1 Peter

Chapter 1

vs 1

This tells us who wrote this letter (Peter), and who he wrote it to. Normally I'd say this is important - but since it's written to basically every Christian group in Asia, you can assume that it is a fairly general letter in its nature. All the better for us, because it makes it easier to apply to our lives.

vs 2

An interesting spin on the whole predestination argument here. Peter obviously thinks this whole thing is important, because in the first verse he refers to Christians as "God's elect". He says our election comes from God's foreknowledge - ok, so far typical Calvinist type stuff. What I find interesting are his next few points. Firstly, that our chosing comes through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. So we've got the typical sort of "chosen since before the world began" line, but then it seems that is practically worked out at the time of the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work in our lives. I can't say I often think about it that way.

Why were we chosen? So that we obey Jesus, and so that we are "sprinkled by his blood" - trust Peter to say something so Jewish. I'm sure by that he means to be saved. It's always good to know that God has elected us for a purpose - to obey Jesus, and to be saved.

And then Peter has his little letter beginning statement. Paul says similar things - the early Christian equivalent of saying "Dear such and such, just a few words to let you know I'm still alive".

vs 3

To me, this verse seems to clearly show that Peter is making a delineation between the two members of the Godhead he's discussing - Father and Son. Interesting that he says "Praise be to God who is the God and Father of Jesus" rather than just saying what we'd probably be keen to say, "Praise Jesus". Peter's focus here is on the work of God - it's his mercy that effects us. It's his power which brings Christ back from the dead. A good reminder to us that while we spend all our time thanking Jesus for the cross and for his sacrifice (so many Christian songs come to mind) Peter is busy praising God for his own mercy and his power in resurrecting Jesus. That's what our hope is built on - it's been given life by the same power that gave Jesus his life again.

vs 4

We're not just given a living hope, we're also given an inheritance. One that's kept safe in heaven. What is that inheritance exactly? The way it's described, it's eternal (won't spoil or perish or fade) and it's in heaven. The fact that it's not spelt out probably means that this statement (like many in these first few verses, and many in the opening verses of lots of the letters) is a commonly known statement being bandied around by the Christians at the time. Paul uses it in the beginning of Ephesians in a way that suggests an eternal inheritance held up for us in heaven. He also uses it early in Colossians.

So what is it? Could be the Kingdom of God. Jesus says that it is our inheritance, and was prepared since the creation of the world. Paul describes the inheritance later in Ephesians as of the kingdom of Christ and God, and again in Colossians with the idea of the kingdom being involved. Could be a physical inheritance. Paul talks about gaining an inheritance through the word of God to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 - in my reading he seems to be talking about making a living from the preaching of the word, even though he himself didn't. In Colossians 3 Paul seems to suggest the inheritance as a reward for hard work, in the context of slaves working for their masters.

I'm going with the inheritance being something to do with our place in the kingdom. The talk if an inheritance is an essentially OT idea - the whole inheritance of the promised land stuff. Later in 1 Peter, he talks about husbands and wives both being heirs to the gift of life.

I guess the wierd thing for us reading it is that Peter would use two terms for what to us is essentially the same thing - the hope we have (salvation) and the inheritance we have (also salvation). Why would Peter talk about us being born into one and into the other, as if they were two different things if they are essentially the same thing? It is entirely possible that in Peter's theology those things aren't just simply seen as the same thing. Perhaps, as a Jew, he's looking at the two different aspects of relationship with God - one being a member of the chosen people (that allows you to have relationship with God) - and one being one of those who inherits the promised land (that allows you to receive the blessings of God). Perhaps it's that we focus on the relationship "being with God in heaven" aspect so much, but that the inheritance of the Kingdom, that is, the quality of our life in heaven, is something we don't often think about. I'm not sure. I might look into it further.

vs 5

"Shielded by God's power" is a really interesting statement for Peter to make, especially considering the agenda of persecution he has for the letter. Could it be that, when we're facing persecution and strife, that we're actually not copping the full brunt of it, and that God is shielding us from it to some extent?

Along with that idea, we have one of these "now but not yet" verses that describes salvation as being ready to be revealed, as if it's not quite revealed yet. Peter then thoroughly confuses us with the other end of the stick in verse 9.

vs 6

What are we rejoicing at? It's tempting to say "Ooh, the salvation that was just before", but I think the entirety of the idea that flows through verses 3-5 is the hope and the inheritance that we've been newly born into. Either way, they're worth rejoicing about.

And what did I say? Here comes the suffering. It could even be that, in the context of the suffering you're currently suffering, you are rejoicing in the shielding of God. That doesn't really do it for me.

vs 7

The suffering has come to prove your faith, so if you've ever found yourself wondering "Do I really believe all this stuff, do I really have faith?" perhaps more persecution is required so that your faith can be proved genuine - or not, as the case may be.

It's also because this suffering will result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. If this world wasn't so crappy, there wouldn't be as big a "Huzzah!" when Jesus comes back. Interesting thought. I think it also backs me up on that earlier point - if we were rejoicing in God's shielding of us through suffering, you'd think we'd have less to cheer about when Jesus gets back.

vs 8

What a verse for the modern day Christian! Bad enough for the Asian gentile Christians who never got to see Jesus - at least they had eye witnesses! We've got the Bible, but I think everyone agrees that your average 1st century Christian had it easier on the believing side than the 21st century Christian. It's that belief of and love for Christ, as well as the filling of joy, that are pointers to...

vs 9

the fact that we are receiving our salvation. Some people say that we don't love God because he saved us, but because he is God and is worthy of love regardless. Interesting point, but Peter is candid about it here - the goal of our faith is our salvation. Yes, it's true that God is worthy of praise and worship simply because he's God. But remember - the goal of our faith isn't just our goal, it's also God's goal. He wants our faith to end up being our salvation, because he's awesome.

vs 10

Ahh, the prophets. We don't give them as much time of day anymore, but they were pretty vital to the early church who didn't have the collected New Testament. They themselves were keen to find out about this stuff that they themselves were preaching!

vs 11

They wanted to know when it was all going to happen. Interesting side note - the spirit of Christ was in the prophets - Christ himself pointing the prophets to their prophecies about him?

vs 12

Imagine being a prophet, and finding out that some of the stuff you're being told by God about his plan for salvation of the world isn't actually for you or the people you're telling it to - that it's going to be held over for those people who are there when the whole thing happens. Just goes to show that it's not a stretch to take that stuff written in the OT and apply it to Christ - because God designed it that way. And just in case the people who come to tell you about Jesus and the gospel through the OT screw it up, the Holy Spirit will keep them on track.

Even angels long to look into these things, whatever that means. I swear, the 1st century people must have been so much more understanding about the whole angel and demon thing. That sentence just makes no sense to me. Is Peter saying that even though the Christians he's written to have had the gospel preached to them, the angels can't hear it? Surely there's more to it than that. I think the whole angel and demon thing could be really well explained to us Western non-spiritual people by the Christians of the non-Western world. I can't wait to have access to theological texts written by African theologians who have a stronger cultural and spiritual grasp of these issues. Just one more thing the non-Western church can do for us.