1 Peter 1

Book Introduction - 1 Peter

Read first chapter of 1 Peter

WRITER: The Apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:1)

DATE: Probably A.D. 60. That "Babylon" refers to the former city on the Euphrates, or to Rome, cannot be inferred from 1 Peter 5:13. The text is obscure.

THEME: While Peter undoubtedly has scattered Jewish believers in mind, his Epistles comprehend Gentile believers also (1 Peter 2:10). The present Epistle, written from a church on Gentile ground (1 Peter 5:13), presents all the foundational truths of the Christian faith, with special emphasis on the atonement. The distinctive note of First Peter is preparation for victory over suffering. The last-name word occurs about fifteen times, and is the key-word to the Epistle.

The Epistle is in three parts:

  • Christian suffering and conduct in the light of full salvation, 1:1-2:8
  • The believer's life in view of his sevenfold position, and of the vicarious suffering of Christ, 2:9-4:19
  • Christian service in the light of the coming of the Chief Shepherd, 5:1-14

sins

Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
Elect

Election, Summary: In both Testaments the Hebrew and Greek words are rendered "elect," "election," "choose," "chosen." In all cases they mean, simply, "chosen," or "to choose"; and are used of both human and divine choices.

Election is, therefore:

  • (1) The sovereign act of God in grace whereby certain are chosen from among mankind for Himself. John 15:19.
  • (2) The sovereign act of God whereby certain elect persons are chosen for distinctive service for Him. Luke 6:13; Acts 9:15; 1 Corinthians 1:27,28

might

Suffering, in First Peter, is set in the light of:

salvation

(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").
for the grace

Grace (in salvation). 1 Peter 5:12; Romans 3:24 (See Scofield "John 1:17").
redeemed

(See Scofield "Romans 3:24").
foreordained

The divine order is foreknowledge, election, predestination. That foreknowledge determines the election or choice is clear from 1 Peter 1:2 and predestination is the bringing to pass of the election. "election looks back to foreknowledge; predestination forward to the destiny." But Scripture nowhere declares what it is in the divine foreknowledge which determines the divine election and predestination. The foreknown are elected, and the elect are predestinated, and this election is certain to every believer by the mere fact that he believes 1 Thessalonians 1:4,5

See Predestination (See Scofield "Ephesians 1:5").

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