The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to encourage believers who are facing trials and persecution. As we face the storms in our lives, Peter offers comfort and hope. This confident hope gives us the encouragement and enablement we need for daily living.

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2. Where There’s Christ, There’s Hope
1 Peter 1:1; 5:12-14
The book of 1 Peter is one of my favorite books because it is so rich in
application for living a godly life. We are going to examine these five chapters in
1 Peter over a course of eleven weeks.
The apostle Peter wrote this letter to encourage believers who would face trials
and persecution under Emperor Nero.
We will see three themes; suffering, grace, and glory and how they unite to form
an encouraging message for believers experiencing times of trial and
persecution.
The message of 1 Peter applies to us today. As we face those storms in our
lives, the trials and persecution, Peter offers faithful believers comfort and hope.
As Christians we should expect ridicule, rejection, and suffering because of our
faith. If we have not suffered for our Christian beliefs, then we need to question
our Christian walk. If we are truly walking in the light we will suffer persecution.
Persecution makes us stronger because it refines our faith. We can face
persecution victoriously, as Christ did, if we rely on him.
For today's readers, as well as for Peter's original audience, the theme of this
letter is hope.
Before we study what Peter has written, what do we know about Peter?
1 Peter 1:1 says that Peter was an apostle of Jesus Christ:
―Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,‖ (NKJV)
John 1:42 Given name was Simon, he was the son of Jona but Jesus changed it
to the Aramaic name Cephas (kay-fas') which means ―a stone‖ Peter is the Greek
translation of Cephas, so Peter was a man with three names.
Names were very important in those days, names represented their character.
Jesus saw potential in Simon and changed his name to Cephas meaning a stone.
The Greek shows Peter means a portion of a rock. We know Christ is the Rock
our Foundation right. Well Peter is a portion of rock not ―the‖ rock.
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3. Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16, Luke 5:1-11: Fisherman – when you think of a
Fisherman in those days you picture a big burly man, rough exterior. The
fishermen in those days had to work hard. It’s not like the fishermen today that
have motors on their boats and fishing poles, they had to paddle out, throw nets
over the side of the boat and pull it in – so they had to be strong.
Matthew 8:14 : Married – talks about his mother-in-law who was at Peter’s home
sick and Jesus healed her.
Matthew 4:18 brother Andrew fellow Fisherman
So you can see here that Peter was a family man who worked as a fisherman
with his brother and took care of his mother-in-law who was sick. He was just an
ordinary man. Sometimes we put people on pedestals and yet in reality they are
just ordinary people.
john 1:41-42 Brought to the Lord by his brother Andrew – Andrew loved his
brother and wanted him to know the Lord just as we want our family members to
accept Christ.
How many times do we witness to our family? Are we like Andrew who sought
out his brother and brought him to the Lord, or do we not say anything in fear of
persecution?
Andrew also followed Jesus, but you don’t see him in scripture as a leader, he
was more of a follower. But Peter became a great leader.
You never know when you bring someone to the Lord what their ministry will be
or how God will use them. You don’t have to be an evangelist to witness but
maybe someone you witness to will become one.
Acts 4:13 uneducated and untrained
Some say Peter didn’t write the book of 1 Peter because he was uneducated.
But we have to remember, in the Greek uneducated and untrained simply meant
that he was a layman without formal schooling. So this is no argument that Peter
wrote 1 Peter.
Acts 4:13 also says that Peter was Bold
Peter was seen frequently as rash, headstrong, proud, impulsive, unstable, and
often saying the wrong things. But once we get to the book of Acts, we see a
different man. There he is seen as a strong saint with a vibrant testimony for
Christ, a courageous leader of the early church who stood firm and faithful
regardless of the circumstances.
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4. God prepared Peter to minister to the Jews as Paul was to minister to the
Gentiles. (Galatians 2:7-10)
Peter is a great example of how God uses us even when we fail. Peter denied
Christ three times because he feared persecution. He looked straight at Christ
and denied he knew him. This was a very hard trial for Peter, but through this
trial Peter’s faith was strengthened and molded into a mighty servant of God.
When Peter gives a message of Hope in the midst of trials and persecution, he
speaks from experience.
So you can see God uses ordinary people to accomplish His will. Peter was just
a big burly fisherman, a family man and look how God used him in such a mighty
way.
It shows in 1 Peter 5:13 that Peter wrote 1 Peter in Babylon.
Scripture does not tell us which Babylon he is talking about here. There was a
Babylon Euphrates, a Babylon in Egypt and Babylon was also code name for
Rome. They would use code to protect the Jews in Rome.
So we cannot dogmatically say it was any particular place other than what
Scripture says which is "Babylon".
(Jamison-Faucet-brown say Babylon Euphrates without a doubt, other
commentators(POSB, Wolvard, Wiersbe, LAB) say it was Rome "used
code to protect himself and the Jews there )(CBL gives argument for both
Babylon Euphrates and Rome, in CBLGED gives strong opinion being
Rome)
1 Peter 1:1 also shows us who Peter was writing to. Let's look at how he
describes them:
Notice the different translations:
KJV, NIV - Peter called them "strangers" "Scattered throughout"
NKJV - Pilgrims of the Dispersion
ESV - Elect exiles of the dispersion
NASB - aliens scattered throughout
1 Peter 1:1 (KJV) ―Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers
scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,‖
1 Peter 1:1 (NIV) ―To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,‖
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5. 1 Peter 1:1 (NKJV) ―Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of
the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,‖
1 Peter 1:1 (ESV) ―Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are
elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia,‖
1 Peter 1:1 (NASB) ―Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside
as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia, who are chosen‖
Let’s break it down - First we will look at how Peter called them Strangers:
This is the descriptive picture being painted in 1 Peter 1:1. Believers are only
strangers (parepidēmois ) on earth.
The English word "strangers" refers to anyone with whom we are not
acquainted. But the Greek word means far more than that.
It is parepidemois, made up of para, "alongside of," epi, "upon," and demos,
used in Biblical Greek of the people of a heathen city.
The word here describes the recipients of this letter as Christians who have
settled down alongside of the unsaved.
Peter uses the same word in 2:11.
He will not let us forget that we are living among the unsaved who are always
carefully observing us.
The Question here would be "what are they observing in your life?"
"Do they see Christ's love shining through you?"
"If they were to follow your footsteps would they find Christ as the center
of your life?"
When you think of strangers you also think of a person visiting a place for a
while, but he is not a permanent resident.
Believers are citizens of heaven; their home is in heaven with God, not on earth.
It makes me think about the song we used to sing in church: This world is not my
home I’m just a passin through…
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6. Ladies, this is significant!
It means that where we live on this earth doesn’t matter. Whether we have
a huge house or a small one; whether we live on the coast or in the desert. No
matter where we live, it is not our permanent home. Our home is in heaven.
We may suffer great hardship in this life, but the encouraging thing is, is
that it is only for a brief time. Remember this is only temporary.
Philippians 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly
wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," NKJV
We need to keep our eyes and minds focused on the course. Life is short; we
need to make every moment count for eternity rather than focusing on building
earthly treasures that are going to burn up.
You can be in the world but not of the world as John 17:16 says:
John 17:16 "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." NKJV
Secondly Peter said they were Scattered: διασπορά, diaspora
Scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
One commentator said they were sprinkled like salt throughout five of Asia
Minor’s Roman provinces (modern Turkey).
I like the picture there, as Christians we are salt to the world.
The letter was evidently meant to circulate among the churches in this area.
―Scattered‖ (Diasporas) had special meaning to the Jewish Christians in these
churches. The Diaspora referred to Jews who were separated from their
homeland. Peter adapted this word which previously described Israel to
emphasize the condition of the early church.
This word Diaspora is found in the Septuagint (Greek Translation of the Old
Testament) where Moses says of Israel, "Thou shalt be removed into all the
kingdoms of the earth" Deuteronomy 28:25, and is probably the earliest example
of its use as a technical designation of the Jews who for whatever reason lived
outside of Palestine.
The word is used in John 7:35 and James 1:1, in both places referring to those
Jews who were living outside of Palestine.
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7. The important thing for us to know about these "scattered strangers" is that they
were going through a time of suffering and persecution. Peter wrote to
encourage them, to remind them that their suffering would lead to glory.
1 peter 1:6-7; 4:13-14; 5:10
1 Peter 1:6-7 ―In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if
need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness
of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it
is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation
of Jesus Christ,‖ (NKJV)
1 Peter 4:13-14 ―but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's
sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with
exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed
are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He
is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.‖ (NKJV)
1 Peter 5:10 ―But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you.‖ (NKJV)
And this is a reminder to us also.
As believers, we have a "living hope" because we trust a living Christ
1 Peter 1:3 ―Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,‖ (NKJV)
This hope enables us to keep our minds under control and "hope to the end"
when Jesus shall return.
1 Peter 1:13 ―Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest
your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ‖ (NKJV)
We must not be ashamed of our hope but be ready to explain and defend it
1 Peter 3:15 ―But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be
ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope
that is in you, with meekness and fear;‖ (NKJV)
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8. Since suffering brings glory, and because Jesus is coming again, we can indeed
be hopeful!
Peter also emphasized God's grace in this letter. Grace is God's generous favor
to undeserving sinners and needy saints.
The word "grace" is used throughout 1 Peter: 1:2, 10, 13; 3:7; 4:10; 5:5, 10, 12.
(1 Peter 5:12, NIV) "I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying
that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it".
When we depend on God's grace, we can endure suffering and turn trials into
triumphs. It is grace alone that saves us (Eph. 2:8-10).
God's grace can give us strength in times of trial (2 Cor. 12:1-10).
Grace enables us to serve God in spite of difficulties (1 Cor. 15:9-10).
Whatever begins with God's grace will always lead to glory (Ps. 84:11; 1 Peter
5:10).
As we study 1 Peter, we will see how the three themes of suffering, grace, and
glory unite to form an encouraging message for believers experiencing times of
trial and persecution.
1 Peter 5:10 "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you" (NKJV)
This confident hope gives us the encouragement and enablement we need for
daily living. It does not put us in a rocking chair where we complacently await
the return of Jesus Christ. Instead, it puts us in the marketplace, on the
battlefield, where we keep on going when the burdens are heavy and the battles
are hard.—Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament
Every follower of Jesus Christ can live every moment of every day with hope if
they remember three important truths:
1. Life on Earth is Temporary; our home is in heaven.
Peter reminds us over and over again throughout 1 Peter that we are
strangers in this world that this life is not all there is. When you really
concentrate on the fact that this is just temporal - it helps to endure
whatever may come your way in this life.
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9. 2. God uses adversity in this life to strengthen our faith.
Peter reminds us that we will suffer "grief in all kinds of trials" 1 Peter 1:6,
yet we can still have hope because God never wastes a hurt. He uses
them to strengthen to us and that we can in turn help someone else that is
going through same trial.
Peter encourages us to stand firm even through adversity that God would
be glorified through our lives.
3. The end of all things is near.
Ladies we are living in the end days which should make us want to live
every day for Christ making every moment count for eternity.
These truths that Peter reminds us of throughout 1 peter should act as a
powerful source of hope every day of your life.
Like an anchor, our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life (Heb. 6:18-
19)
When we focus on Christ, we can overcome and God will transform suffering
into glory.
Next we will be studying 1 Peter 1:2-12.
Until then,
God bless
To view this study on the book of 1st Peter go to:
http://studyoffirstpeter.blogspot.com/
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