Introduction to 1 Peter

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 66:1-4
• Hymn — All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (#296)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Hymn — All to Jesus I Surrender (#562)
• Scripture Reading — Psalm 13
• Sermon
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: Introduction to First Peter — Suffering and Submission

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1

I. Background and Context of First Peter

A. Author: the Apostle Peter, one of the inner circle of Jesus alongside James and John

B. Recipients: churches in the northwestern region of Asia Minor

1. Provinces named in 1 Peter 1:1: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia
2. Written to multiple churches, not a single individual or congregation — hence a "general epistle"

C. The General Epistles as a category

1. Seven general (catholic) epistles: 1 & 2 Peter, James, 1–3 John, and Jude
2. Written for the universal church across all regions and cultures
3. Early scribes titled it "The General Epistle of First Peter"

D. The timeless applicability of Scripture

1. 1 Corinthians 10:11 — Paul uses Israel's wilderness wanderings as an example written down for the church's instruction
2. 2 Timothy 3:16 — all Scripture is profitable for training in godliness for every person in every time and place
3. The modern scholarly tendency to treat the Bible as merely culturally bound is rejected; inspired Scripture is applicable to all audiences

E. Date: approximately 63 A.D.

1. Peter shows awareness of Paul's letters and in 2 Peter 3:16 calls them Scripture, suggesting Paul's writings were already established
2. Dated before 64 A.D. because the word "persecution" never appears in the letter, and in 1 Peter 2:17 Peter says "Honor the emperor" — language unlikely if Nero's official persecution had already begun after the Roman fire of 64 A.D.

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II. Theme One — Suffering

A. The primary theme of 1 Peter is suffering; it appears in every chapter

B. The nature of the suffering

1. Courtroom-style language (trials, slander) is used, but no official court proceeding is ever mentioned
2. The word "persecution" never appears — the suffering is social and cultural, not yet state-sponsored legal persecution
3. Psalm 13 illustrates the pattern of First Peter: David cries out in suffering yet ends with trust in God's steadfast love and praise

C. Four types of cultural suffering the Asian Minor Christians faced — and their parallels today

1. Unpatriotic — refusing to call the emperor "Lord" (a civic loyalty act); today, prioritizing God over national identity
2. Disloyal to the city — not participating in civic ceremonies tied to pagan worship; today, being ostracized in a small community for not joining in cultural traditions
3. Unprofessional in trade — guild meetings and commerce were conducted in pagan temples; today, refusing financially expedient but dishonoring business practices
4. Haters of family — family fellowship was centered in pagan temple worship; today, declining to participate in family events that conflict with allegiance to Christ, and being labeled cruel or unsympathetic as a result

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III. Theme Two — Submission

A. A secondary but constant theme woven through every chapter of 1 Peter alongside suffering

B. Key vocabulary of submission throughout the letter

1. Obedience / obedient / obeying — 1 Peter 1:2, 1:14, 1:22
2. Disobey / submit — 1 Peter 2:8, 2:13
3. Submissive / obeyed / disobeyed — 1 Peter 3:1, 3:5, 3:6, 3:20
4. Obey / submissive — 1 Peter 4:17, 5:5

C. The danger of using suffering as an excuse for disobedience

1. The modern therapeutic/psychological view of man (following Carl Trueman's analysis) teaches that painful circumstances excuse ungodly behavior — this mindset has entered the church
2. Peter is compassionate toward suffering but does not grant a pass from obedience; suffering never diminishes the call to submit to the Lord
3. In the midst of suffering, Christians are called to remain obedient and await the glory that awaits — just as Christ endured the cross for the glory set before him