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Summary of the Book of First Peter
I. Introduction.
A. Letter was written by the apostle Peter (1:1).
B. Letter was written to the Jewish and Gentile believers who are
sojourners dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia (1:1).
1. They were sojourners on earth expecting an enduring home in
a better world (1:1).
2. They were of the elect, having been selected through their
obedience to the plan of salvation (1:2).
a. God knew from the beginning the scheme of salvation
(1:3).
b. They were made separate from sin and the world, and set
apart to the service of God by agency of the Spirit, who
works by the power of the gospel (1:2; Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet.
1:22-23).
c. By their obedience they were emblematically sprinkled
with the blood of Jesus (1:3).
d. Having been selected, separated and sprinkled, they have
multiplied grace and peace (1:3)
II. Inheritance and hope of believers (1:3-25).
A. Praised be Jehovah God who has given us a second birth and a
living hope (1:3).
1. Salvation shows the infinite mercy of God (1:3).
2. Our hope of eternal life is based on the resurrection of Jesus
from the dead (1:3).
B. Our living hope is centered on the incorruptible and enduring
heavenly home (1:4).
1. By the power of God the saved are guarded against Satan
and assured of future salvation in heaven (1:5).
a. God's power to save is the gospel (Rom. 1:16).
b. The gospel gives us control of the devil (Matt. 4:1-11).
2. The anticipation of heaven gives us great joy (1:6-9).
a. The elect are glad because of the promise of heaven, but
also sorrow because of multiplied trials of affliction (1:6).
b. Faith is purified by persecution and affliction (1:7).
c. Indescribable joy is in the hearts of those who believe on
Jesus, though they never saw him (1:8).
d. The reward of faith is heaven (1:9).
C. Old Testament prophets pointed to the salvation that would
come through the suffering of Jesus (1:10-12).
1. The prophets tried to discover more about the promised
salvation (1:10).
a. The prophets studied their writings in an attempt to
understand the time of the sufferings of Jesus and the
glories that should follow his sufferings (1:11).
b. As a result of their study, they learned that much of their
prophecy pointed to a future day and would not be
fulfilled in their time (1:12).
c. Old Testament prophets served the interest of people of
Peter's day and following (1:12).
d. The good things foretold by prophets of old were being
announced to the people of Peter's day (1:12).
e. The announcement was being made by the preaching of
the gospel, which was revealed by the Holy Spirit (1:12).
D. The inheritance and hope of salvation should cause the saved
to live holy lives (1:13-25).
1. The saved should concentrate on the glorious gifts that will
be theirs when Jesus comes again (1:13).
2. Children of God obey their heavenly Father, and do not live
as they did before they knew God (1:14-16).
3. Jehovah is not only a heavenly Father but he is also a
universal judge, therefore revere and obey him (1:17-25).
a. You were purchased from the slave pits of sin, not with
perishing things, like silver and gold (1:18).
b. You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ
(1:19).
c. The sacrifice of Christ, the lamb of God, was foreknown
before the world was founded, but was not revealed until
the days of Jesus and the apostles (1:20).
d. Through Jesus you believe in Jehovah, who raised Jesus
from the dead, so that your faith and hope is in God
(1:21).
e. Your careful obedience to the truth purified your souls
(1:22).
f. You should love fervently and without pretense all who
obey the gospel (1:22).
g. You have been born again by the gospel (1:23).
h. All flesh much die (1:24).
i. God's word never dies, but lives for ever (1:25).
III. Patient Endurance (2:1-25).
A. Submit to God while suffering persecution and affliction (2:1-
12).
1. Put away everything that is evil (wickedness, guile,
hypocrisies, and evil speaking) (2:1).
2. Crave the spiritual milk of God's eternal word so you may
grow into a future, eternal salvation (2:2-10).
a. Your regeneration and joy show that God is good (2:3).
b. You have come to Jesus who was rejected by men, but
chosen of God to be the foundation and chief corner
stone (2:4).
c. On the foundation of Jesus the saved are built into a
spiritual house (2:5).
d. The saved are a holy priesthood (2:5).
e. The saved offer spiritual sacrifices to God (2:5).
f. This was prophesied (2:6).
3. Jesus brings either a blessing or a plague depending on
whether he is accepted or rejected (2:7-8).
4. Exalted position of the saved (2:9-12).
a. An elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for God's possession (2:9).
b. Show the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light (2:9).
c. Nobodies turned into somebodies--from nothing to
notables (2:10).
d. You are on earth for a short time, so deny the lust of the
flesh which is a deadly enemy to the soul (2:11).
e. So live that men may see your good works and glorify
your heavenly Father (2:12).
B. Attitude toward civil government (2:13-17).
1. Obey civil law (2:13).
2. The civil ruler punishes the criminal and protects the
righteous (2:14; Rom. 13:1-7).
3. Be law abiding and stop the mouths of those who claim
Christians are disloyal to government (2:15).
a. Your freedom in Christ must not be used as an excuse to
break civil law, though you are free from sinful laws
(2:16).
b. "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor
the king" (2:17).
C. Household servants must cheerfully obey their masters
regardless of the master's attitude (2:18-25).
1. Christ suffered wrongfully and we should follow his
example of patiently enduring mistreatment (2:19-25)
2. It is acceptable for a servant of God to suffer unjustly
(2:19).
a. There is no honor in being punished for breaking the law
(2:20).
b. God rewards those who suffer for doing right (2:20).
2. Jesus is an example of unjust suffering (2:21-23).
3. Jesus saves us by his unfair suffering (2:24-25).
IV. Christian Character (3:1 to 4:19).
A. Household duties (3:1-7).
1. Obligation of wives (3:1-6).
a. Wives to be in subjection to their husbands (3:1).
b. A dutiful wife may convert her unbelieving husband by
her good example (3:1-2).
c. A meek and quiet spirit is more appealing than external
ornaments and decorations (3:3-4).
d. Godly women in the past were in subjection to their
husbands (3:5).
e. Sarah displayed an attitude of respectful obedience to her
husband Abraham, and you should imitate her (3:6).
2. Obligation of husbands (3:7).
a. Use good judgment in dwelling with your wife (3:7).
b. Honor your wife, treating her as valuable and precious
(3:7).
c. The wife is not as physically strong as the husband and
deserves to be protected (3:7).
d. She, too, has a right to live and be happy (3:7).
e. Do not quarrel and be disagreeable because such bad
conduct will hinder your prayers (3:7).
B. Christian fellowship (3:8-22).
1. Christians are to get along together (3:8-9).
a. They are to be like-minded--if they have the mind of Christ
they will be of the same mind (3:8).
b. They must be compassionate, loving as brethren,
tenderhearted, humbleminded (3:8).
c. They do not "get even" (3:9).
d. Christians return good for evil (3:9).
e. Having received mercy, they are merciful (3:9).
2. Principles that produce long life and good days (3:10-11).
a. Watch your words and do not indulge in gossip (3:10).
b. Refuse evil and do right (3:11).
c. Live at peace with all men, if possible (3:11; Rom. 12:18).
3. God listens to the righteous, but turns away from the wicked
(3:12).
4. Who will harm you if you are eager to do good? (3:13).
5. If you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed (3:14-
17).
a. Set Christ apart in your heart (3:15).
b. Be ready to give an answer to any person who questions
your faith and commitment to Christ (3:15).
c. Never deny your religion (3:16).
d. Show by your life the error of those who speak evil of
you (3:16).
e. It is better to suffer for doing right than it is to suffer for
doing wrong (3:17).
6. Christ shows us the right way (3:18-21).
a. Christ did good, but was hung on a tree (3:18).
b. Christ died for our sins, the righteous dying for the
unrighteous (3:18).
c. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the
spirit (3:18).
d. In the spirit Christ preached to spirits in prison (3:19).
e. Christ preached in the spirit to those who were
disobedient when Noah was alive (3:20).
f. This preaching was done while the ark was in preparation,
and must have been done by Noah as the spirit guided
him--in this way Jesus preached to the disobedient in
Noah's day who were shut up to the condemnation of the
flood (3:20).
g. The flood separated between the wicked world and the
pure world. It was the line of demarcation between sinner
and saint (3:20).
h. After a true likeness of this, baptism now saves us (3:21).
i. Baptism in not washing the outward man, but is the
answer of a right attitude toward God (3:21).
j. The confirmation of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus
(3:21).
k. Jesus is now at the right hand of God controlling the
universe (3:22).
7. Christ suffered in the flesh, but is now risen to suffer and die
no more (4:1).
a. We, too, must cease from sin--from lasciviousness, lusts,
winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable
idolatries (4:2-3).
b. Our former companions think it is odd that we are no
longer willing to run with them to excessive sin. They
consider you to be unsocial and despise you (4:4).
c. They will one day give an accounting to God (4:5).
d. The gospel is preached to those who are dead in sin,
assuring them that when they die in the flesh, they will still
live to God in the spirit (4:6).
8. All earthly things will soon end, therefore be level-headed
and prayerful (4:7-11).
a. Above all else, love one another from the heart (4:8).
b. Love covers a multitude of sins (4:8).
c. Provide for each other without complaint (4:9).
d. Use your talents for the good of the church (4:10).
e. Those who have the ability should preach and teach the
revealed word. Those who can serve should do so with
strength (4:11).
f. The purpose of all we say and do is to bring honor to God
through Jesus (4:11).
C. Trials, persecution, and affliction can serve a useful purpose
(4:12-19).
1. It is not unusual or remarkable that good people must suffer
opposition and fiery trial (4:12).
2. Christ was good, but was beaten and crucified (4:13).
a. If you participate in his suffering you will also share in his
reward (4:13).
b. Men may ridicule and punish you for being a follower of
Christ, but God will honor and reward you (4:14).
c. Let none suffer for criminal behavior (4:15).
d. If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed but give
praise to God (4:16).
3. Now is the time for judgment to begin at the house of God
(4:17).
a. If it begins first with saints, what shall the punishment of
the unsaved who have rejected the gospel be? (4:17)
b. If the righteous is saved with difficulty, what chance does
the ungodly person have? (4:18).
4. If you must suffer and die for Christ, then commit your soul
to God (4:19).
V. Closing Counsel (5:1-14).
A. The duty and authority of elders (5:1-4).
1. Peter instructs elders in the church as one who witnessed the
sufferings of Christ, and who is also a partaker of coming
reward (5:1).
2. Elders are to take the oversight of the church (5:2).
a. They do not supervise the church for pay nor from a sense
of unwanted duty (5:2).
b. Elders must not lord it over the charge given to them by
requiring of others what they are unwilling to do (5:3).
3. When Christ, the chief Shepherd, comes again he will reward
the under-shepherds with a crown of glory that never fades
(5:4).
B. The duty of the younger members of the church and of
everyone (5:5-9).
1. The younger must be in subjection to the elders (5:5).
2. Christians are to serve one another (5:5-6).
a. Christians minister to each other in humility (5:5).
b. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (5:5).
c. Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand and he will
reward you (5:6).
3. Knowing that God cares for you, cast your anxiety on him
(5:7).
4. Be serious, be alert; the devil is seeking to destroy you (5:8).
5. Withstand Satan, knowing your brothers in the world are
courageously suffering (5:9).
C. Closing remarks (5:10-13).
1. The God of all grace will reward you after you have suffered
for a little while (5:10).
2. "To him be the dominion for ever and ever" (5:11).
3. Silas, the faithful brother, delivered the letter from Peter
(5:12).
a. The letter urged and testified that this is the true gospel of
God (5:12).
b. In that gospel they must stand unmoved (5:12).
4. The members of the church in Babylon, elect together with
you, and Mark my son, greet you (5:13).
5. "Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all
that are in Christ" (5:14).
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