The author is Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:1a). The first letter is written to Christians who lived in the western parts of present-day Turkey (1 Pet 1:1b).
Peter wrote this first letter to people who were suffering and being persecuted
(1 Pet 1:6). He therefore begins this first letter to describe the blessings they have
in Christ. He wants to give encouragement and hope in their situation. In his second letter he warns against false teachers and calls for fidelity in the end times.
God the Father has given us birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (1 Pet 1:3). We are given a new birth to a living hope and have become born again Christians. It's given to those who come to Jesus Christ,
receive what he did on the cross, confess their sins, and turn away from their sins, see Salvation. It's available to everyone.
Jesus is the one who came up with the term born again (John 3:3–8), see
Jesus and Nicodemus. How then do I know that I am truly born again?
- We have the promise that everyone who receives him, who believes in his name, gives Jesus the right to become a child of God (John 1:12). We are born of God (John 1:13). We become spiritually connected to God
(1 Cor 6:17). The disciples were born again when they received the
Holy Spirit after Jesus' resurrection from the dead (John 20:22). - When I receive Jesus as my Savior, it means that Jesus took my punishment when he physically died on the cross (1 Pet 3:18), and that the Holy Spirit comes to indwell me. It's a spiritual process, and it doesn't necessarily involve emotions. As Jesus said: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit"
(John 3:8). The Holy Spirit reveals Christ in my life and strengthens me to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. In reality it's by faith, I believe I'm God's child. - The Spirit of God testifies with our human spirit that we are children of God (Rom 8:14–17), see Body, Soul, and Spirit in
The Danger with Gnosticism. - We need to regularly come back to God's Word and choose to believe it (Rom 10:17). Because the natural man will always try to come back with natural explanations. I need to put my faith in God's Word, in what the Bible teaches.
In these promises we can rejoice, even when we are distressed by various trials
(1 Pet 1:6–9, 4:16, Acts 5:40–41). Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (1 Pet 4:14, Mat 5:10–12). It may be God's will that we must go through suffering (1 Pet 4:19). We should endure all hardships as discipline, see the first part of The Book of James. A purpose of our sufferings is also to test the authenticity of our faith (1 Pet 1:7, 4:12, Mark 4:16–17), see
The Parable of the Sower. The sufferings of the present time aren't worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us (1 Pet 4:13, Rom 8:18, 2 Cor 4:16–18).
There will be a new heaven and a new Earth (Rev 21:1), see A New Heaven and a New Earth. Death will be no more, and there will be no more mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have then passed away (Rev 21:4).
There will be a new heaven and a new Earth (Rev 21:1), see A New Heaven and a New Earth. Death will be no more, and there will be no more mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have then passed away (Rev 21:4).
As obedient children of God, we should strive to be holy in all our conduct
(1 Pet 1:14–16), see Sanctification. We need to conduct ourselves with reverent fear of God during the time we have on Earth (1 Pet 1:17, Mat 10:28), see
To Fear the Lord in Fear of Man. As Christians, we need to love one another deeply from our hearts (1 Pet 1:18–19, 22, 4:8–9, Proverbs 10:12, 1 Cor 13). We should have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind
(1 Pet 3:8). We should get rid of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind (1 Pet 2:1, Rom 6:6, 11–14), see the following definitions:
To Fear the Lord in Fear of Man. As Christians, we need to love one another deeply from our hearts (1 Pet 1:18–19, 22, 4:8–9, Proverbs 10:12, 1 Cor 13). We should have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind
(1 Pet 3:8). We should get rid of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind (1 Pet 2:1, Rom 6:6, 11–14), see the following definitions:
- Malice: The intent and determination to do evil to someone.
- Deceit: The act of deceiving someone by being intentionally deceptive.
- Hypocrisy: Claiming to be moral against specific sins that one secretly commits.
- Envy: A resentful longing for another's possessions, gifts, or qualities.
- Slander: Making a falsely uttered statement with intent to damage a person's reputation.
We shouldn't repay evil for evil or or insult for insult, on the contrary we should bless (1 Pet 3:9), see Love and not revenge in The Sermon on the Mount.
We should pray that those who persecute us will be blessed. We should dress in humility towards one another (1 Pet 5:5, Mat 11:28–30).
We should pray that those who persecute us will be blessed. We should dress in humility towards one another (1 Pet 5:5, Mat 11:28–30).
Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation of Christians
(1 Pet 2:6, Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22, Zec 10:4, Mat 21:42, Mark 12:10,
Luk 20:17, Acts 4:11, Eph 2:20). The foundation is founded on Jesus Christ. All true Christian churches must be built on faith in Jesus and what he did on the cross, see Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
(1 Pet 2:6, Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22, Zec 10:4, Mat 21:42, Mark 12:10,
Luk 20:17, Acts 4:11, Eph 2:20). The foundation is founded on Jesus Christ. All true Christian churches must be built on faith in Jesus and what he did on the cross, see Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
We as Christians are called to be a holy priesthood (1 Pet 2:5, 9). As Christians,
we should abstain from the passions of the flesh (1 Pet 2:11, Eph 4:17–19).
We shouldn't compromise with God's Word and with God's values (1 John 2:15–17).
We should wait for God's timing.
we should abstain from the passions of the flesh (1 Pet 2:11, Eph 4:17–19).
We shouldn't compromise with God's Word and with God's values (1 John 2:15–17).
We should wait for God's timing.
It's a gracious thing when you are aware of God, you endure sorrows while you suffer unjustly (1 Pet 2:19–21). We are blessed when others revile and persecute us because of our faith in Jesus (Mat 5:11–12, 10:22, 24:9). However, it's not a blessing if we suffer because we break the law or disobey authorities
(when it's not against the will of God) (1 Pet 2:13–15, 20a, Rom 13:1–7), see
This World is Not Our Home in The Book of Romans. It's not a blessing to suffer for being disrespectful (1 Pet 2:17–18). In this, Jesus is an example for us to follow (1 Pet 2:21–23).
(when it's not against the will of God) (1 Pet 2:13–15, 20a, Rom 13:1–7), see
This World is Not Our Home in The Book of Romans. It's not a blessing to suffer for being disrespectful (1 Pet 2:17–18). In this, Jesus is an example for us to follow (1 Pet 2:21–23).
The main reason Jesus came was to die for our sins (1 Pet 2:24). Jesus became cursed for us when he took our sin on the cross (Gal 3:13, Deu (5 Mos) 21:22–23).
By his wounds we are healed (1 Pet 2:24b, Isaiah 53:5b). Note that the word healed in this context doesn't refer to physical healing. There are many false teachings about healing and about these verses. See this explained further in chapter False Teaching on Healing in Word of Faith Movement in the U.S.
In this context it's about spiritual healing. It's about Salvation.
Christ's sacrifice heals our sinful condition and satisfies the penalty for our sin. Spiritual gifts also exist in our time, we can pray for healing and people are healed. But Christ's sacrifice doesn't mean that all true believers are promised physical healing in this life.
In this context it's about spiritual healing. It's about Salvation.
Christ's sacrifice heals our sinful condition and satisfies the penalty for our sin. Spiritual gifts also exist in our time, we can pray for healing and people are healed. But Christ's sacrifice doesn't mean that all true believers are promised physical healing in this life.
There is beauty that is external and beauty that is internal. We shouldn't focus on external beauty but on God. A woman's beauty shouldn't derive from the outside
but from the inside (1 Pet 3:3–4). The use of jewelry or fine clothing shouldn't be excessive (1 Tim 2:9). We must not focus on such things,
see How should a woman dress? in The Woman's Place in the Congregation.
but from the inside (1 Pet 3:3–4). The use of jewelry or fine clothing shouldn't be excessive (1 Tim 2:9). We must not focus on such things,
see How should a woman dress? in The Woman's Place in the Congregation.
A leader in a congregation should oversee and shepherd the flock of God that's among him (it's not the flock of a leader, it's the flock of God), not under compulsion, nor for shameful gain, not being greedy or focused on money, but serve eagerly and willingly (1 Pet 5:1–2). Don't be domineering or controlling,
see the end part in The Book of John, but be an example to the flock (1 Pet 5:3).
To summarize:
see the end part in The Book of John, but be an example to the flock (1 Pet 5:3).
To summarize:
- Not serving under compulsion.
- Not greedy or focused on money.
- Not domineering or controlling.
- Be an example to the flock.
When choosing a leader in a congregation, it's about recognizing a person
called by God to be a leader in that congregation.
called by God to be a leader in that congregation.
God's divine power has given us everything we need, both for life and for a godly life through our experiential knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Pet 1:3). But we shouldn't base our faith on experience alone, but on God's promises in Scripture. That's why we should do everything to supplement our faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with steadfastness, steadfastness with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love (2 Pet 1:5–7).
People will gather around false teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, and who will secretly bring in destructive heresies (2 Pet 2:1–2). Many of them will deny central Christian doctrines. They use the words of the Bible but give them false interpretations. They teach doctrines that make people feel good. Greed is one of their major motives (2 Pet 2:3). They are wolves in sheep's clothing (Mat 7:15–20). They follow the way of Balaam, who loved the gain of unrighteousness (2 Pet 2:15), see Balaam and Balak. We shouldn't be deceived by these false teachers, see
Beware of false prophets in The Sermon on the Mount. It would have been better never to have known the way of righteousness if one turned away from Jesus after believing in him (2 Pet 2:20–21). God judges sin in one way or another
(2 Pet 2:4–6).
Beware of false prophets in The Sermon on the Mount. It would have been better never to have known the way of righteousness if one turned away from Jesus after believing in him (2 Pet 2:20–21). God judges sin in one way or another
(2 Pet 2:4–6).
The present heaven and Earth are preserved for fire and are preserved until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly (2 Pet 3:7, 10–12, Isaiah 66:15–16,
Mal 4:1), see A New Heaven and a New Earth. The Lord isn't slow to fulfill his promise but is patient with us and doesn't wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9), see Salvation.
Mal 4:1), see A New Heaven and a New Earth. The Lord isn't slow to fulfill his promise but is patient with us and doesn't wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9), see Salvation.
See also The New Testament of the Bible.
