Notes on The First Letter of Peter

Introduction to Peter and His Mission

• Name and Role
  • Originally named Shimon or Simon.
  • Became a follower of Jesus, part of the twelve disciples.
  • Confessed Jesus as the Messiah; renamed Kephas (Aramaic for "rock"), later translated to Greek as Petros or Peter.
  • Promised by Jesus to be a leader among the apostles in the Messianic community in Jerusalem.
• Mission Beyond Israel
  • Spread the message of Jesus beyond Israeli borders.
  • Wrote the letter decades into his mission in the Roman world.

Context of the Letter

• Location: Peter writes from Rome, referring to it as Babylon.
• Authorship: Commissioned by Peter, composed by Silvanus.
• Target Audience: Circular letter for multiple church communities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
• Purpose: To encourage non-Jewish Christians facing persecution from Greek and Roman neighbors.

Themes and Structure of the Letter

• Greeting and Praise
  • Opens with a greeting.
  • Followed by a poetic song of praise, introducing key themes.
• New Family Identity
  • Christians are described as God's chosen people, exiled worldwide.
  • Uses Old Testament imagery to connect these Gentile Christians to the family of Abraham.
  • Emphasizes their new identity and suffering as a witness to Jesus.

Main Body of the Letter

• Living Hope and Suffering
  • Praise for being born again into a living hope through Jesus' resurrection.
  • New family centered around Jesus with hope in a reborn world by God’s love.
  • Suffering as a "strange gift" that purifies faith.
  • Encouragement to see suffering as part of a larger story and mission.
• Submission and Resistance
  • Encourages submission to Roman rule despite oppression.
  • Advocates for non-violent resistance, aligning with Jesus' teachings.
  • Addresses challenges for Christian slaves and wives in non-Christian households.
  • Encouragement to demonstrate freedom through love and generosity.
• Christian Conduct and Witness
  • Importance of treating one another with honor and respect.
  • Imitating Jesus’ love can influence others and bear witness to God’s mercy.

Future Vindication and Exaltation

• Persecution
  • Christians to expect and find joy in persecution, like Jesus.
  • Encouragement to focus on future vindication through Jesus' resurrection power.
• Baptism
  • Symbolizes salvation and transformation.
  • Hope in vindication and exaltation alongside Jesus.

Conclusion of the Letter

• Leadership and Enemy Awareness
  • Call for church leaders to care for persecuted Christians.
  • Reminder of spiritual evil and the need for faithfulness to Jesus.
• Final Greetings and Prayer
  • Sends greetings from Rome (Babylon) and prays for divine strength.

Summary

• Overall Message
  • A powerful reminder of Christian hope in suffering.
  • Encourages living under the rule of Jesus, expecting hostility.
  • Persecution as an opportunity to demonstrate Jesus' love.
• Metaphorical Use of Babylon
  • Rome as the new Babylon, where Christians are exiles.

These notes cover the main points and themes discussed in Peter’s first letter, focusing on suffering, identity, conduct, and hope in Jesus' return.