1st and 2nd Peter
Tested by Fire
Jesus names him “Rock” in John 1:40-42.
What does Acts 4:13 teach us about Peter?
What does Matthew 4:18 teach us about Peter?
What does Mark 1:29-31 teach us about Peter?
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
Describe Peter’s personality based on the following passages.
Matthew 14:28-29
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Matthew 16:21-22
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Matthew 26:31-35
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Luke 9:33 (Transfiguration)
33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
John 18:10
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Although Peter could be impulsive and often spoke and acted before he thought, Jesus chose him as part of the inner circle of disciples. Along with James and John, Peter got to be with Jesus when he was transfigured, when he raised Jairus’ daughter, and as he prayed in Gethsemane before his arrest and crucifixion. Peter is listed first in the three lists of the twelve disciples (Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14). Jesus trained Peter to be a leader of the early church and a powerful witness. Remember his bold confession of who Jesus is —“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16). Remember his Pentecost sermon, when thousands came to faith through the message he proclaimed.
Acts 2:36-38
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
John 21:18-19
18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.
Church history and tradition indicate that Peter was martyred (possibly by crucifixion) during Nero’s persecution that began in 64 a.d.
Although Peter died in the 60’s A.D. the Holy Spirit made sure that the message
he inspired Peter to write to the Christians in Asia Minor at that time was
preserved for us today. We have God’s Word through the apostle Peter in 1st
and 2nd
Peter.
Peter’s first epistle is filled with hope and suffering. Because Jesus suffered for us and rose from the dead, we have a living hope of heaven that helps us to endure our own suffering in this world.
A simple outline of 1st Peter follows.
1:1-2 Greeting
1:3-12 Living Hope through Christ’s Resurrection
1:13-2:10 Hope-produced Holiness of Living
2:11-3:12 Hope-produced Submission to One Another
3:13-4:19 Hope in the Midst of Suffering for Christ
5:1-11 Shepherd of the Flock of God
5:12-14 Final Greeting
And now to the letter itself.
Peter starts with a standard greeting of the day—author, recipients, greeting. Peter is clearly the author. His authorship is attested to by the text itself and by many early Christian writers. There was and is no doubt that Peter is the author of 1st Peter.
Peter writes to scattered groups of Christians in Asia Minor.
How does Peter comfort these Christians in the greeting?
How do you know that you are also one of God’s elect, “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”? Read Romans 8:29-30 before answering.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Explain in your own words what each person of our Triune God does for our salvation in these two verses.
Father:
Son:
Holy Spirit:
How is the fact that we are “strangers in the world,” comforting?
What does it mean that we have been chosen “for obedience to Jesus Christ”? See Acts 6:7.
Acts 6:7
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Which of the following statements uses the word “hope” most like Peter uses it in verse 3?
A. I hope I win the Jumbo Jackpot.
B. I hope the sun comes up tomorrow.
C. I hope the water in the pool is wet.
All believers are “shielded by God’s power.” But verse 6 tells us that Christians may have to suffer all kinds of trials. Where is the comfort and shielding in verse 6?
What is the purpose of trials in this life?
According to verse 9, when do we receive the goal of our faith?
How can this fact help us endure hardships?
Verses 10-12 are amazing to me. The prophets who told of the Christ and his suffering searched their own writings to figure out what God was saying through them. Since the prophets read their own writings, how much more should we read them to be strengthened in our faith.
If you have ever wished to be an angel, think about the end of verse 12. Christ showed his great love for people by dying for them. The angels are just observers and messengers in the story of our salvation.
Peter certainly has lots for us Christians to do in verses 13-21. ”Prepare your mind...set your hope...do not conform to the evil desires...be holy in all you do...live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” These are good things to do, but why should we do them? How are we able to do them? Give some examples of the motivation Peter weaves into this section (1:13-21).
Each Sunday we say something like, “I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions…” This is a good confession. But based on this section of 1st Peter, how could you respond to someone who says, “I can’t stop sinning because that is just what I am, a sinner.”
How is life “empty” before becoming a Christian (verse 18)?
How could you use the emptiness of an unbelieving friend’s life to introduce them to the Redeemer?