Lesson 4 - 1 Peter

Question 1

Who is the audience of 1 Peter?

Answer 1

1. ) Catholic Epistle - very general audience/circulating church letter
2. ) Region
   - - dispersed in a broad area - Christians dispersed in “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1:1), an area in Asia Minor
3. ) Make up
   - - Not dealing with jews, but Gentiles
   - - 1:18 - way of life before their conversion (“inherited from their fathers”)
   - - 4:3 - describes prior life again (“the Gentiles want to do”)
   - - Peter goes out of his way to show that they are the New Israel (he gives OT titles to NT church)

Question 2

What approximate date do most Biblical scholars suggest for the writing of the book of 1 Peter? Provide evidence to support your claim.

Answer 2

64-65 AD

• • Peter arrived in Rome in early 60’s (Peter wrote this from Rome, mention of Babylon in 5:13)
• • Peter died in 65-66 under Nero’s persecution
• • Peter had to write in between these two times

Question 3

Explain what is meant by the “last days” in the book of 1 Peter.

Answer 3

Last Days: inner-advent period between the first and second coming of Christ (not quantity, but quality)

• • Already/not yet - in between the ages
• • Not quantity: amount of days
• • Quality: kind of days (what sort of days are we in?)
• • one more eschatological event to come

Question 4

What are Peter’s implications for the last days on the life of a believer?

Answer 4

1.) Eschatology impacts ethics

2. We are strangers and aliens to this world
   - - The more you think about your eternal home, the more you will remember you are stranger/pilgrims here
3. ) We live holy lives
   - - Focus on the present comes from focus on the future
   - - Since the end is near, be self controlled (4:7)
   - - “God is going to come visit us” changes how you behave today
4. ) We focus on the glories that await
   - - We wait to inherit our eternal blessing
   - - Crown of glory that will never fade away (5:4)

Question 5

How does Peter present the Church as the new Israel in chapter 2? What terminology does he use?

Answer 5

• Peter uses OT language and applies it to NT church
• Continuity between OT Israel and NT church: one people of God

Terminology

1. ) “Draw near” to the new temple (2:4)
   - draw near to OT temple
   - draw near to NT Christ
2. ) Spiritual House/Living Stone (2:5)
   - Christ is not just the temple, but God’s people also
3. ) Holy Royal Priesthood (2:5, 9)
   - Israel Language (Exodus 19:6)
   - We are a priesthood: approach the throne/offer sacrifices of our lives
4. ) Chosen people/race (2:9)
   - - the chosen people of God are no longer ethnic/nation, but in relation to Christ
5. ) Holy Nation
6. ) Belonging to God

Question 6

What are the implications of the OT Israel language on the NT church?

Answer 6

1. ) Ecclesiology - identity of the church
   - - Continuity between Israel and Church
   - - one people of God
   - - The Church is the true Israel
2. ) Building the temple again?
   - - You don’t have to go back to the shadow, you have the reality/the substance
   - - Not about a particular location, but about where God’s people are (John 4)

Question 7

Explain the 5 interpretations of 1 Peter 3:18-22.

Answer 7

1. ) Good news to rebellious human spirits in hades/hell
   - - To whom did Christ preach? rebellious humans
   - - What did Christ preach? Gospel
   - - When did Christ preach? Between death/resurrection
   - - Where did Christ preach? Hell
2. ) Release to repentant human spirits in hades/hell
   - - repentant humans
   - - Gospel
   - - between death/resurrection
   - - hell
3. ) Victory over rebellious human spirits in hades/hell?
   - - rebellious humans
   - - Conemnation
   - - hell
4. ) Victory over rebellious demonic spirits in hades/hell?
   - - rebellious demons
   - - Condemnation
   - - after ascension
   - - hell
5. ) Christ preached through Noah to unbelieving humans
   - - rebellious humans
   - - Gospel
   - - during Noah’s day
   - - on earth