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By: Rich Puckett

As with most of my studies, my comments are in red. The blue is from Matthew Henrys and Believers Study Bible commentary.

1 Peter: The same great doctrines, as in St. Paul's epistles, are here applied to same practical purposes. And this epistle is remarkable for the sweetness, gentleness, and humble love, with which it is written. It gives a short, and yet a very clear summary, both of the consolations and the instructions needful for the encouragement and direction of a Christian in his journey to heaven, raising his thoughts and desires to that happiness, and strengthening him against all opposition in the way, both from corruption within, and temptations and afflictions without.

PETER (Pee' tuhr) Personal name meaning, "Rock." Four names are used in the New Testament to refer to Peter: the Hebrew name Simeon (Acts 15:14); the Greek equivalent Simon (nearly fifty times in the Gospels and Acts); Cephas, most frequently used by Paul (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5; Gal. 1:18; 2:9, 11, 14) and occurring only once outside his writings (John 1:42). Cephas and Peter both mean rock. Simon is often found in combination with Peter, reminding the reader that Simon was the earlier name and that Peter was a name given later by Jesus. The name Peter dominates the New Testament usage.

Family of Peter The Gospels preserve a surprising amount of information about Peter and his family. Simon is the son of Jona or John (Matt. 16:17; John 1:42). He and his brother, Andrew, came from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and were Galilean fishermen (Mark 1:16; Luke 5:2-3; John 21:3), in partnership with the sons of Zebedee, James and John (Luke 5:10). Peter was married (Mark 1:29-31; 1 Cor. 9:5) and maintained a residence in Capernaum (Mark 1:21, 29). Before becoming disciples of Jesus, Peter and Andrew had been influenced by the teaching of John the Baptist (John 1:35-42).

Role of Peter Among the Disciples Peter is credited with being a leader of the twelve disciples whom Jesus called. His name always occurs first in the lists of disciples (Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14; Matt. 10:2). He frequently served as the spokesman for the disciples (compare Mark 8:29) and was usually the one who raised the questions which they all seemed to be asking (Mark 10:28; 11:21; Matt 15:15; 18:21; Luke 12:41). Jesus often singled out Peter for teachings intended for the entire group of disciples (see especially Mark 8:29-33). As a member of the inner circle, Peter was present with Jesus at the raising of the synagogue ruler’s daughter (Mark 5:35-41), at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8), and at the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemene (Mark 14:43-50). As representative disciple, Peter frequently typified the disciple of little faith. His inconsistent behavior (see Matt. 14:27-31) reached a climax with his infamous denial scene (Mark 14:66-72). Peter was, however, rehabilitated in the scene where the resurrected Jesus restored Peter to his position of prominence (John 21:15-19; compare Mark 16:7).

Peter’s Role in the Early Church Despite Peter’s role among the disciples and the promise of his leadership in the early church (see especially Matt. 16:17-19), Peter did not emerge as the leader of either form of primitive Christianity. Though he played an influential role in establishing the Jerusalem church (see the early chapters of Acts), James, the brother of Jesus, assumed the leadership role of the Jewish community. Though Peter was active in the incipient stages of the Gentile mission (see Acts 10-11), Paul became the "apostle to the gentiles."

Peter probably sacrificed his chances to be the leader of either one of these groups because of his commitment to serve as a bridge in the early church, doing more than any other to hold together the diverse strands of primitive Christianity.

The Legacy of Peter Tradition holds that Peter died as a martyr in Rome in the 60s (1 Clem. 5:1-6:1). His legacy, however, lived on long after his death. Both 1 and 2 Peter in the New Testament are traditionally attributed to the apostle Peter. Significant also was the presence of a group of devotees of Peter who produced several writings in the name of the apostle—the Acts of Peter, the Gospel of Peter (and some would include 2 Peter). To a great extent, subsequent generations of the church rely on the confession, witness, and ministry of Peter, the devoted, but fallible follower of Christ.

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1 Peter 1: (v. 1-9) The apostle blesses God for his special benefits through Christ.

(v. 10-12) Salvation by Christ foretold in ancient prophecy.

(v. 13-16) All are exhorted to holy conversation.

(v. 17-25) Such as is suitable to their principles, privileges, and obligations.

The apostle blesses God for his special benefits through Christ

Peter is one of my favorite men in the Bible. I think he is so much like most of us, he was a fishermen worked hard every day and made many of the same kind of mistakes we do. Yet he had such a desire to please God, and when he fell on his face he got back up and was stronger then ever. This is how we should be, we will make mistakes, we will fail, we will do dumb things, but when we do we need to get back up and go forward.

1 Pet 1:1: Verses 1-9. This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country where they live, and are scattered through the nations. These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost; and so to give glory to one God in three Persons, into whose name they had been baptized. Hope, in the world's phrase, refers only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, built upon sand, and the worldling's hopes of heaven are blind and groundless conjectures. But the hope of the sons of the living God is a living hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enlivens and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy and manifold mercy. And this well-grounded hope of salvation, is an active and living principle of obedience in the soul of the believer. The matter of a Christian's joy, is the remembrance of the happiness laid up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is an estate that cannot be spent. Also undefiled; this signifies its purity and perfection. And it fadeth not; is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself. All possessions here are stained with defects and failings; still something is wanting: fair houses have sad cares flying about the gilded and ceiled roofs; soft beds and full tables, are often with sick bodies and uneasy stomachs. All possessions are stained with sin, either in getting or in using them. How ready we are to turn the things we possess into occasions and instruments of sin, and to think there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain and soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up in the highest and best place, in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves them unto glory. Every believer has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it.

God had a plan that all of us that we would love his son and serves him. The plan calls for being set aside holy by the Spirit of God our sins removed by the blood of Jesus and our obedience to accept him as our savour.

The triunity of the Godhead is affirmed throughout the Scriptures. At the baptismal service recorded in Matt. 3:16, 17, the presence of Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, and the presence of the voice of the Father from heaven clearly indicate the existence of three distinct Persons who are of one essence -- God. Historically the church has been compelled to repudiate three different errors repeatedly: (1) tritheism, which avows that there are three "Gods" -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; (2) modalism, which asserts the existence of only one God who manifests Himself in different ways (modes) at different times but never can be two or more different manifestations simultaneously; and (3) subordinationism, which envisions Christ and the Holy Spirit as lesser gods than the Father, representing them as beings created by the Father. Among the advocates of these three heretical positions may be found an almost infinite variety of expression in both ancient and modern eras. Against all three of these views the Scriptures claim: (1) there is but one God (cf. Deut. 6:4), eliminating tritheistic theories; (2) He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- three Persons in one essence from all eternity (cf. John 1:1 and Eph. 1:2-14), refuting modalism; and (3) the three Persons of the Godhead are all fully God (cf. Acts 5:3, 4; Col. 2:9), ruling out subordinationism. The trinitarian formula is clear in this passage relating to salvation. Salvation is the result of the cooperative purpose and activity of God. The Father's foreknowledge, effected by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Thess. 2:13, note on sanctification) and based upon the sprinkling of the blood of Christ (cf. Heb. 9:14, note on the atonement), produces salvation in man.

If you read the Bible for what it says I still cannot figure out how some folks believe that there is no trinity. Here God is said very plainly to be the Father of Jesus. The Spirit is talked of in verse two as a separate initty as well. We see the promise of the resurrection because Jesus was resurrected.

Through the resurrection of Christ, God's people are "begotten" or "born again" and thus share in Christ's undying life. The salvation that is granted is not something that can be attained by human effort, any more than a child can bring about his own natural birth.

(vv. 4,5) The Greek translated "kept by the power of God" employs a military term for "guard." Those who have been begotten to a living hope in Jesus, to an inheritance incorruptible (vv. 3, 4), are guaranteed the benefits of that salvation, not because they are able to keep themselves saved, but because they are guarded by the power of God. This assures believers that they will be preserved until the consummation of salvation in the last time.

You cannot remain holy on your own power it requires the power of God. It requires faith to make it to the end of the race. Today we often used the term to say I'm saved or he is saved. Its a state of being, we know that our sins are forgiven and we have been born again a new creature in Christ when we by faith in him repent and are converted. We know that because Jesus died for us he took our sins when we accept him. We are set free from sin and new life begins as a child, we learn and we grow. But real salvation is the end result of being saved. Until the enmey is destroyed, we always stand in jeopardy of his finding away in. So we are taught to watch and pray and arm ourselves with Gods word and be filled with the Spirit. While we are watching Satan cannot sneak in, when he attacks if we are armed with Gods word we can beat him off, if we stay in prayer God teaches us and helps us stay healthy in him. So long as we walk in the Spirit and the Spirit is within us we cannot sin or go against Gods will. Yet, because we are human, we do not always walk in the Spirit sometimes we chose to ignore Gods warning because we are enticed with something that Satan has dangled in from of us. Are we allowing the flesh to win and get angry or such type of things? We fail to use the word of God because it requires change of life style. Its like this, lets say you and I get into a boat to go across the lake, and half way out I fall out, and you pull me back in you have saved me cause I am not that good of a swimmer to stay afloat.

Then we get a little father out and it begins to rain and the boat is tossed about and again I fall out and again you pull me in, you have saved me. This process is like our lives we start out serving God, get into his boat, then as we start to move toward heaven we fall out, sin, then we call upon him and he forgives us, pulls us back in the boat. Life goes on and we get better at staying in the boat until a storm comes, some desire or circumstance, and over board we go. We have not made it to the shore yet so thus salvation has not fully accrued, the promise of it has, the tools to receive it has, thus we have faith.

You can see the shoreline in the distance but you still have some distance to cover. If you remain faithful in your life and do the things, his word teaches you can be assured of the goal with out fear because you are in the boat. We have a promise of making the shore if we remain in the boat. Satan cannot touch you if you stay in the boat. The Bible says that what separates us from God is our own iniquities.

While we live on earth and are in the earthly flesh we can expect to be tempted. Being tempted is not the sin; its yielding to temptation that is the sin. We over come temptation by the power of the Holy Ghost in us. When we love, someone we do not want to hurt them, because we love God we overcome temptation for to yield to it is to hurt God. Yet is you do err and fall and sin we do have hope for we have Christ on our side.

One of the best things in my life was to hear praise from my parents when I had done something that pleased them when they didn't think I would. We are tried by Satan but oh how great is our joy when we do not listen to him and God says well done my son.

Peter views trials of faith as essentially productive. To illustrate the point, the author refers to the common practice of subjecting gold to such intense heat that the initial form of it is destroyed. When the gold is ready to be remolded, however, the impurities have also perished in the flame. Trials and difficulties may assail the life of a believer, but they also have the ability to identify and banish those impurities which might impair growth and service. This is the first of several passages in the epistle which view suffering as essentially fruitful and necessary.

When we one day die the physical death our real joy is in this promise that if we have lived a life with a right heart with God we shall walk on the shore of his kingdom. The day comes where we get out of the boat and enjoy rest and joy forever.

Salvation by Christ foretold in ancient prophecy

(vv. 10-12) The prophets were interested in determining the time or the kind of age which was to see the fulfillment of the things about which they prophesied. Two different terms, "inquired" and "searched," are used to describe prophetic interest. The latter term emphasizes the intensity of their search to discover the precise temporal relationship between the sufferings of Christ and the glories which should follow after. The source of the revelation given to the prophets is the "Spirit of Christ." That designation supports both the deity and the preexistence of Christ. Though the phrase is intended to be synonymous with "Holy Spirit," the identification of the Holy Spirit as the "Spirit of Christ who was in them" clearly indicates the existence of the Son of God prior to His incarnation in Bethlehem (cf. also 2 Pet. 1:20-21, note).

1 Pet 1:10: Verses 10-12. Jesus Christ was the main subject of the prophets' studies. Their inquiry into the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow, would lead to a view of the whole gospel, the sum whereof is, That Christ Jesus was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. God is pleased to answer our necessities rather than our requests. The doctrine of the prophets, and that of the apostles, exactly agree, as coming from the same Spirit of God. The gospel is the ministration of the Spirit; its success depends upon his operation and blessing. Let us then search diligently those Scriptures which contain the doctrines of salvation.

I wish today that all preachers would preach being filled with the Holy Ghost. To many have learned to be good speakers, read many books, went to some college and now think they are preachers. Real preachers are called by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, taught by the Spirit and Speak by the Spirit while they proclaim the word (Bible). College does not make a preacher, the amount of books or how well he knows church doctrine, its how he walks and talks with God. One of the main reasons today for the church failure to reach souls and make real change in life is that instead of getting men called of God filled with the Spirit they get men who have education and still don't know the Bible. I'm not against education its a good thing to know and read others thoughts and ideals but its more important to be called and taught by God then man.

All are exhorted to holy conversation

(vv. 13-16) The believer's living hope, based on his new birth, should lead to: (1) practical obedience and (2) growth in holiness. Holy living is motivated by a God-fearing faith that does not presume upon the redemption that was purchased at so great a cost (vv. 18, 19).

1 Pet 1:13: Verses 13-16. As the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gathered in their long and loose garments, that they might be ready in their business, so let Christians do by their minds and affections. Be sober, be watchful against all spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate in all behaviour. Be sober-minded in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. A strong and perfect trust in the grace of God, is agreeable with best endeavours in our duty. Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves.

We are children of God and we should act like it, live like it and be good children. Not live as we did before. If you walk like a duck and quack like a duck, you are a duck. If you live like the world and act like the world, you are of the world.

Be holy is to be righteous to be perfect, to be with out sin, to be unspotted from the world, to have a heart right with God. You are to talk like one who loves God and not like the world.

What a shame so many give up their birthright their place in heaven for sin for a season.

Such as is suitable to their principles, privileges, and obligations

The fear is the fear of God's wrath, his anger because of sin. So while we go across the lake in that small boat call up on the Lord and keep a eye out for the storms. Use the tools he has given us to defeat sin.

1 Pet 1:17: Verses 17-25. Holy confidence in God as a Father, and awful fear of him as a Judge, agree together; and to regard God always as a Judge, makes him dear to us as a Father. If believers do evil, God will visit them with corrections. Then, let Christians not doubt God's faithfulness to his promises, nor give way to enslaving dread of his wrath, but let them reverence his holiness. The fearless professor is defenceless, and Satan takes him captive at his will; the desponding professor has no heart to avail himself of his advantages, and is easily brought to surrender. The price paid for man's redemption was the precious blood of Christ. Not only openly wicked, but unprofitable conversation is highly dangerous, though it may plead custom. It is folly to resolve, I will live and die in such a way, because my forefathers did so. God had purposes of special favour toward his people, long before he made manifest such grace unto them. But the clearness of light, the supports of faith, the power of ordinances, are all much greater since Christ came upon earth, than they were before. The comfort is, that being by faith made one with Christ, his present glory is an assurance that where he is we shall be also, John 14:3. The soul must be purified, before it can give up its own desires and indulgences. And the word of God planted in the heart by the Holy Ghost, is a means of spiritual life, stirring up to our duty, working a total change in the dispositions and affections of the soul, till it brings to eternal life. In contrast with the excellence of the renewed spiritual man, as born again, observe the vanity of the natural man. In his life, and in his fall, he is like grass, the flower of grass, which soon withers and dies away. We should hear, and thus receive and love, the holy, living word, and rather hazard all than lose it; and we must banish all other things from the place due to it. We should lodge it in our hearts as our only treasures here, and the certain pledge of the treasure of glory laid up for believers in heaven.

You can not buy salvation, you can not talk your way into heaven or make a deal, and its not based on how much money you gave to the church or some preacher or how many homeless you have fed. It is a soul condition price tag, faith, love, hope, and peace walking, as God would have you walk. To put it very simple you are to be like Christ in your thinking, talking, and actions.

(vv. 18,19) "Conduct" refers to our "manner of life." The term "redeemed" is a word generally used for the purchase of slaves with money. Such corruptible resources, however, did not purchase salvation. The cost of human ransom from the slavery of sin was the honored and precious blood of Christ (cf. Heb. 9:14, note, on the atonement).

By the blood of Jesus the price was paid for you freedom from sin. The plan from the beginning was that you would love Christ and serve him out of a willing heart.

The sign that every man who really walks with God has is love for one another.

Obedience to the truth produces sincere love for God's people (1:22-25) and a desire for spiritual growth (2:1, 2).

(vv. 24,25) Quoting Isa. 40:6-8, Peter stresses the enduring nature of the word of the Lord. Flesh and all other material things are destined for destruction. In none of these can one afford to place his trust. But what God says is permanent, enduring, and trustworthy.