2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

Many question whether Peter really wrote 2 Peter. He says in 2 Peter 1:A lot of uncertainly about exactly when Peter wrote 2 Peter and when he died. Tradition says that he was crucified upside down in Rome by Nero. Since Nero died in 68 AD, we can assume Peter both wrote 2 Peter and died between 64-67 AD. Are we sure Peter wrote 2 Peter? Many scholars say Peter did not write 2 Peter (even if they think he did write 1 Peter). Here is an article that discusses that debate over who wrote 2 Peter. https://answersingenesis.org/is-the-bible-true/did-peter-write-2-peter/?srsltid=AfmBOoqlolwPdUTr6Zvy1Nb5zI2-Cqhe_32JKTx8HuQ_zLsswW7kjs1j

I won’t summarize the article, but one point is interesting. Some say the grammar and style of 2 Peter is different that 1 Peter, which is true. I thought the article made a valid answer to that: “The differences between 1 Peter and 2 Peter reflect the specific pastoral situations in each. For example, 1 Peter is written to encourage believers who are facing suffering for their faith (1 Peter 1:6, 3:14). On the other hand, 2 Peter is written to warn believers about false teachers (2 Peter 2). In 2 Peter, Peter is at a different stage in his life, although only a few years apart from 1 Peter, as he knows that he is near death and so is leaving a farewell address (2 Peter 1:12–15).” Another issue is: “It is well noted amongst scholars that of all the books in the New Testament, 2 Peter had the most difficult time of being accepted into the canon. One of the reasons for this is that there were other letters that were forgeries (e.g., The Gospel of Peter, The Acts of Peter, The Apocalypse of Peter) around the second century claiming to be written by Peter.” “The early church father and historian of Christianity, Eusebius (AD 263–339), in his compilation on early church history, tells his readers that although 2 Peter was disputed, it was not unknown but recognized by many (Hist. eccl. 3.25). Irenaeus (AD 130–202), bishop of Lyon, seems to have had access to 2 Peter as the wording of 3:8, “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” is very close to what he wrote (Haer. 5.23.2). Other early church fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria (AD 150–215), also appear to accept 2 Peter as Scripture (see Eusebius Hist. eccl. 6.14.1, 3.25.3).” Bottom line, in the 4th century AD our 27 books of the NT were “officially” acknowledged to be the ” NT canon” of inspired scripture. Those who made that decision were not inspired and could have made a mistake, accepting a book that was not inspired or rejecting one that was inspired. But they did reject a few spurious “Peter epistles” like “The Acts of Peter”, and they did accept 2 Peter even though they acknowledged that many doubted Peter as the author. They saw enough evidence that the early church fathers accepted Peter as the author based on comments they made. I would add another argument that Peter wrote 2 Peter. My argument comes from 2 Peter 3 and his prediction of a new heavens and earth. As I will show later in a blog on 2 Peter 3, I think that chapter is predicting 70 AD. If so, the letter was written before that event, i.e. before 70 AD. If it was written before 70 AD, then those living at about the same time as Peter’s death would have known if Peter really wrote it. They would have exposed the letter as spurious if he did not write it. Another good article: https://bible.org/article/2-peter-peter%E2%80%99s “2 Peter was recognized as canonical by the Councils of Hippo and Carthage in the fourth century, and this is the more significant because these Councils rejected the Epistle of Barnabas and 1 Clement, because they were not of apostolic origin. . . . At the Reformation it was regarded as second-class Scripture by Luther, rejected by Erasmus, and regarded with hesitancy by Calvin.” I would claim that 2 Peter is “first class Scripture” b/c of the accurate prediction about 70 AD found in 2 Peter 3. I found this to be a good point in the article: “The struggle over 2 Peter began early in church history. “II Peter was disputed up to the time of Eusebius. It was quoted less and discussed more by the Church Fathers than any other single book of the New Testament.”¹¹ The earliest certain reference to ii Peter is in Origen, whom Eusebius (H.E. vi. 25) refers to as having said that Peter left one acknowledge epistle, and ‘perhaps also a second, for it is disputed… .’ Farther back than Origen it is not easy to trace.¹² Robert Picirilli has shown that 2 Peter is clearly a possible source for several allusions by the early church fathers. If and when the similarities between 2 Peter and the Fathers are a possible twenty-two times, “the level of likelihood ranging from merely possible to highly probable”¹³ is high that 2 Peter is Peter’s. He summarizes the external evidence well, by saying that:

One cannot dogmatically affirm that there are certainly no allusions to 2 Peter in the Apostolic Fathers; the common material is too obviously there… . [The] authenticity of 2 Peter will have to be debated on grounds other than whether the Apostolic Fathers knew it and alluded to it.” The arguments for and against Petrine authorship are many and complicated. But I do think Peter wrote 2 Peter.

2 Peter 1:1 To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: ² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴ Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.”

Notice twice “granted to us“:

1) His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. His divine “power” (dunamis: Power, strength, ability, might, miracle: the word we get dynamite from). Dunamis is often used of the miraculous power of God and of the Holy Spirit. It is often translated “miracle”. God’s miraculous power has granted (dóreomai: To give freely, to bestow) to us everything pertaining to eternal life and godliness (eusebeia: Godliness, piety, devotion). (AI) “In the New Testament, “eusebeia” refers to a reverent and devout attitude towards God, characterized by a life that reflects His holiness and commands. It encompasses both an inner piety and outward conduct that aligns with God’s will. This term is often associated with living a life that is pleasing to God, marked by moral integrity and spiritual devotion.”

2) Through these things (i.e. His own glory and excellence) He has granted to us His precious (timios: Precious, valuable, honorable)and magnificent (megas: Great, large, mighty: from which we get mega) promises so that by them (His promises) you can become partakers (koinónos: Partner, sharer, companion, participant) of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption (phthora: Corruption, decay, destruction) in the world on account of lust. God promised eternal life to us: Titus 1:² in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began ³ and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior” It is by that promise of eternal life that we partake of God’s nature, which I take to mean “immortality”. 1 Timothy 6:15 he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” 1 Corinthians 15:⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Think about that for a moment. We have escaped the sinful corruption of the world (and of us) through lust. We were trapped by our own lusts that separated us from God and made us dead spiritual. Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Usually you “escape” from something really bad, like being held a prisoner in a terrible place. By the grace of God, we escaped that corruption, that decay, that spiritual rottenness and have been given immortality, constantly cleansed by the grace of God through faith in the blood of Jesus. We share (partakers) of God’s immortality. All the bad in this life means nothing in light of this immortality and eternal life. 2 Corinthians 4:¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” I watch my wife’s 94 year old mother, her body failing in so many ways, “wasting away”. It helps to think that inside of her is this immortal body that will pass into eternal life with God, Jesus, her deceased husband of 70 years. I know she is ready and doesn’t even want to hang on to this life.

2 Peter 1:⁵ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, ⁶ and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, ⁷ and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; ¹¹ for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

But you can fall from grace and lose your eternal life (Calvinism says that you can’t fall from grace). Galatians 5:⁴ You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” 2 Peter 2:²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. ²² It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” A saved sinner can also become complacent and revert to his lusts. He can “forget” his purification from sin nd just take that for granted. He can become very worldly minded. He can become “useless and unproductive”, bearing little or no fruit. So to “make certain your eternal life, here are the qualities that you need to practice so that you don’t “stumble” and fall from grace. So you can receive “entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus”. They were “already” in the kingdom, the church, of Jesus. Colossians 1:¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” But there was another “phase” of the kingdom to be delivered in 70 AD (as 1 Peter talked about so much) when the kingdom was officially realized as the kingdom above all worldly kingdoms. Revelation 11:“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Entrance into that phase of the kingdom was still future to the diaspora that Peter was writing to. Notice what Paul told the new converts on his first journey: Acts 14: ²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” We are not waiting to enter that kingdom today. We are in that kingdom, the church, the saved.

This is the famous Christian ladder: This image from Paul Reich: https://www.plumblineministries.org/post/the-progression-of-godliness

Obviously it all starts with “faith” since we are saved by grace through faith. Are these 7 virtures to be added to faith sequential, logical order, each virture building on the previous one. In other words, is “moral excellence” the first things we strive for once we are saved? And then add knowledge” to your “moral excellence”? Is there any priority of virtues here? I don’t think so. “Love” is the last one, and surely love is perhaps the first virtue we should strive for after becoming a Christian. I think the image above gives a brief definition of each virtue that will suffice. I am going to just sit here (and I encourage you the reader to do the same) and think about whether I have these virtues and are they “increasing” (2 Peter 1:⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing) constantly in my Christian walk. Rate yourself from 1 to 10 (10 being the highest) on these virtues in your life. Which ones are you the strongest in? Which ones are you the weakest in? I don’t get drunk or cheat on income tax, but what about my sinful thoughts and desires? I think I have the knowledge of God’s word pretty good, but do I really know God Jesus in a personal, intimate way? Can I control my lustful thoughts, passions, and desires? How “pious” am I, worshipping God constantly, giving him honor and praise? How affectionate am I with other believers, just good old brotherly love “(philadelphia: Brotherly love, love of brothers: Philadephia, the city of brotherly love) with hugs and concern? (AI) “Philadelphia refers to the love and affection shared among believers, akin to the love between siblings. It emphasizes a deep, familial bond that transcends mere friendship, highlighting the unity and mutual care expected within the Christian community. This term is used to describe the ideal relational dynamic among Christians, characterized by kindness, compassion, and support.” Finally, how loving am I? The Greek word for “love” is agape. (AI) “Agapé is a term used in the New Testament to describe a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest form of love, often associated with the love of God for humanity and the love that believers are called to have for one another. Unlike other Greek words for love, such as “eros” (romantic love) or “philia” (brotherly love), agapé is not based on emotions or feelings but is an act of the will, characterized by a commitment to the well-being of others.” Finally, are these virtues “increasing” as the years go by? In some of them, I think I am doing worse than I did when I first became a Christian. I don’t know about you, but I have a lot to work on! I’m thankful we have the grace of God and don’t have to practice these virtues perfectly.

What a challenge from Peter to the diaspora of Jewish Christians! What a challenge to us today! I need to look at the image above every day and think about practicing these virtues. I need to think about my purification from sin and how wonderful it is to be saved and given immortality and eternal life. How many days do I probably get up and go through the day with all its lusts and stresses and never even think about my forgiveness from sin?

2 Peter 1:¹² Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and have been established in the truth which is present with you. ¹³ I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

I have taught lessons through the entire Bible many, many times since I started preaching and teaching the word. I have studied and taught the same books, like Acts, over and over through the years. I also realize that anyone in my classes have studied the same books multiple times with different teachers. I sometimes think, why keep studying the same Bible books over and over? Isn’t once enough? A lot of people feel that way and maybe that’s why the shift from direct Bible study to a study of some book some person wrote about the Bible. That’s ok, but I’m thinking, “why not just let the Holy Spirit Himself speak to us directly through the written word. There will always be a new, fresh perspective on the same passages even though we’ve studied them many times. Also our circumstances, age, season of life, experiences change. The Holy Spirit can take the. same book, like James, and apply it in a current, different way than He would have 5 years earlier.

Then there is the “reminder” factor. Peter is saying, “you already know all this; I’m just reminding you b/c it is very important.” That’s what a “reminder” is. Reminding us of something we already know. I get a phone call from my doctor: this is a reminder that you have an appointment Tuesday. I already knew I had the appointment, but I appreciated the reminder so I would not “forget” to go. Peter had spoken in 2 Peter 1:⁹ For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” Peter is trying to remind them of what it felt like when they first became Christians, when Jesus forgave all their sins, when they arose from the water of baptism to a new life, when they were so excited and happy about their new birth. Some had forgotten that, just as we tend to take that for granted today. Peter wanted to “stir” (diegeiró: To awaken, to stir up, to arouse) them up with this reminder, to call them to action (to go to that doctor appointment). (AI) “The verb διεγείρω is used in the New Testament to describe the action of awakening or stirring someone from sleep or inactivity. It conveys a sense of urgency and thoroughness, often implying a transition from a state of rest or dormancy to one of alertness or action. This term can be used both literally, as in waking someone from physical sleep, and metaphorically, as in stirring someone to spiritual awareness or action.” Peter wants to stir them to be “diligent” about the 7 virtues on the spiritual ladder.

Peter said that he wanted to remind them as long as was alive, but that, when he wrote the letter, his death was imminent. As stated in the 1st article on 2 Peter 1, his death was at the hands of Nero who died in 68 AD. Thus Peter died before that, sometime between 64-67 AD. He said that he would be
diligent” even after death that this 2nd letter would remind them of his warnings in the letter. We must be able to read 2 Peter as if Peter is personally speaking directly to us through the Holy Spirit. My mom wrote some long letters about things before she died. Occasionally I read through those letters again. When I do, I can just see her face, her voice, her expressions as if she was talking directly to me even though she was dead.

1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God. ³ For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of debauchery, and they slander you; ⁵ but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

Peter had just mentioned the suffering of Christ in 3:¹⁸ For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” “Therefore” “arm (hoplizó: To arm, to equip: the word is only used once in the NT) yourselves to suffer just as Christ did.  (AI) “In ancient Greek culture, the concept of arming oneself was closely associated with the life of a soldier. Greek hoplites were heavily armed infantry soldiers, and the term ὅπλον referred to their armor and weapons. The act of ὁπλίζω would have been understood as a crucial step in preparing for warfare, emphasizing readiness and protection.” “The one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased (pauó: To cease, to stop, to restrain) from sin”. That does not mean the Christian will reach a state of never sinning. 1 John 1:⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” It does mean that is you turn from sin that you will suffer. 2 Timothy 3:¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Outsiders will not persecute you if you are still participating in the same sins that they commit. They will persecute you if you condemn and turn from the sins they are living in. So if you do suffer for Jesus, it is a sign that indeed you have turned or ceased from sin. It is a sign that you have chosen “to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.”

Those lusts can be summed up in 1 John 2:¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” I wonder how many church going Christians have not really made this choice. They are still living in their lusts just like the non Christians are. They are no different than outsiders. They don’t suffer persecution or mockery either. Peter says to his readers that they should have already turned from these lusts, and then he names the lusts.

“Indecent behavior” is aselgeia: Licentiousness, debauchery, sensuality, lewdness. (AI) “In the Greco-Roman world, “aselgeia” was often associated with the hedonistic lifestyles prevalent in certain segments of society. The term captures the essence of living without regard for moral or social norms, often in pursuit of personal pleasure. Such behavior was not only common in pagan religious practices but also in the broader cultural context, where indulgence in sensual pleasures was sometimes celebrated.” “Carousing” is kómos: Revelry, carousing, orgy. (AI) “In ancient Greek culture, a “kómos” was a common feature of religious festivals and social gatherings, where participants engaged in revelry and merrymaking. These events were often associated with the worship of Dionysus, the god of wine, and were marked by a lack of restraint and moral boundaries. The New Testament writers, aware of these cultural practices, used the term to caution against the dangers of such excesses and to promote a life of holiness and discipline.” “Drinking parties” is potos: Drinking, banquet, feast. (AI) “ In the Greco-Roman world, banquets and drinking parties were common social events. These gatherings were not only for celebration but also for discussing philosophical ideas, forming political alliances, and enjoying entertainment. However, they could also lead to moral excesses and were sometimes criticized by philosophers and moralists of the time. In Jewish culture, while wine was a common part of meals and celebrations, excessive drinking was generally discouraged.” “Wanton” is athemitos: unlawful, forbidden, improper. (AI) “The term “athemitos” is used to describe actions or behaviors that are considered unlawful or forbidden according to divine or moral law.” “Idolatries” is eidólolatria: Idolatry (a transliteration: the process of converting a word or phrase from one writing system to another while preserving its pronunciation.. ” (AI) “ In the Greco-Roman world, idolatry was a prevalent practice, with numerous gods and goddesses being worshipped through statues and images. Temples dedicated to these deities were common, and religious rituals often involved offerings and sacrifices to idols. For early Christians, rejecting idolatry was a significant aspect of their faith, as it distinguished them from the surrounding pagan culture.”

The pagan Gentiles were “surprised” (xenizó: To entertain, to lodge, to surprise, to astonish) that the Christians were no longer running with them in the same excesses of debauchery. (AI) “The verb “xenizó” primarily means to entertain or to host a stranger or guest. It can also imply being surprised or astonished by something unusual or unexpected. In the New Testament, it often carries the connotation of hospitality, especially in the context of welcoming and caring for fellow believers or strangers.” The connection between entertaining a stranger and being surprised (the two translations of xenizo) is that one is surprised when a stranger comes to your door looking for hospitality. You didn’t expect that person to show up at your door and you are surprised. “running with them” is suntrechó: To run together, to rush together, to come together. (AI) “The verb “suntrechó” is used in the New Testament to describe the action of people coming together quickly, often in a crowd or group, usually with a sense of urgency or excitement. It conveys the idea of converging or assembling rapidly, often in response to an event or situation.” “Debauchery” is asótia: Dissipation, debauchery, profligacy, reckless living. (AI) “ In the Greco-Roman world, “asótia” was often associated with the behavior of those who lived extravagantly and without regard for societal norms or personal responsibility. Such lifestyles were typically marked by excessive drinking, sexual immorality, and wastefulness. The term would have been understood by early Christians as a warning against adopting the hedonistic practices prevalent in the surrounding pagan culture.” The pagan Gentiles will slander (blasphémeó: To blaspheme, to speak evil of, to slander, to revile) you if you do not run with them in their debauchery.

These are some interesting word studies. The sins of the first century Gentiles are very similar to where our culture is today. Sexual immorality, drinking parties, hedonism (the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life), drunkenness. Sinners today are “running together” to have a drinking party at a bar, to “hook up” with someone there for random sex, to find some thrill adventure that makes them laugh and be happy. They work at jobs but live for pleasure, sex, and drinking. I think it will become more and more apparent who the true children of God are in the future. The true Christian will not participate in those things. The sinners will mock them for not participating with them. “Oh, you think you are too good, better than us. You are going to miss out on all the fun.” It will also be harder and harder for the true Christian to abstain from all these sins. Their friends do all these sins and are surprised that you don’t. Psalm 1:Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” 1 Corinthians 15:³³ Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

“But they (the pagan Gentiles) will give account to Jesus who is ready to judge the living and the dead”. We automatically think this refers to some future (in our future) final judgment, but notice 2 Timothy 4:I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to (mello which always means about to happen in the NT)judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign.” 1 Peter 4:¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?This sounds like a judgment of the pagan Gentiles as well as the Jews in 70 AD. But how would AD 70 be a judgment on the Gentiles (as described in Romans 2)? In 70 AD, the Jewish Christians were shown to be the true children of God and not the unbelieving Jews who were killed in the destruction of the temple and city. That event in 70 AD would have also shown the pagan Gentiles that the Jewish diaspora Christians living among them in the empire were the true children of God. It would also show that the Jewish diaspora Christians whom they slandered were really the people of God. It would have exposed their pagan sinful life. The godly lives of the Christians would judge and condemn the sins of the pagan Gentiles and unbelieving Jews. The idea is found in 1 Peter 2:¹² Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.” So 70 AD was not a judgment of the Gentiles and the whole world as most depict it with an end of the world and everyone, dead or alive, standing before Jesus in judgment to be given eternal sentences and punishment. It was simply a time when the true Christian way of life in believers would be shown to be the one true way of God and thus the pagan Gentiles would be judged.

That judgment in 70 AD that was about to happen (2 Timothy 4:1) would be a judgment of “the living and the dead”. Jesus was “ready” to do that judgment. Vs 6 says that the gospel was preached to the dead, so the “dead” in vs 6 must be those spiritually dead, not physically dead. So the “dead” in vs 5 would also have to be the spiritually dead. The pagan Gentiles who would have to give an account for their sins (vs 5) would be the spiritually dead in vs 5 that Jesus was about to judge through the lives of the true believers. Some of those Gentiles who slandered the Christians would see the error of their ways and “glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12), become Christians, and “live spiritually (4:6).

1 Peter 4:⁷ The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. ⁸ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaint. ¹⁰ As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. ¹¹ Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This is such a critical statement: “the end of all things is near (eggizó: To draw near, to approach, to come near)”. The word eggizo is often translated in the NASB as “at hand” (Mark 1:15 the kingdom is at hand) or “approaching” (Luke 19:29 as Jesus approched Bethpage), or “near” (Luke 21:8 the time is near discussing AD 70 and things that were to happen within that generation Luke 21:³² verily I say to you — This generation may not pass away till all may have come to pass). So Peter’s meaning is clear. He is predicting the end of all things to happen soon. The world did not end soon, so he is not predicting that.If he was predicting that, then he is a false prophet b/c the end of the world did not happen soon. What did end soon (about 6 years after writing 1 Peter) was the destruction of Jerusalem and the judgment on the Jews in 70 AD, so this must be what Peter is referring to. He is referring to the end of the Jewish age, the Jewish nation as God’s nation, the end of keeping the Law and animal sacrifices, etc. that happened in 70 AD.

Since that end was near, Peter gives a list of Christian duties: use good judgment, pray, be
fervent (ektenés: Earnest, fervent, constant in love). The Greek adjective ἐκτενής (ektenés) conveys the idea of being earnest, fervent, or constant in action or attitude. It is often used to describe a quality of intense and sustained effort or emotion, particularly in the context of prayer, love, or other spiritual disciplines. The term suggests a stretching or reaching out with purpose and dedication. The word is derived from the Greek verb ἐκτείνω (ekteinō), meaning “to stretch out” or “to extend.” Be hospitable (philoxenos: Hospitable: Derived from two Greek words: φίλος (philos), meaning “loving” or “friend,” and ξένος (xenos), meaning “stranger” or “foreigner.” (AI) “In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures, hospitality was a highly valued virtue. It was often seen as a sacred duty to welcome and care for travelers and strangers, who were vulnerable and dependent on the kindness of others. In the early Christian community, hospitality was especially important as believers traveled to spread the Gospel and needed safe places to stay. The practice of hospitality was also a means of demonstrating the love of Christ to others, both within and outside the faith community.” Use your unique spiritual gift (miraculous or not) to serve others as a good steward of that gift. Gifts can be divided into 2 general ctegories: 1) Speaking (like prophesying, tongues, teaching), and 2) Serving (like healing, mercy, exhortation). All things to the glory of God forever. Which category is your gift: speaking or serving? Or some of both (me).

The theme of 1 Peter is the suffering of the diaspora Jewish Christians. Read the background for this letter in the first article: 1 Peter Suffering (1). There are 4 fairly lengthy section on this suffering and how to endure it: thus 4 articles Suffering 1,2,3,4. But what about the other comments by Paul mixed in with these sections on suffering?

1. 1 Peter 1:¹⁰ As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, ¹¹ seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.” What salvation? He had just told them that after a little while of suffering that they would receive glory and salvation at the revelation of Jesus (His 2nd coming). Therefore they should rejoice even in their suffering. 1:10 comments on that salvation. The prophets in the OT did prophesy of the gracious salvation that the Messiah would bring, of his sufferings and his glorious resurrection. For example, Isaiah 53: But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed. He was oppressed and afflicted,
   Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, But the Lord desiredTo crush Him, causing Him grief if He renders himself as a guilt offering, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. ¹¹ As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, For He will bear their wrongdoings. ¹² Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the plunder with the strong, Because He poured out His life unto death, And was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the wrongdoers.” This Messianic prediction has the suffering, death, resurrection, and glory of the Messiah to come 700 years after Isaiah wrote this. The Dead Sea Scrolls confirms that this was written at least 150 years before Jesus was born. A complete copy of Isaiah, the Great Isaiah Scroll, has Isaiah 53 almost verbatim with our earliest Hebrew copy of Isaiah which was 1000 AD. That showed that the prediction in Isaiah 53 were not put in there “after the fact” and that the book was copied accurately through the centuries since the original. But did Isaiah understand his predictions? No. Did Micah understand his prediction that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)? No. Did David understand his prediction of Jesus’ resurrection in Psalm 16:For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay”? No. No doubt these prophets did “careful searches and inquiries” into what the Holy Spirit had inspired them to write. Maybe they meditated on previous scripture. Maybe they asked the Spirit to explain their predictions to them. But they were never told what the “person or time” in which their predictions would be fulfilled. All that was “revealed to them” was that the fulfillment was not for their time or benefit but for the distant future generations. Peter tells the diaspora that they were able to. understand and benefit from the fulfillment of all the Messianic prophecies via the preaching of the gospel (the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus which by grace through faith they were saved). What a great privilege! Even the angels never understood God’s plan. Would you rather live in Isaiah’s time period? I don’t think so. We live 2,000 years after God’s plan was completely revealed in the NT in the first century AD. We are even more privileged than the first century diaspora. We have all the letters of the NT explaining this gospel salvation. They were looking for glory and immortality to be given them after a “little while” at the 2nd coming in 70 AD. We have that immortality and assurance that we will live eternally after we die.
2. 1 Peter 1:¹³ Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, ¹⁵ but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; ¹⁶ because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” “Therefore” (based on what went before) Peter tells them how they should live so as not to lose that future salvation. So they were expecting to receive this salvation and immortality at the “revelation of Jesus” (His 2nd coming). Paul said that the believers, some of whom would still be alive at the resurrection, would receive immortality at the resurrection at the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD (1 Corinthians 15). That glory was “about to be” revealed to them: 5:1 Elders who [are] among you, I exhort, who [am] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be (mello which always means about to happen) revealed.” In 70 AD God would show to the world who the true sons of God were, i.e. the Jewish Christians and not the unbelieving Jews who were rebelling against Rome and would be killed (a million died) in the siege and destruction of the city and the temple. Paul also spoke of this glory “about to be revealed” in Romans 8:¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory about to be (mello)revealed in us”. As Gentiles Christians living 2,000 years later, it is hard to understand what 70 AD meant to the Jewish Christians who had been persecuted by their Jewish non believers during the transition period from 30-70 AD. It gave them relief from their persecution from the Jews (1 Thessalonians 1) and showed the world that they were the true children of God. But, they would need to be faithful in order to receive that glory and immortality. They would need to not be conformed (suschématizó: To conform, to fashion oneself according to: from which we get a “schematic”: a drawing or plan that shows the details of how something operates or is put together) to their former lusts which could cause them to fall from grace and lose their future salvation.” The goal: Be ye holy (hagios: Holy, sacred, set apart) as He (God) is holy. God makes us “set apart”, cleansed, “sanctified” (“Hagiazō”: is a verb that signifies the act of making something holy or sacred. It’s derived from the Greek word “hagios” (ἁγιος), which means “holy”. It signifies the process of setting something or someone apart for God’s special use or purpose.” But we are not special if we conform ourselves to the lusts of sinners all around us. Instead, Romans 12:1 I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice — living, sanctified, acceptable to God — your intelligent service; ² and be not conformed (suschématizó: To conform, to fashion oneself according to) to this age, but be transformed (metamorphoó: To transform, to change form: the word we get “metamorphosis”: Metamorphosis is a biological process that involves a significant change in an organism’s form, structure, or substance during development. It can occur in many animals, including insects, amphibians, fish, mollusks, and crustaceans) by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God — the good, and acceptable, and perfect.” In other words we go from ugly cocoons to beautiful butterflies. Not by our own good works, but by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. He cleanses us from sin and will keep us clean by the blood of Jesus. So try to keep that new cleansed self as clean from sin as you can. You don’t have to be perfect and sinless, but you should try. The grace of God will take care of the rest. 1 John 1:⁷ and if in the light we may walk, as He is in the light — we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son doth cleanse us from every sin.” From AI: “Helping us to live for God is what the Spirit’s “sanctifying work” is all about. As Peter indicates, our participation in this can be described mainly as obedience. Sanctification is the moment-by-moment process by which we more and more submit our hearts, minds, and bodies to following Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
   Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
   And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Paul quotes from Leviticus “be ye holy for I am holy”. “Be ye holy for I am holy” is a central theme in the Book of Leviticus, specifically found in Leviticus 11:44-45 and 19:2, where God commands the Israelites to be holy, reflecting His own holiness. This signifies a call to live a life dedicated to God, reflecting His purity, righteousness, and separation from the world. The Israelites had just come out of pagan Egypt and God was calling them to be different from the Egyptians and their idolatry and sins. Am I any different from the non Christians around me? Am I still consumed by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life? Would a non Christian look at me and see that I am a special cleansed sinner?

1 Peter 2:¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

²¹ For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps, ²² He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ²³ and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed. ²⁵ For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

This is the 2nd article on the suffering of the diaspora Christians in 1 Peter. Please read the first article for background. This article looks at the 2nd main section in the letter on suffering. Several key points;

1) It starts with servants (slaves) who suffer from harsh masters. (AI) “Estimates suggest that slavery was widespread in the Roman world, with anywhere from 25% to 40% of the population being enslaved. This means a substantial number of early Christians would have been slaves or former slaves, as the early church drew members from all walks of life within the Roman Empire.” Peter tells them be subject to (obey) and respect those harsh masters. God is pleased if such a suffering slave can endure it faithfully. He makes the point that there is no credit (kleos: Glory, Renown, Fame) if you suffer for doing something wrong. I have beloved brother and friend who suffered 25 years in prison for something he did wrong. He used that time to grow into a strong believer, so it all worked out well. But in the early church, believers were tortured, imprisoned, and killed for their faith, not for something wrong they did. If they can suffer with patience, that “finds favor with God’.

2) Christ is our example of “unjust, undeserved suffering”. Why did Jesus have to suffer so much in the scourging and crucifixion? He did have to die for our sins, but couldn’t God have allowed him to die without so much suffering and still accomplish God’s mission of saving sinners from sin? Of course he could have. He could have. just allowed Jesus to be poisoned or smothered by some enemy and die a quick, relatively painless death. He could have allowed a soldier to pierce Jesus through with a sword causing quick death. But God allowed him to undergo terrible suffering before he died. Jesus had seen many crucifixion victims hanging on crosses on the Roman roads, a warning to all about rebellion to the empire. That’s why he was in such agony in the Garden of Gethsemene, sweat as blood (that sounds like a “panic attack” to me). Such suffering from the nails on the cross that he cried out “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me”? He hang for 6 long hours suffering on the cross. Was this really a necessary of God’s plan? It was. Not essential to save us, but to give suffering Christians an example to follow when they suffer unjustly. God knew that Christians would suffer for their faith through much of the 2,000 years of church history and He wanted to give them an example of how to suffer faithfully, not returning insult for insult, etc. Don’t retaliate or seek vengance: just trust God who will repay those who persecute His children. The Roman arenas where Christians were killed, Foxes Book of Martyrs, even torturing and killing Christians by the Catholic church, suffering in Muslim controlled countries or atheistic countries like China. We don’t experience persecution in the U.S. but Jesus’ example of suffering even helps us as we go through various trials that test our faith. How should you respond when insulted or mocked b/c of your faith? When you suffer from a harsh boss? When you suffer from an abusive husband (Peter deals with that later)? Is Jesus giving an example for passive resistence: “a way of opposing the government without using violence especially by refusing to obey laws.” This was what Ghandi did in India as he opposed the oppressive British colonialism rule over India. He was committed to non-violence, but he did led protest Marches like his 240 mile Salt March to protest British policies that took advantage of the Indians. Martin Luther King might be the perfect example of one following Jesus’ example. King was inspired by Ghandi, but more so by Jesus. He was totally committed to non-violence although he did lead non-violent peace marches and boycotts. He never encouraged breaking any civil laws. Jesus stood up to the corrupt leaders of the Jews. He didn’t just ignore the corruption. He never encouraged any opposition to the cruel Roman authorities. He told Peter to pay the temple tax. He did resort to some turning over of the tables in the temple but he never retaliated when he suffered personally. So, Jesus’ suffering was necessary in God’s plan, not to save us but to give suffering Christians an example of how to suffer. As Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

3) After his suffering on the cross, He completed God’s plan of salvation by dying on the cross for our sins. “By his wounds” (the scourging, the crown of thorns) we are healed. This has to mean “spiritual healing”. Jesus can still heal physical sickness but this is not a promise of physical healing to those who become Christian. I know a saved lady who is still in a wheelchair due to spinal bifida even after becoming a Christian. Isaiah predicted Jesus’s non-retaliatory suffering: Peter probably alludes to Isaiah 53:

Isaiah 53:However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore,
And our pains that He carried;
Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted,
Struck down by God, and humiliated.
⁵ But He was pierced for our offenses,
He was crushed for our wrongdoings;
The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.
⁶ All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all
To fall on Him.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

Thus Hebrews 2:10 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect (teleioó: To complete, to perfect, to accomplish, to bring to an end.)through what he suffered.” His sufferings made God’s plan of salvation “complete” b/c it was an important part of the plan.

I Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Peter wrote this letter to the Jewish Christians scattered (diaspora: Dispersion, Scattering) over several countries. That would be the Jewish diaspora: “The term diasporas is only ever applied to ethnic Jews in biblical texts (John 7:35; James 1:1; in the Apocrypha, 2 Maccabees 1:27; Judith 5:19), so if it were taken to mean Gentiles in 1 Peter 1:1, it would have to be a remarkable exception. It certainly wouldn’t be a natural reading of the verse.” (Derek Demars) Some say 1 Peter 2:10 shows that the letter was written to Gentile Christians, but I refer you to my article on 1 Peter 2:10-17 to discuss that verse which I do not think means Peter is writing to Gentile Christians. Also remember that Peter is the “apostles to the Jews” (Galatians 2), so it is more likely that Peter would be writing to the Jewish Christians among the Jewish diaspora than to Gentile Christians scattered. Gentile Christians were never scattered. The Jewish diaspora were the “chosen” remnant of the Jewish believers who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. They were sanctified in the Spirit and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus. John 7:35 NAS: to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks.

Usually we speak of the diaspora as the scattering of the Jews after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, but Wikipedia says this: “A Jewish diaspora existed for several centuries before the fall of the Second Temple in 70 CE. The Jewish diaspora in the second Temple period (516 BCE – 70 CE) was created from various factors, including through the creation of political and war refugees, enslavement, deportation, overpopulation, indebtedness, military employment, and opportunities in business, commerce, and agriculture.^[7] Before the middle of the first century CE, in addition to Judea, Syria and Babylonia, large Jewish communities existed in the Roman provinces of Egypt, Crete and Cyrenaica, and in Rome itself.^[8] In 6 CE the region was organized as the Roman province of Judaea.” All Jews in the diaspora suffered wherever they were scattered, but Peter was writing to Jewish Christians who were scattered before 70 AD for whatever reasons to Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia (Pontus) and Galatia. Peter died in 65 AD, so he wrote I Peter before that.

Much of 1 Peter deals with the suffering and trials that the diaspora faced. So let’s look at the sections that deal with their suffering.

1 Peter 1:³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Several points from this section.

1) Christians have a “living” hope b/c of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Why “living”? B/c our Savior is not still dead like other religioius leaders of world religions, like Mohamed, Buddha, Zoroaster, the Bab, etc. Our Savior still lives to be our HIgh Priest forever. Also the resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof that He is the Son of God and Savior. No other world religion can offer such irrefutable proof of its validity.

2) The diaspora Christians had an imperishable inheritance, a salvation “ready to be revealed in the last time”. This indicates a future salvation of some kind. Vs 9 also:  “⁹ obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” That would be a future salvation of some kind. But weren’t they already saved? Of course they were. So what is this salvation that is still in their future? Is it heaven? Could be. But it could be the same “immortality” that Paul said believers would receive at the resurrection of the dead which he said some of those he was writing to would still be alive to receive (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). That would have to be the resurrection of the dead at 70 AD, predicted by Daniel 12:1-2 to happen at the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD. Paul said in Acts 24:15 that there “is about to be (mello, which always in the NT means “about to happen”) a resurrecton of the righteous and the unrighteous just as the Law and Prophets predicted. This is the “already, not yet” phase of salvation for the transiton Christians (those living between 30AD and 70AD): already saved but not yet received immortality until the resurrection in 70 AD.

3) They could rejoice even in he midst of “distressing” (lupeó: To grieve, to cause sorrow, to distress) suffering and trials, looking forward to that future salvation.

4) A tested, proven (dokimion: Testing, trial, proving) by enduring trials faithfully would result in “praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (i.e. his 2nd coming). Again, that is a reward in their future. While most say this 2nd coming revelation (apokalupsis: Revelation, unveiling, disclosure) of Jesus, full preterism would say that this 2nd coming was at 70 AD. 1 Peter 4:13 calls this 2nd coming a “revelation of his glory”. So what is the “glory” that these diaspora believers would receive at 70 AD if they remained faithful? Romans 8:¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory about to be (mello) revealed in us. ²¹ that also the creation itself shall be set free from the servitude of the corruption to the liberty of the glory of the children of God; ²³ And not only [so], but also we ourselves, having the first-fruit of the Spirit, we also ourselves in ourselves do groan, adoption expecting — the redemption of our body; (Young’s Literal Translation). Notice that this glory to be received by believers was “about to be revealed”. Many try to make this some, still in our future, restoration of the created earth to its Garden of Eden state, but this event is “about to” happen in the lifetime of those Paul is writing to, so it can’t be something in our future. So this must refer to the 2nd coming in 70 AD when God would destroy the temple and send the Romans to kill 1 million evil Jews in Jerusalem who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. When He did that, it would be obvious that the Jewish remnant believers in Jesus were the true children of God, not the unbelieving Jews who still claimed to be the children of Abraham and of God (John 8). The believing Jews would be “glorified” at the 2nd coming in 70 AD. 1 Peter 5:1 Elders who [are] among you, I exhort, who [am] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed (again, mello)a … This glory of 1 Peter 1:7 was “about to be revealed” to them at 70 AD. It would indeed be “glorious” as they would be given immortality and imperishable, spiritual bodies that would live forever even after physical death (1 Corinthians 15).

5) They could rejoice even while “distressed” in their suffering and trials with “joy inexpressible and full of glory” over the prospects of receiving glory and immortality at the 2nd coming of Jesus in 70 AD. Again, we can’t ignore the fact that this is all “about to happen”.

In a way, we can’t relate to these suffering diaspora Christians. The Voice of the Martyrs constantly tells us about believers in foreign countries who are suffering just as the diaspora Christians were. This letter is more applicable to them than us, and they probably love this letter more than we do in the U.S. where we really don’t suffer persecution. While our lack of suffering is a good thing, it probably makes us weaker, materialistic Christians. Even if these verses mean heaven when one dies instead of 70 AD, a suffering Christian can rejoice at the prospect of the glory to be received in heaven in eternal life. Suffering believers long for that release from their suffering. They rejoice in their suffering for Jesus, and they even rejoice when a believer is martyred for his/her faith.That just sounds foreign to believers in the U.S. who don’t really suffer persecution.

But that doesn’t mean that we can’t rejoice over the prospects of eternal life after we die. After 70 AD, all believers receive their immortal, spiritual bodies when they become Christians. That allows them to “live even if they die physically” (John 11:24-26). We might not suffer persecution as the diaspora did, but we still go through a lot of trials or testing of our faith. We have a lot of “1st world” problems to endure. Our faith is constantly tested by the agnostic and atheistic attacks on the Bible, God, and Jesus. We are being mocked for our conservative stands on LGBQT and abortion. Bellevers are “distressed” by things like divorce, death of loved ones especially children, child abuse, infidelity of one’s mate, one’s children addicted to drugs, serious or even fatal illnesses of ourselves or loved ones, mental or physical abuse by one’s mate, poverty for some, the terminal illness especially in old age that brings a lot of physical suffering, etc.. These things might not be some Muslim terrorists killing us, burning our church buildings, and putting us in. prison for our faith, but they are real trials nonetheless. We can rejoice in those. trials, knowing that we will live on after death in eternity in our immortal spiritual bodies.

Here is a neat site with a timeline of Peter’s life: https://totallyhistory.com/biblical-history/simon-peter-the-apostle/ It has the main events and timeline along with the verses which I am not including below. Here is my summary of all the events in Peter’s life.

Peter starts his first letter to the Jewish Christians who were scattered over several countries with the words “Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ”. He was a Galilean fisherman and married. His brother Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, found Peter and told him that he had found the Messiah. Jesus changed his name from Simon to Cephas, which translated means Peter (Gk petros, a stone). Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to. follow him and they do. Jesus heals Peter’s sick mother-in-law. After fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus tells Peter to cast his net into the water and he caught many fish. Peter is part of the inner circle of Peter, James, and John who see Jesus raise a dea d girl. Jesus walks on water to the boat the apostles were in during a storm, and Peter asks to walk on water to Jesus. He does so until he looks at the waves and sinks, but Jesus pulled him up. Peter makes the great confession, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God”. Jesus tells Peter, “Upon this rock (either the apostle Peter or the confession that Peter made) I will build my church. Jesus would give Peter the keys to the kingdom. Peer rebukes Jesus when he tells him that he must suffer, be killed and rasied on the third day. Along with James and John, Peter sees Jesus transformed on the Mt of Transformation (he also sees Moses and Elijah). Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him 3 times but Peter says that he will never deny Jesus. Jesus leaves Peter, James and John to pray for him as he agonizes in the Garden of Gethsemane over his coming death. When Jesus is arrested in the Garden, Perter cuts off the ear of a servant. Peter goes to Pilate’s palace where he denies knowing Jesus 3 times. Mary Magdelene tells the apostles that the tomb of Jesus is empty and Peter and John run to the tomb. Jesus makes a separate appearance to Peter at some point after his resurrection. Jesus appeared to the 11 apostles, including Peter, the Sunday night of his resurrection that morning, and then again to the 12 apsotles, including Thomas, one week later. Jesus appears to Peter and 6 other apostles while fishing on the Sea of Galilee, and gives them a miraculous catch of fish. While eating with them that morning after the catch, Peter tells Jesus that he loves him three times as Jesus tells him to “feed my sheep”. Peter and the 10 apostles (judas is gone) see Jesus ascend into heaven from Galilee. Peter leads in the choosing of a replacement for Judas who had hanged himself (Matthias was chosen). After speaking in tongues (foreign languages) along with the other apostles, Peter preaches the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost, and 3,000 are baptized for the remission of sins. Peter and John heal a man at the temple who had been lame since birth. Peter and John are taken into custody by the Sadducees and warned not to preach Jesus any more. Peter confronts Ananias and Sapphira about their lying about their giving money and they are struck dead. Peter and John go to Samaria to lay their hands on those baptized there by Philip who had not received the Holy Spirit and Simon the Magician is rebuked for trying to buy the power to impart miraculous gifts. Peter heals a paralyzed Aenaes in Lydda and raises Dorcas from the dead in Joppa. Peter is sent by God to Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, in Caesarea. Peter preaches the gospel to him and Cornelius speaks in tongues to show that God will accept Gentiles for salvation and inclusion in the church. Cornelius is baptized. Back in Jerusalem, Peter is confronted by Jewish Christians for associating with Gentiles, but they are appeased when they hear about Cornelius speaking in tongues. Peter is put in prison by Herod who had just executed James the brother of John, but is released by an angel and goes to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. In Antioch of Syria, Paul rebukes Peter because he, influenced by some brethren from James the Lord’s brother in Jerusalem, has quit eating with the Gentile believers. Tradition says that Peter is crucified upside down in Rome by Nero because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus was.

We have so much more information about Peter’s life than any other apostle. Was he more important than the other apostles? Yes. He became the “apostle to the Jews” according to Paul. Galatians 2:⁷ On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised ⁸ (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles).” But was he the first pope, the head of the church? No. The whole claim that Peter was the first pope comes from Jesus telling Peter: Matthew 16:¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” I have read the debates: Is the “rock” Peter himself or the confession that Peter made that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of God”? But even if the rock is Peter, does that mean that he will be the first Pope, the head of the church? No. Ephesians 4:11 gives the leadership offices of the early church: “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers”. Don’t you think that the position of “pope” would be included in that list if such a position was authorized by Jesus. Paul called Peter one of the “pillars of the church” along with James the Lord’s brother and John the apostle. Peter is not singled out as being above James and John. Many other arguments could be made against Peter being the first pope, but that will suffice for now.

So what are the highlights of Peter’s life? Would it be walking on water? Would it be the miraculous catches of fish? Would it be his confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Would it be seeing the resurrected Jesus on several occarions? Would it be preaching the first gospel sermon in Acts 2? Would it be healing the sick and raising the dead? Would it be converting the first Gentile Cornelius?

What would be the “lowlights” of Peter’s life? Would it be sinking as he walked on the water? Would it be rebuking Jesus for saying that he would die and be raised, only to be rebuked by Jesus? Would it be denying Jesus 3 times, the last time with Jesus glancing out at Peter from Pilate’s hall? Would it be his time in jail, especially right after James was killed by Herod. Would it be his confusion about eating the meat in the sheet vision and what that meant relative to the conversion of Cornelius? Would it be the conflict with Paul in the church at Antioch (Galatians 2) over eating with Gentile believers? Would it be his last imprisonment in Rome before he was crucified?

Overall, this man’s life is amazing. He is usually the first one to speak out his opinions, questions, or doubts. He ends up being rebuked by Jesus more than any other apostle. He has the faith to walk on water (none of the other apostles did) but then he sinks. He is the only apostle to make the great confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, but then he denies Jesus 3 times. But instead of committing suicide like Judas, Peter becomes the chief spokesman apostle in the establishment of the first church. God confirms that the Gentiles like Cornelius are accepted in full fellowship with the Jews, and yet he acts hypocritically when men from James in Jerusalem influence him to quit eating with the Gentile Christians in Antioch. He is an “enigma”: “If you call a person an enigma, you mean that they’re hard to figure out—the reasons behind what they say and do are not easily understood.” Peter can be so weak and then he can be so strong. Maybe Jesus summed up Peter in Luke 22:³¹ “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” As soon as Jesus said that, ³³ Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” ³⁴ Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” Peter bragged that he would die for Jesus instead of denying him, and yet within 24 hours later he denied Jesus 3 times just like Jesus predicted. After his 3rd denial: Luke 22:60 And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.” It is amazing that Peter did not commit suicide like Judas did. It is amazing that Peter made a comeback like Jesus prayed for him: “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”” Jesus knew he would brag about not denying Jesus but would fail. The key was how he responded to his failure.

Isn’t that the main lesson we get from Peter. How many times have you failed in your faith journey or let Jesus down? How did you feel? Guilty? Ashamed? But Jesus is always there to love us, forgive us, and use us “if” we will “turn” back to our faith. Yes, Peter failed when he walked on water, but he was the only one with the faith to try. Maybe he learned a valuable lesson from that (it had to be very scary). Would you have even tried to walk on the water? Do you ever venture out in your faith to attempt amazing things for Jesus?