Epistles of Peter - My Notes

These are notes for an online class I offered at St. Luke's Episcopal Church during the pandemic while we are all in quarantine.  You can find the recordings at https://vimeo.com/showcase/7229704.

Epistles of Peter - Session 1

The 1^st Letter of Peter

 

• 5 – 6 sessions on 1^st and 2^nd Peter and the Book of Jude
• you can decide when to watch and study
• Bible – NRSV
• Parallel New Testament – Bible Gateway online
• Interpretation Commentary – Pheme Perkins
• The Early Christian Letters for Everyone – NT Wright

• In the years following the resurrection of Christ – a new age had begun
• A movement spread throughout the known world – Christianity
• a charismatic group of young apostles
• a growing number of converts
• all cultures and socio-economic classes
• a message meant for everyone

• Letters were written and stories told of Jesus the Christ and widely circulated
• Some of these letters were directed to Christian communities in specific cities 
• Others were general and intended for all believers

• These are the catholic Epistles
• 1 & 2 Peter
• James
• Jude
• 1, 2, and 3 John
• Practical advice for the Christian life 

• 1 Peter is one of these
• 5 Chapters – 5 plus pages in my Bible
• Long thought to have been dictated by the Apostle in Rome
• Peter martyred by Nero in Rome between 64 AD and 68 AD
• Followers writing in Peter’s name would have been common
• Not plagiarism – rather recording Peter’s preaching and teaching
• Number of extra-cannonical books attributed to Petrine Community
• 1, 2, and 3 John the same way

• Some Pauline influences
• May have been a combining 2 new theologies.
• Paul in Rome at same time
• Martyred as well by Nero between 64 and 68 AD

• Most important – this is Scripture – inspired by God
• About God who is revealed in Jesus Christ
• What does it have to say to us.

• Our purpose is not historical but theological and so I will refer to Peter as our author throughout our sessions. 

• Focusing on new Gentile Christians in Asia Minor

• Exiles – and so considered foreigners and not citizens.  Peter addresses his letter in vs 1 to exiles of the Dispersion in identified regions of Asia Minor.  Rural areas and small towns.
• Slaves – taken to Rome and then sold to traders and farmers in Asia Minor
• Workers
• Persecuted – Christians are a tiny minority of the population.  No apparent discord with only slightly larger Jewish community. 

• Life described in 1 Peter was consistent with life in Asia Minor at the end of the 1^st Century A.D.

• Probably delivered by missionaries before the death of Peter and Paul because no mention.

 

Questions for Reflection

 

1. Why is the Good News proclaimed in the Gospel message universal?  What is it in Jesus’s message that appeals to everyone regardless of culture, creed, or economic status?

2. Why does the Gospel message in the 1^st century and the 21^st century appeal to persons who are poor, underprivileged, and generally lead hard lives? 

3. How did the Gospel message spread so quickly in the 1^st and 2^nd century world?

4. If Peter were writing his Epistle today, who would he be writing to?

5. As I said, this Epistle is filled with practical instruction for living the Christian life.  What would you hope to learn in the study of this book of the Bible?

 

Epistles of Peter - Sesson 2

1 Peter 1:1-2:10

 

Week 1 Review

An Epistle from Peter and written by his followers in Rome

Paul has some influence

To Gentile Christian converts in Asia Minor

Persecution

 

When we become Christians – we are transformed

1:3 – we have a new birth into a living hope through the Resurrection – sums up the message of the whole letter!

forward looking in the present – the Kingdom of Heaven now and to come

Live out today the holiness received in baptism

 

1 Peter divides the Christian life into 4 time periods

Pre-Christian – what you were like – Pagan religions

Conversion – what happened

Baptismal Regeneration – Wesley called it that great change

Baptism as Sacrament

Change continues throughout your life

the Present – how do we live now

the Future – what will happen

 

Themes in 1 Peter

Hope

we will know Salvation in the future (1:13)

believe and live today in full expectation of what is to come

 

Holiness

Be holy as Christ is holy

Not to be confused with Holiness Churches

Causes some Christians a lot of trouble

follows the monastic tradition

we are striving to be holy.

Rejoice

the trials of today can be overcome in faith

they will know we are Christians by our love.

 

Assurance

Christ has paid the price for us – now we live in faith

important message for slaves.

 

     1:1-2 Greeting

Though we are from different places, cultures, and peoples – we are One in Christ

 

1:3-9 The Blessing:  New birth into a living hope

In Greek – all one sentence.

vs 3 share in the Resurrection – Main theme

vs 4 & 5 We can be sure of God’s promise - the Resurrection is forever

never changing – given through the power of God.

can’t be taken away

no such thing as unforgiveable sin for those who believe

you cannot lose your salvation

 

1:6 – same words as from the Lord’s Prayer – Lead us not into temptation (trials)

God does not test us just to see if we will pass or fail

We are not protected from temptation

God is with us when we are

vs 8 & 9 echo Jesus in the Gospel story with Thomas – do you believe because you see me?  Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

 

1:10-12 Revealed in the Prophets

The Prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah

Jesus Christ perfectly fulfills the Messianic prophesies

This is not a new idea that will change with the next new thing comes out

 

1:13-25 You are called to holiness

We are called to do the work of God (vs 13)

Do not live as you used to – thinking only of yourself (vs 14)

Be holy (vs 15)

love God – love your neighbor

the first shall be last and the last shall be first

holy = whole

we are always becoming

vs 17 God as judge and fear God

judge – makes things right, balances the scales

fear – reverent awe

vs 18-21 We are now focused on the Coming of Christ

now and to come

vs 22 love one another

vs 23 living and enduring word of God

quotes Isaiah

that word is the good news (vs 25b)

 

2:1-10 You are the new people of God

Love is the means by which we grow into salvation

This love builds upon Christ as cornerstone and we become the spiritual house – the Body of Christ! 

Ecclesiology – what is the Church?

vs 2:6 – For it stands in scripture.  Appeals to the OT prophets to show this is how it is supposed to be (vs 7 & 8).

vs 9-10 now we are God’s people.  A Royal Priesthood

Questions for Reflection (Session 2)

 

1. In the United States today, 65% of adults describe themselves as Christians yet only 45% attend Church at least monthly.  Why do you think that is?

2. What does Peter mean in vs 1:15-16 when he says "...be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."  Can we be holy?  What is the difference between being holy and being good?  What does it mean to be holy in our world?

3. In vs 2:2, Peter tells the people to grow into salvation.  How do we grow into salvation?

4. What do we need to continue to do after the pandemic that we started because of it (in addition to streaming worship services and bible studies online)?

 

 

 

 

Epistles of Peter - Session 3

  1 Peter 2:11 – 3:12 

Living in a Non-Christian World

Week 2 Review

In baptism, we have a new life of holiness. 

Baptism changes us

Now we live loving God and our neighbor

We are the People of God – the community of faith

 

Chap 2 vs 11 we shift to living as Christians in a non-Christian world

Tension and Persecution

Christians seen as elitist with secret rituals

Secret symbols pointing the way to worship

Eucharist as a rite of Cannibalism

Aliens and Exiles from other aliens and exiles

 

2:11 – 3:12 The Household Code – 1^st Century Amy Vanderbilt

Not specifically Christian but adapted here – Competing philosophies:  Stoic moralism vs Moral nihilism.

Parallels in Romans, 1 Timothy, and Titus

EVERYTHING in the Bible is about God and in NT God in Jesus Christ

The good order of the household. Wives, children, slaves

Set the best possible example as good citizens vs 12, 13, and 14. 

Don’t give them anything to complain about. vs 15

This is true freedom

vs 17 there is a difference between Honor and Love & Awe

Gandhi and MLK

 

2:18-20 Slaves obey your Masters

You can’t change the way things are

Slaves were often beaten and abused

Rebelling does not serve God

Living a Holy life does

Christ in his suffering is the supreme example. (vss 21-25)

All kinds of parallels today – Vanita at the Y

 

3:1-7 Wives and husbands respect one another

Mennonites during Tornado relief.

vs 7 says everything in vss 1-6 applies to men too

vs 7b – so that nothing may hinder your prayers.

 

3:8-12 Live in Christian Community

Love your neighbor – all of them.

Quotes scripture from Romans, 1 Thessalonians, Psalms

Session 3 Questions for Reflection

1. How are Christians (of any denomination) elitist today?

2. Who in your life is a good example of living the Christian life and why?

3. Describe the Christian Life Well-Lived in our times.

Epistles of Peter - Session 4

1 Peter 3:8 – 4:19 

Do Not Fear Suffering

·       Review of last discussion

·       This week

o   Back up 5 verses to 3:8

o   The question of suffering for the new Christians in Asia Minor

o   The suffering of Christ

o   Ways to talk about suffering

§  Avoidance

·       Try not to think about it

·       It could be worse

§  Sympathy

·       I am so sorry you are going through this

§  Transfer

·       I remember the time I …..

§  Religious

·       God is testing your faith

·       God’s will

§  Gospel

·       1 Peter approach

 

 Session 4: 1 Peter 3:8-16 The New Way of Life

o   Mother’s wisdom – 2 wrongs don’t make a right

o   People of God

§  a way of living

§  consistent within the Community of faith

·       United in thought, word, and deed (REB vs 8)

·       quote Psalm 34

§  This becomes our new way of living in all circumstances

§  Good overcomes evil, love overcomes hate, peace overcomes anger, light overcomes the darkness.

§  Must be ready to always explain in love (vs 15 & 16) the hope that now lives within you.

 

·       1 Peter 3:17-22 Suffering for Doing Right

o   Peter has been talking to the people about suffering since the first chapter.

§  better to suffer for doing good rather than bad

§  In the Resurrection, suffering for good is never the end.

§  Eternal life is always the end.  God wins.

o   Now he introduces 4 new ideas (vss 19, 20, & 21)

§  vs 19 – Jesus makes a proclamation to the spirits in prison.

·       Book of 1 Enoch

§  vs 20 - Genesis 6 = spiritual beings who rebelled against God

§  vs 21 Noah and the Ark points forward to baptism

·       new creation – new life

§  vs 21 – baptism is less about washing clean more about appeal to God of a good conscience.

·       they are not suffering because of their sin.  Instead they are suffering for the right and God will redeem them.

·       God never promised we would not suffer.  God does promise that he will be with us.

 

·       1 Peter 4:1-11 Transformed Living

o   Twice I have had should surgery

§  Recovery #1 was terrible

§  Recovery #2 was better because I was ready

o   Same true according to Peter when it comes to persecution

o   Ceasing from Sin

§  Difference between sin & sins

§  Call to follow God’s will – Yearning!

o   Ultimately God Wins and so we Win because of Christ

o   vs 7 End Times will come – already but not yet

o   vs 8 Love conquers all – Love Wins

o   vs 9-11 WWJD or Do What God Would Want you To Do!

·       1 Peter 4:12-19

o   vs 12 We know our situation that causes our suffering

§  slaves

§  growing older

o   vs 13 & 14 Rejoice

§  Gratitude list

o   vs 15 – 19 Recognize that the light always shines in the darkness

§  Don’t suffer just to say you suffer

§  It is not better to suffer

§  We rejoice in our suffering not the other way around.

 

 

Questions for Reflection

1.    1. According to Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and our Experience – Does God ever cause suffering?  Why does God allow suffering?

2.  2. What is a good Christian response to suffering today in our world?  Why would this response not be accepted by others?

3.  3. How do we prepare ourselves now for suffering that could come in the future?

Epistles of Peter - Session 5

Chapter 5:  Shepherding the Flock of God

 

·       We reach the end of the 1^st Epistle of Peter

o   New Christians

o   Facing Persecution

o   Transformed in Baptism

o   Called to be together the Community of Faith

o   Persecution and suffering are endured

o   The Example of Christ’s suffering

o   The hope of Glory divine

 

·       Chapter 5

o   Final Instructions

o   Future plans

o   Personal Greetings

o   These are characteristics of letters in the 1^st Century world.

 

·       1 Peter 5:1-7:  Humility governs all relationships

o   Peter now addresses the Elders of the Churches

o   They are to be shepherds of the flock

§  Leaders worry about leading

§  Shepherds worry about the sheep

o   The example of humility

o   You serve not for gain, but for glory

§  Misused in modern days to keep the preacher poor

§  He or she must depend on God

§  The actual message here is to shepherd the flock to a way of living for everyone as the People of God

·       Acts – everyone worked for the benefit of the Community of Faith.

§  vs 5 – the younger members should respect the Elders

·       Elders recognizing the younger members are members as well.

·       Both are to live in all humility.

§  vs 6 & 7 – Ultimately it is God who we all follow

 

·       1 Peter 5:8-11 – Resist the Devil and God will reward your suffering

o   Up until now – threats to the Christian life were human

o   vs 8 – now shifts to the larger picture of evil

§  image of a lion

§  devouring is actually closer to swallowing whole

o   vs 9 – part of the greater whole in their suffering.

o   vs 10 & 11 – promise of eternity

 

·       1 Peter 5:12-14 – Final Greeting

o   We learn a lot about Peter and the timing of his letter

o   Silvanus may have been the missionary who carried the letter

o   Mark was known as a close associate of Peter

o   Both, however, were very common names

o   Sister Church in Babylon almost certainly refers to the Church in Rome

§  same reference in Revelation

§  Shift of the center of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome

 

 

Reflection Questions

 

1.     What are some of the essential characteristics of humility?  What is the opposite of humility and why?

2.     What are some groups in our world today who we could compare to these 1^st century Gentile Christians? 

3.     Thinking about all the Christian denominations, what do we have in common?

Epistles of Peter – Session 6

The Book of Jude

 

·       Why Jude?

o   Not an Epistle of Peter – or even one of Peter’s disciples/missionaries

o   Almost didn’t make it into the Bible

o   One of the shortest books of the Bible:  1 chapter with 25 verses

o   15 of the 25 verses are also found in the book of 2 Peter

§  Without going into a lot of detail, scholars believe that the writer of 2 Peter used Jude as a source.

·       Salutation (1-2)

o   Jude as a brother of James

§  Must assume the apostle which would suggest Jude is also an apostle

§  James better known brother of Jesus

§  Jude and James may have been half brothers

§  All speculation

o   Letter intended for all Christians

o   Probably written in early 2^nd century but may have been in late 1^st century.

 

·       Occasion for the Letter (3-4

o   The change of Subject (3)

§  Was going to write a letter of encouragement but had to switch to one of warning.

§  At stake is the Gospel given to them by Christ through the saints

·       You can’t change it

o   The Reason for the Change:  The Presence of Godless Apostates (4)

§  False teachers a common problem.

§  Example – Gnosticism

§  Other heresies

§  Fake News

 

·       Judgement on False Teachers (5-16)

o   Historical Examples of the Judgement of Apostates (5-7)

§  Unbelieving Israel (5)

·       Can you lose your faith?

·       One saved always saved

§  Angels who fell (6)

·       Legend of the fallen angels

·       Lust after earthly women

·       1 Enoch

·       Sodom and Gomorrah (7) - Immorality

o   Description of the Apostates of Jude’s Day (8-16)

§  Slander the Angels (8-10)

·       Who proclaim the Glory of God

·       Only time in the Bible Michael is called an Archangel

·       vs 9 based on a lost myth

 

§  Character (11-13)

·       3 more examples of notorious sinners

·       Cain who killed his brother Abel

·       Balaam in Numbers who entices the Israelites to sin

·       Korah who led a rebellion against Moses and God also in Numbers

·       vs 12 – love feasts refers to Agape Meals

 

§  Their destruction prophesied (14-16)

·       1 Enoch – Jewish Apocryphal literature

·       stories everyone would have known

 

o   Exhortation to Believers (17-23)

§  Remember the words of the Apostles

§  Things tend to look darkest before the dawn (return of Christ)

§  Scoffers are not part of the People of God

§  Build up your faith

§  Pray

§  Keep each other in the love of God

§  Have mercy on those who doubt

§  Snatch them from the fire with dirty clothes is an allusion to Zechariah and a vision of Joshua the high priest saved from the fire and clothed in heavenly vestments.

 

o   Concluding Doxology (24-25)

§  Been called the best doxology in scripture

§  Doxology – praise to the eternal God.

§  God Wins.

 

Epistles of Peter – Session 7

2 Peter

Notes Coming Soon