1 Peter chapter 1
1:1 Peter is the Greek form of the Aramaic name Cephas (“Rock”) which was given to Peter at his call to discipleship
by the Lord Himself (cf John 1:42) and is the name by which he is usually designated in the New Testament. The
addressees are described as strangers (Gr parepidemois), sojourners in a strange place, and scattered (Gr.
Diasporas), the dispersion. Throughout Pontus , and so on, is in the area now known as Asia Minor
1:2 Elect ones who are chosen of God to salvation according to the foreknowledge of God the Father:
Foreknowledge is not simple prescience or advance knowledge. It is God’s determination on eternity past o bring
certain ones into a special relationship with Himself. The Spirit sets apart for salvation from destruction those whom
God has foreknown. Sprinkling is an allusion to Exodus 24:1-11 in which the blood was sprinkled on the altar as a
symbol of the people’s obedience and also on the people as a symbol of Jehovah’s acceptance.
1:3-2:10 The Christian’s destiny: Salvation means “deliverance.” Peter’s view of salvation is ultimate salvation, that is,
when the believer will be rescued form this world into the presence of God.
1:3-12 The plan of salvation: Peter does not look at time from a Western perspective. The Hebrews regarded the
present as so fleeting that in their language they have essentially only two tenses; past and future.
1:3-5 The portrayal of salvation looks to the future. The author of salvation is portrayed as the blessed God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The work of salvation (vv. 3-5) is described as to its effect. Hath begotten us again
refers to a new sate of life that begins at salvation. This lively hope has no element of uncertainty, for it is guaranteed
by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The believer’s inheritance is described is incorruptible (Gr. aphtharton),
imperishable or indestructible, and undefiled (i.e., morally untainted). That fadeth not away (Gr. Amaranton) means it
is not subject to the ravages of time. Further it is reserved (Gr. Teteremenen, perfect tense), that is, it has been
preserved in the past and still is in heaven. Kept is a present passive participle- we are secure because we are
continually guarded by God, who never relaxes His vigil. Salvation here refers to final salvation, that is, it has been
preserved in the past and still is in heaven, Kept is a present passive participle – we are secure because we are
continually guarded by God, who never relaxes His vigil. Salvation here refers to final salvation, that is, deliverance
from the presence of sin and into the presence of God.
1:6-9 The problem of salvation looks to the present. Earthly trials constitute a problem of our salvation, but they are
only for a season, or temporary. Manifold temptations means diversified trials. True faith cannot be destroyed though
God is in the process of refining faith through our trials.
1:10,11 The prophecy of salvation looks to the past. This section is most important, for it reveals that salvation was
the object o prophecy and reveals how much the Old Testament prophets knew of Christ. The prophets, that is, the
Old Testament prophets searched diligently: This emphasizes the study involved in their search. They wanted to
know when, the Messiah was coming and what would be the circumstances of His coming. The Spirit of the Christ,
that is, the Holy Spirit (cf Rom 8:9). Which was in them indicates the prophets were indwelt by the Spirit.
1:12 Angels, who are not themselves objects of redemption, desire to look into (lit., “desire to stoop to look into”):
This is the same word used of Peter at the empty tomb of God (cf Luke 24:12).
1:13-25. The products of salvation: hope, holiness, reverence and love.
1:13 The exhortation to set one’s hope involves and inward resolution. Gird up the loins of your m ind : The imagery
is that of personal discipline and outward conduct. Be sober (Gr. Nephonetes): Be free of every sort of mental and
spiritual intoxication. The revelation of Jesus Christ is the Second Advent when Jesus returns to earth to set up His
kingdom.
1:17-20 The exhortation to reverence (or, godly fear): The basis for the exhortation is our relationship to the Father.
The motivation for living our lives in reverence is doctrinal, forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things. The ones who are exhorted to live their lives in reverence (cf v. 17) are the ones who are exhorted
to be holy (cf vv. 14-16). They are redeemed (Gr elutrohete, i.e., “bought back from sin”). Vain (Gr. Mataias):
useless, worthless. The price paid for their redemption was the precious blood, which was essential (1) sacrificially,
as a lamb without blemish and without spot: He was perfect: (2) eternally, who verily was foreordained; it was the
Father’s plan and idea before the foundation of the world, that is, in eternity past; and (3) historically, but was
manifest in thee last times: a reference to Jesus’ incarnation.
1:23 Being born again (lit., “having been born again”) refers to all believers having been regenerated by the Holy
Spirit through the Word of God, which communicates. His offer of salvation to mankind. Thus, our salvation rests,
from the human perspective, upon our willing reception of that offer.
1 Peter chapter 2
2:4-8 Are built up is the main verb in this section. The choice of the word shows that the building is not haphazard,
but is according to an intelligent plan brought to reality by a Master Craftsman, which sets forth the fact of our
integration into the body of Christ (v. 5). The overall design is a spiritual house, which describes the nature of the
body of Christ, that is, a house in which God dwells, The material used to building the house is figuratively presented
as lively (living) stones. Christ is also described as a living stone (lit. “a worked stone” or “a precious stone that is
living”). Disallowed by Israel but acceptable (Gr. eklekton entimon, lit., “elect and precious”) to God.
2:9,10. The priesthood of the believer and his unique relationship to God are described by the terms a chosen
generation….a royal priesthood….a holy nation. Thus, the New Testament church stands in a unique relationship to
God as did Old Testament Israel .
1 Peter Chapter 3
3:1-6. Peter’s teaching on a wife’s submission to her husband is similar to Paul’s in Ephesians 5:22-24. Disobedient
or unsaved husbands are to be won over by the conversation (lit., “behavior”) of the wives. The woman is to
emphasize her inner qualities, not just her outer appearance (v.3). The references to adorning are not prohibitions
against jewelry and dress, so much as they are a caution against merely beautifying the external, while neglecting the
soul.
3:15 An answer (Gr. apologian, “a defense of one’s beliefs”): The Christian faith is to be defended by a reasonable
apologetic with meekness and fear.
3:16. A good conscience refers to a clear conscience, that is, one void of offense.
3:17. In the will of God we are sometimes called on to suffer for well-doing as a testimony to others.
3:18-22. That he might bring us to God means in order that Christ might bring us to, or give us access to, God. Since
Christ has opened up the way to God there is no longer the need of priesthood; rather, each individual believer is
himself a priest. Christ’s descent into Hades took place when he went and preached unto the spirits, which refers to
those lost souls in hell who have rejected God. The immediate mention of Noah would indicate that these spirits be
understood as the souls of those who heard and rejected Noah’s preaching, since they were the largest group of
mankind ever to experience the universal judgment of God at one time. This preaching was the announcement of His
triumph on the Cross, which sealed the fate of these doomed souls.
3:21 Baptism doth also now save us does not mean that water baptism is essential to salvation. Since it cannot wash
away the filth of the flesh, baptism shows the answer of a good conscience toward God. In other words, baptism is a
conscious testimony to one’s faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because it symbolizes our resurrection with Him.
1 Peter Chapter 5
5:1-5. This section introduces the charge to the elders (Gr. presbuterous), a term borrowed from Israel (cf. Ex. 18:
21), to describe the men who ruled in the church (cf. 1 Tim. 3). The term is synonymous with bishop (Gr. episkopos)
and is a term often overlapping for pastor in some forms of Protestant church government. A crown of glory is
promised to faithful pastors. When the chief Shepherd shall appear: The rewards will be realized when Jesus returns
for His church.
5:13. The church that is at Babylon may be a cryptic or symbolic name for Rome (cf. Rev. 17); or Peter may have
actually been in Babylon, which had a large Jewish population. Marcus my son probably refers to John Mark whom
Paul had disqualified (cf. Acts 15:36-41) but whom he later forgave (cf. Tim. 4:11).