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Purpose To encourage believers who were suffering to maintain a life of holiness and thereby bear witness to Christ
Author Peter
Date Early 60s AD
Setting Written toward the end of Peter’s life to believers in northern Asia Minor who were experiencing persecution

Overview Article

First Peter has the single focus of encouraging Christians to exhibit faithfulness under the pressure arising from persecution. The believers to whom Peter wrote were in the midst of such “fiery trials.” The culture in which they lived scorned their faith, criticized their morality, and mocked their hope. Peter calls on readers to respond to this pressure with a renewed commitment to live out the grace of God, both to please God and to bear witness to him.

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Key People, Places, and Terms

People 9

Places 7

Key Terms 107

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Themes

The Day Is Coming 6 Jesus prophesied three future events in the Synoptic Gospels: One event was his own death and resurrection ( Mark 8:31 ; 9:31 ; 10:33–34 ). This had already happened before the Gospels were written. The Holiness of God’s People 6 God called the people of Israel "to be holy" because he freed them from slavery in Egypt (see Leviticus 11:45 ). He also freed humanity through Jesus Christ, who paid the price to release us from slavery to sin and de... God Protects His Servant 5 When God called the prophet Jeremiah as his messenger, he promised to protect him. This protection was spiritual, as the Lord gave Jeremiah inner strength "like a fortified city" ( Jeremiah 1:18 ). God's protection wa... The Household 4 The household was the basic family unit of Greco-Roman society. People believed that if households were stable, the state would also be stable. In these households, everyone had clear roles and responsibilities that w... Empowering Leadership 4 In Acts 6:1–7 , the early Christian community experienced a leadership crisis. The Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews in Jerusalem. They were upset "because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distributio... The New Community 4 The New Testament emphasizes the importance of the Christian community. Cultures that focus on individuals can miss this emphasis. Although God converts and spiritually rebirths Christians as individuals, he does not... Christian Suffering 4 We should not be surprised when we experience suffering ( 1 Peter 4:12 ). Christians who live differently by obeying God should expect the culture to respond with hostility. We should expect mockery, bad treatment, fa... God’s Faithfulness to His People 3 God made a special agreement (called a covenant) with the people of Israel. It included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (see Deuteronomy 28:1–68 ). Many years later, after King Solomon dedicated th...
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Suffering in Following God 3 Sometimes, people urge others to accept Jesus Christ because they promise that he will solve their problems. Yet, Jesus did not promise to solve all problems. He often warned people to think about the cost of followin... Endurance 3 When Jesus was about to suffer and die, he told his followers they would also experience great difficulties (see Matthew 24:9 ). He emphasized the importance of endurance: “The one who perseveres to the end will be sa... The Resurrection of Jesus 3 The Bible clearly describes how Jesus physically rose from the dead through God's power. However, many other explanations have been suggested: Jesus did not actually die. He fainted and later woke up in a cold tomb. S... The Church 3 The church is the community of people who acknowledge Christ as Lord and obey him ( Ephesians 5:21–24 ). The New Testament word for "church" comes from the Greek word ekklēsia (meaning "a group of people who gather to... Overcoming the Devil 2 The New Testament writers believed in the reality of evil and the dangers of the spiritual world. They saw Satan, also known as "the evil one" or "the devil," as a serious threat. The devil blocks the work of God's pe... Passing On Authority and Responsibility to a New Leader 2 The role of a Christian leader is to serve and endure difficulties for those they guide ( Mark 10:35–45 ). For the apostle Paul, good leadership meant setting an example like Jesus Christ. Jesus's death on the cross w... Pure Worship 2 From the start of God's relationship with Israel, he provided ways for their worship of him to be pleasing to him ( Exodus 20–40 ; Leviticus 1–8 ). One of the Lord's main goals for his people is to guarantee they offe... The Servant-Leader 2 A servant-leader is a person who has a strong desire to achieve a goal by helping and serving others. This type of leader desires to take on the role of a servant rather than focusing on their own authority or status.... The Shepherd 2 In ancient Jewish society, shepherds who cared for sheep or goats were important. Shepherding was essential in the ancient Near East. Each morning, the shepherd led the flock out ( John 10:2–4 ). He found grass and wa... Holiness by Relationship 2 Holiness refers to God's transcendent nature and moral purity ( Leviticus 10:3 ). God is completely set apart from everything else. God is pure, perfect, and greater than all. But we are limited creatures who sin. So... Miracles 2 Miracles often happened in the Bible. They were especially common during the time of Moses and the ministries of Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, and his apostles. The Bible does not try to prove miracles. It just reports them.... Persecution 2 Persecution refers to systematic mistreatment, harassment, or oppression of an individual or group because of their identity, beliefs, or practices. In religious contexts specifically, persecution involves the targeti...

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Outline

Use of the Old Testament in 1 Peter

18 quotations from 5 Old Testament books

Total quotations 18
Connected books 5
Most-connected book Isaiah 9

All References

1 Peter OT Passage Compare
1 Peter 1:16 Leviticus 19:2
Compare
OT Text
  • “Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
NT Text
  • Be holy, because I am holy
1 Peter 1:24 Isaiah 40:6–7
Compare
OT Text
  • A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass.
NT Text
  • All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall
1 Peter 1:25 Isaiah 40:8
Compare
OT Text
  • The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
NT Text
  • but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this
1 Peter 2:4 Psalm 118:22–23
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OT Text
  • The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
NT Text
  • stone, rejected
1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
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OT Text
  • So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
NT Text
  • For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame
1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22–23
Compare
OT Text
  • The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
NT Text
  • to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
Compare
OT Text
  • And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
NT Text
  • A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
1 Peter 2:9 Exodus 19:6
Compare
OT Text
  • And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
NT Text
  • But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into
1 Peter 2:9 Isaiah 43:20–21
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OT Text
  • The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people. The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.
NT Text
  • are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into
1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
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OT Text
  • He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
NT Text
  • committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth
1 Peter 2:24 Isaiah 53:4–5
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OT Text
  • Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
NT Text
  • stripes you are healed
1 Peter 3:10 Psalm 34:12–13
Compare
OT Text
  • Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
NT Text
  • Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech
1 Peter 3:11 Psalm 34:14
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OT Text
  • Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
NT Text
  • He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it
1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:15–16
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OT Text
  • The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry. But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
NT Text
  • the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil
1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12–13
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OT Text
  • “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
NT Text
  • Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken
1 Peter 3:15 Isaiah 8:12–13
Compare
OT Text
  • “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
NT Text
  • sanctify Christ as Lord
1 Peter 4:18 Proverbs 11:31
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OT Text
  • If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
NT Text
  • And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner
1 Peter 5:5 Proverbs 3:34
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OT Text
  • He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
NT Text
  • God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble