1 Peter
Open Your Bible
1 Peter 1:3-25, Leviticus 20:7-8, Romans 5:1-11
BY She Reads Truth
This is the last week of This Is the New Testament! Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book or two of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we will finish reading the General Epistles and move on to Apocalyptic Literature.
What Is 1 Peter? The book of 1 Peter was written by Peter, one of Jesus’s disciples, to encourage Christians living in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He calls them to stand firm in their faith, abandoning their idolatrous behavior for righteous living in Christ. First Peter centers around the living hope and new life offered to us in the resurrected Jesus.
How 1 Peter Fits Into the Story: First Peter proclaims that believers have a secure heavenly hope and eternal inheritance. Peter’s message of encouragement in the face of suffering calls us to live lives of love and holiness, glorifying God by imitating Jesus no matter the circumstance.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the “proven character” of our faith described in 1 Peter 1:6–7, and what does it accomplish in Christ?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
47 thoughts on "1 Peter"
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Prayers for Afghanistan
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Hold on to hope!
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Thank you, Tina. I too have ranted and raved repeating scripture at God that said “ask”, you can move mountains”, the “faith as small as a mustard seed” but with no immediate return. I was forgetting Jesus’ words to His Father “But Thy will be done”. I still wonder at the why’s especially as I look at the Middle East and around the world at the in human acts man puts upon man. But God…His will not mine, His time not mine.
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I love that God brings good out of trials. I pray I would remember this truth even when I am going through trials. I want to put my hope in Jesus and his never failing love.
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My inheritance is in heaven and can never fade away. It is secure with Jesus waiting for me. It is hard to try to live holy and be like Jesus and not go along with the world. I keep trying and messing up and he still gives me peace and blessings! ❤️ Oh Traci I got teary eyed when I read your post – praying for Tanner. Love and prayers for all.
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I rarely share comments on the daily readings. I’m usually content to read the devotional and other’s comments and to glean from those without feeling the need to add my own. Today’s reading was different. I was quite dismayed to read the description of 1 Peter as, <> I couldn’t believe that you had gotten it so glaringly wrong! 1 Peter was NOT written to Gentile believers.
First of all, Peter, as the Apostle to the “Circumcision” (Galatians 2:8) wrote both of his letters to the Jews. In fact, so was the book of Hebrews, James, and Jude. That’s not to say that we, the in-grafted wild olive branches, can’t glean rich treasure and nourishing sap from what was written in these letters to the Jews, but to claim they were written to “Gentile Christians” is just wrong.
Peter uses the term “diaspora” in Greek when he says “dispersed”. This is a term that had a specific meaning, as Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum writes, “The term Diaspora is a technical term for Jews who live outside the Land of Israel. To deal with problems of persecution in the Land of Israel, the book of Hebrews was written. To deal with persecution in the Diaspora, the epistles of James and 1 and 2 Peter were written…” (The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Jude by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Th.M., Ph.D)
Peter also uses two other terms that were Hebraisms which his readers would’ve known and recognized. He calls them the “chosen” or “elect” in some translations. This is NOT a Reform theology term referring to all the saved. This is a Jewish term referring to the Jews as God’s chosen people. This term was used countless times in the Old Testament to refer to God’s people, the Jews.
Peter also refers to them as “exiles” living abroad. Peter wrote to the Jewish believers who had been scattered abroad because of the persecution of Stephen. This letter was meant to encourage them because as Jewish believers in Messiah Jesus they were being persecuted by their own brothers. But also, as believers in Messiah Jesus, they didn’t fit into the Roman world either and were persecuted by the Romans in the areas where they had scattered. They were literally a people who were “nationless.” So, not being accepted by the pagans, nor by their own fellow Jews, they were “exiles” in the truest sense.
Again, I am not saying that Gentiles are excluded from benefitting from this nor was Peter intending to exclude them but he was focusing on the Jewish Diaspora in this letter and in his second letter, NOT Gentile Christians.
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Victoria, I pray you have successful ultrasound. Throughout scripture we see God say over and over ” Do not fear.”
He knows we are fearful and frail. Do not be overcome by the evil. Overcome evil by good (faith). I pray he is with you in your situation and will continue to hold you even when you’re scared. Hugs.-
Thank you Irina ! I am so blessed by your prayers.
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Trials of grief bring about praise, honor and glory in Jesus Christ according to what Peter said in his first letter to the gentiles. At times I wonder about this but then when I turn to God and Christ I feel much better. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Sisters be blessed this week.
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