Peter offers hope to persecuted Christians and guides them with practical instruction on living life consistent with following Jesus.
1 Peter gives persecuted Christians a powerful reminder that they have hope in the midst of their suffering. From the time of Abraham, God's people were a misunderstood minority and should expect to face hostility because they live under King Jesus' rule.
Milestones
Suffering Believers
1 Peter reminds suffering readers that they are God's chosen people, who like Abraham, are exiled. These Old Testament themes are repeated throughout the book.
Poetic Song of Praise
Peter praises God, who caused people to be born again into a new family with a living hope through Jesus' resurrection and the Spirit's power.
A New Family Identity
Old Testament images of Israel are applied to New Testament Gentile Christians, which places their suffering within a brand-new story of redemption and hope.
Suffering As a Witness
Persecution brings clarity to the believer's mission, which is to imitate Jesus and bear witness to God's mercy and upside-down kingdom in the world.
Suffering and Hope
Believers can be grateful they are persecuted for Jesus' sake. They hope that He will one day return and have the ultimate victory over evil.
Apostles are chosen by God, and their persecution is actually a gift because it offers them a chance to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus, which is fueled by hope in His return and victory over evil. Peter is hopeful that their imitation of Jesus and demonstration of His upside-down kingdom, which includes baptism and service, will give power to their words as they bear witness to God's mercy and show people the beautiful truth about Jesus.
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2 Peter
The goal of 2 Peter is to restore confidence and order to the Church. It offers an expansive vision of hope for the whole world and challenges believers to examine their everyday lives.
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