refrain from evil”(Psa. 34:12-13).

(27) I Peter 3:11 - “Let him turn away from evil and do good,

let him seek peace”....(Psalms 34:14)

(28) I Peter 3:12 - “The eyes of the Lord are upon righteousness....(Psa. 34: 15-16).

(29) I Peter 3:14 - “Do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled. (Isa. 8:12)

(30) I Peter 3:20 - “ God's patience in the days of Noah during the ark's construction and the flood.

(31) I Peter 4:17 - “It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God” (Jer. 25:29; Ezek. 9:6).

(32) I Peter 4:18 - “If it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner (Prov. 11:31)

(33) I Peter 5:5 - “God is opposed to the proud but gives life to the humble” (Prov. 3:34).

6. Evidence Against Peter's Authorship Considered.

1. Muratorian fragment – (second century) Does not contain I Peter.

a. The document is torn, fragmentary, and therefore does not offer a basis of certainty that that discredits Peter as author.

b. No one ever denied the Petrine authorship of the book and the rest of history is in favor of the Petrine view.

2. Peter is thought incapable of writing such polished Greek.

a. How does a 20^th century scholar know how well or how poorly Peter spoke Greek or wrote for that matter.

b. That Peter was uneducated does not mean he didn't speak or write excellent Greek. The late brother Norm Gipson was a Greek and Latin scholar and he was self educated.

c. Palestinians of the first century commonly spoke both Greek and Aramaic. Why not Peter?

3. I Peter it is claimed, does not contain sufficient references

to the life and teachings of Jesus.

a. Look above to see the frequent references to the life and teachings of Christ, and there are many.

b. Why should Peter not be allowed to have his own individuality in expressing the will of Jesus according to his own apostolic authority which permitted him to reveal things Jesus had not even taught in His personal ministry (Jn. 16: 12-13)?

4. I Peter is thought to have to much dependence on the letters of Paul.

a. Most of Peter's parallels with Paul are also found in the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus.

b. The Holy Spirit inspired both men with the same basic gospel of Jesus Christ. Parallel thought should be expected in all NT writers.

5. The suffering mentioned in I Peter (1: 6-7; 2:12,19-21; 3:9, 14, 17-18; 4: 1-6; 12-19; 5: 1,8-11) is thought to refer to official Roman persecution of the late 1^st century and early second. Making it to late for Peter's authorship.

a. I Pet. 3:13 shows that the suffering had not reached severe conditions of the later Roman Empire.

b. I Peter 4: 12-19 shows that more severe persecution was not far off and that they must be prepared for it. The killing of Christians by Nero and later Domitian certainly qualify for sufferings mentioned.

I. Biographical Sketch of Peter's Life.

1. Original Name: “Simon Barjona” Matt. 16:17, meaning “ son of Jonah” changed to Peter (Cepheus in Aramaic) meaning a “rock” in Jn. 1:42.

2. Residence: Capernaum (Matt. 8:5, 14).

3. Profession: fisherman (partnership with Andrew, James and John, Lk. 5:2,10).

4. Brother: Andrew. Jn. 1:35-42; Matt. 10: 1-6.

5. Wife: I Cor. 9: 5.

6. Mother-in-law lived with him and his wife. Matt. 8:14-15.

II. Peter as a Disciple of Christ

1. Originally a disciple of John the Baptist, like his brother Andrew (Jn. 1:35-43).

2. Andrew first introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist (Jn. 1:32-40) – then – Andrew introduces Peter to Jesus (Jn. 1:41-42).

3. Witnesses the teaching and miracles and life of Jesus during this Galilean ministry (Lk. 4:31-37) and especially the healing of his own mother-in-law (Lk. 4:38-48).

4. Experiences the miracle of the Great Catch of Fish and senses his own inadequacy and sinfulness (Lk. 5:1).

5. His call to be a fisher of men (Lk 5:10; Matt. 4:19) Thus, the call in Matt. 4:19 was preceded by much evidence which convinced Peter that Jesus was a man of God and that His His invitation was a call from God.

6. The decision to leave and follow Jesus (Matt. 4:20; Lk. 5:11; Mk. 10: 28-30).

7. Peter's special call to come and be an apostle comes later (Lk. 6:12-16).

8. Peter's expression of faith at the feeding of the 5,000. (John 6:68)

9. The Great Confession. Matt. 16:13-16 and Peter's subsequent promise of the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19).

10. His witnessing the Transfiguration. (Matt. 17:1-10 and 2 Peter 1:16-18).

III. Peter The Sinner

1. His recognition of inadequacy (Lk. 5:1-10).

2. His opposition of the cross. (Matt. 16: 21-23)

3. Jesus predicts that Peter the rock will become “sifted Simon” (like wheat) when he will deny his Lord three times (Lk. 22:31-35).

4. Peter's overconfidence that he will never deny his Lord (Matt. 26: 33-35).

5. Peter cuts off the ear of Malcus and is reprimanded by Jesus. (Jn. 18:10-11; Matt. 25: 51-53).

6. Peter enters the courtyard during the trial of Jesus and denies His Lord three times. (Matt. 26: 33, 69-75).

7. Peter's hypocrisy as an apostle in the church at Antioch, separating himself from Gentile Christians when Jews came down from Jerusalem (Gal. 2:11-14), where he is reprimanded by Paul the apostle for his sin).

IV. Peter the Shepherd

1. Peter's return to fishing after the cross. (Jn. 21:3)

2. The second miraculous draught of fishes (Jn. 21: 4-11).

3. “Do you love me more than these?” (Jn. 21:13-15)

4. Peter's threefold confession of love for Jesus (Jn. 21: 15-17).

5. Jesus' three fold charge to Peter to shepherd the church. (Jn 21: 15-17; I Peter 5: 1-4).

V. Peter the Apostle

1. His call to be an apostle. (Lk. 6:12-16).

2. His promise to receive the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16: 18-19) along with the other apostles (Matt. 18:18).

3. His great commission by Jesus (Matt. 28:19-20).

4. His use of the keys of the kingdom on the day of Pentecost to usher in the church (Acts 2:38-41).

5. His healing of the man born lame (Acts 3: 1-11).

6. His temporary imprisonment and warning by the Sanhedrin not to preach Christ (Acts 4).

7. Peter's travels, teaching and miracles throughout Judea and Galilee ( Acts 9:32-43).

8. Peter's vision of unclean animals and his subsequent

sermon to the first Gentile audience (Acts 10-11).

9. Peter's imprisonment and miraculous release (Acts 12: 1-17).

10. Peter's later missionary journey and subsequent letters to the Christians in Asia Minor (1&2 Peter).

VI. Peter The Martyr for Jesus

a. Peter's affirmation of his willingness to die for Jesus (Matt. 16: 23-26).

b. Jesus' prediction of Peter's future martyrdom and Peter's disturbance that John would not face the same fate (Jn. 21: 18-23; 2 Peter 1: 13-15).

c. Historical fulfillment: Eusebius, Ecclesiasitical History, Book II, ch. 25, “thus Nero publicly announcing himself as the chief enemy of God, was led on in his fury to slaughter the apostles. Paul is therefore said to have been beheaded at Rome and Peter to have been crucified under him. And this account is confirmed by the fact, that the names of Peter and Paul still remain in the cemeteries of that city even to this day.”

VII. Milieu (Place where Peter was located when he wrote)

A. Literal Babylon -

1. Words ought to be accepted as literal unless the context or other circumstances demand otherwise.

2. The real Babylon still existed at the period of the writing of Peter's letters. It had a large Jewish population and was around until the 3^rd century A.D.

3. We ought not automatically concede to the Catholics that Peter was in Rome at the end of his life.

B. Symbolical Babylon - (Rome)

1. Babylon is symbolic in the book of Revelation standing for Rome (Rev. 17:1-5, 9, 18).

2. Peter uses figurative language throughout the letter of 1^st Peter and in the very verse where “Babylon” is found we find another

figurative expression: “She” who is in Babylon .....”sends you greetings.” She is most likely figurative rather than literal. Most commentators refer to the “She” as the church. Otherwise, there is no way to identify “she” since there were many Christian women in the city.

3. Peter is at the end of his life when he writes 2 Peter (2 Peter 1:14) and according to the late F.F. Bruce, “That Peter as well as Paul were put to death under Nero is the unanimous testimony of Christian tradition. (Bruce, N.T. History, p. 403).

4. If Peter were in Rome and the Neroian persecution is that which he is preparing the church to face, he would not have wanted authorities to know where he was when he wrote these letters.

VII The Recipients

A. Geographical Location: “those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithinia” (1^st Peter 1:1) - Modern day Turkey.

B. Nationality of Christians: “aliens”

1. “Literal aliens” - Jewish Christians of the Dispersion (Jewish and Christian) .

a. Reasons for:

(1) Eusebius and Origen maintained this view .

(2) Gal. 2: 7-9 indicates that Peter's primary mission was to Jews while Paul's was to Gentiles.

(3) “Dispersion” used to mean “scattered” (See Acts 8: 1-4).

b. Objections to:

(1) Paul went to the Jews first and this did not exclude him from going to the Gentiles.

(2) Peter was severely reprimanded by Paul for excluding the Gentiles (Gal. 2:11- 12).

(3) Surely the Holy Spirit would not inspire his to exclude the Gentiles; just writing to Jewish Christians.

(4) 1^st Peter 2:10 is a quotation of Hos. 1:10 and Hos. 2:23; Paul quotes these passages in Romans 9:25 and interprets them to include specifically the Gentiles; therefore Peter's use of Hosea's language also includes the Gentiles.

(5) The abominable “idolatries” formerly practiced by his readers indicates Gentiles and not Jews.

2. Jewish and Gentile Christians.

(1) The home of all Christians is in heaven (Phil. 3:20); therefore all Christians are “dispersed” and strangers on the earth until we go home.

(2) In fact, Peter was the first apostle to convert a Gentile and did work among the Gentiles as well as the Jews (Acts 10-11).

(3) Figurative language is used throughout Peter. Christians are “stones,” “priest,” “a nation,” and an “inheritance.” They are “sheep,” and a “flock,” so there is nothing strange about Christians be “scattered strangers.”

(4) In view of 1^st Peter 2:10,s quotation of Hosea 1:10 and 2:23, Paul's inspired testimony forces us to accept that the letter was written to both Jews and Gentiles.

VIII. Situation and Purpose

A. Immediate persecution not ordinarily practiced if they do what is right (1^st Peter 3: 13-14); thus severe persecution of Nero and others are still in the future.

B. Severe Persecution however is Predicted.(1^st Peter 4:12-19)

a. Nero will soon burn Rome and condemn Christians casting them to lions, crucifying them and burning them in his garden.

b. Nero beheaded Paul and crucified Peter upside down according to tradition.

c. Domitian later extended the persecution to the larger empire.

e. 10 Romans Emperors after Domitian (see Rev. 17:12-14) continued the state persecution of Christians.

C. Keynote of the Letter is Grace and Suffering.

1. Peter says his theme is “Grace” 1^st Peter 5:12

2. Sufferings also appear throughout the letter (1^st Peter 1:6, 11; 2: 12 and some 24 more times).

3. Thus, Peter wrote to suffering Christians to encourage them to rely on the Grace of God to find strength and peace while suffering.

a. Christians should rejoice in trials because their salvation is assured (1^st Peter 1:5-13).

b. Christians have the privilege of walking in the steps of Christ when they suffer (1^st Peter 2:19-21).

c. Christians are blessed when they suffer for righteousness (1^st Peter 3:14- 17).

d. Christians who s share the sufferings of Christ will also share in His glory (1^st Peter 4:10-13).

e. God perfects, confirms, strengthens and establishes those who suffer for a while. (1^st Peter 5:10-12).

f. Therefore, stand firm and embrace the grace of God (1^st Peter 5:12).

by Lane Rogers