First Peter

REFINED BY FIRE: THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2016

The complete study isn't available online but, along with its Bibliography and Endnotes, it can be downloaded as a pdf here.

Refined by Fire:¹ The First Epistle of Peter

• Peter extends his greeting (1:1-2).

I. In view of their privilege

A. Believers must live in hope (1:3-9).
B. Believers must live in holiness (1:10-16).
C. Believers must live in humility (1:17-25).

Application: Does your present lifestyle reflect gratitude for your future lifestyle (1 Pet 1:4)?

II. In view of their pedigree

A. They must minister as a holy priesthood (2:1-8).
B. They must minister as a chosen people (2:9-12).

Application: Do you use the light of God in you to steer peoples’ attention to the One you serve (2 Cor 4:4, 6, 17)?

III. In view of their position

A. Citizens must obey their government (2:13-17).
B. Slaves must obey their masters (2:18-25).
C. Wives must obey their husbands (3:1-6).
D. Husbands must respect their wives (3:7).
E. All must love their brethren (3:8-12).

Application: The character qualities for elders and deacons are similar, but the offices have different duties:

• Deacons are responsible for the physical needs of congregants (Acts 2:2-4).
• Elders are responsible for the spiritual needs of congregants (Acts 20:28a; 1 Tim 5:17a).

IV. In view of their persecution (3:13-4:19)

A. Turn suffering to opportunity (3:13-22).
B. Turn suffering to testimony (4:1-6).
C. Turn suffering to ministry (4:7-11).
D. Turn suffering to expectancy (4:12-19).

Application: You do not determine when you will die, only how you will live (Eccl 8:8a).

V. In view of their position, again (5:1-11)

A. Elders must shepherd the Lord’s people (5:1-4).
B. Congregants must resist the devil’s attacks (5:5-11).

Application: When you experience a serious problem, it may be helpful to realize you are not alone, that others are experiencing similarly difficult times (1 Pet 5:9).

• Peter extends his farewell (5:12-14).

The first epistle of Peter (A.D. 64) is the second New Testament letter a writer addresses specifically to Jews in the diaspora.² The opening introduction is a common feature in most letters of this period, containing the author’s name, his addressee, and a salutation:

1 Pet 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered [diaspora¿] throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.³ 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,⁴ through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.⁵

• Peter extends his greeting (1 Peter 1: 1-2).

Peter addresses his letter to several specific communities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), which may include some of those Paul reached on his missionary journeys to the region.

Peter then explains how his readers should live in response to the great advantage they have in knowing God.

I. In view of their privilege (1 Peter 1:3-25)

A. Believers must live in hope (1 Peter 1:3-9).

1 Pet 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.⁶ 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire⁷—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Peter acknowledges that his readers’ situation, though not without difficulty (“all kinds of trials” v. 6), is more than offset by their relationship with God (“of greater worth than gold” v. 7). Moreover, the current trajectory of their lives will culminate wonderfully with “the salvation of [their] souls” (v. 9). Consequently, however, they must conduct themselves in the present with their future in view.

B. Believers must live in holiness (1 Peter 1:10-16).

As he continues to describe their present state, Peter notes how others (prophets and angels) have anticipated what God would do.

1 Pet 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” [Lev 11:44a]⁸

Peter tells them what they must do to align themselves to what God is doing. They must model their character after the most defining feature of His character. Given the great disparity between God’s character and man’s character, it is incumbent on man to recognize that disparity and to respond accordingly.

C. Believers must live in humility (1 Peter 1:17-25).

Their relationship with God is not as one between equals but as one between the most dissimilar of parties. It is amazing, therefore, that the superior party would act graciously toward the inferior party, but that is the case in this instance.

1 Pet 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.⁹ 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.¹⁰ 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” [Isa 40:6-8] And this is the word that was preached to you.

The believer’s humility comes in grateful response to Jesus’ sacrifice, which Peter describes as having a great price (“the precious blood of Christ” v. 19),¹¹ having a great plan (“before the creation of the world” v. 20),¹² and having a great product (“you have been born again” v. 23).¹³

Application: Confined to this world, believers do not (cannot) appreciate what God has in store for them, what Peter calls “very great and precious promises” (1:4). Nevertheless, even though you fail to grasp the great benefit God has planned, you can still express your gratitude in advance by living in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Does your present lifestyle reflect gratitude for your future lifestyle, for what God has promised you? In other words, how confident are you about what lies ahead? Are you “sure of what [you] hope for and certain of what [you] do not see” (Heb 11:1)?¹⁴ That is how the author of Hebrews defines faith, and God expects you to live accordingly: “My righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him” (Heb 10:38).

Unlike the gentiles, God has great plans for the Jews. They are Abraham’s offspring and, as such, they have a particular role in what God is doing.

II. In view of their pedigree (1 Peter 2:1-11)

A. They must minister as a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:1-8).

Even as the Aaronic priests served as mediators between God and the laity, so the nation of Israel would serve as mediators between God and the nations.¹⁵

1 Pet 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,¹⁶ offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.¹⁷ 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” [Isa 28:16] 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’” [Ps 118:22] 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” [Isa 8:14] They stumble because they disobey the message¹⁸—which is also what they were destined for.

Peter offers several Old Testament citations in support of his contention that Jesus is the messiah, all of which liken Jesus to a rock.¹⁹ The apostle then describes Israel’s second responsibility as descendants of Abraham. ....

The complete study isn't available online but "Refined by Fire: The First Epistle of Peter" along with its Bibliography and Endnotes, can be downloaded as a pdf here.