1 Peter!

About 1st Peter: Hmm, let's see...
Peter was an apostle of Christ.
This letter was written amidst fierce persecution by the Roman Empire of the Christians.
Yes. It is a letter.
Written to the Christians, specifically to the cities of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

It is a book about suffering. Should persecuted Christians flee or resist? Should they tone down their outward signs of faith? Give up? Peter's readers, their lives being in danger, needed clear advice on suffering. They also needed explanations of the meaning of suffering. Why does God allow it? Can good result? Does God care? In short, they were asking questions that occur to any Christian who goes through great trial.1



But far more than just a book about suffering, 1 Peter is a book about assurance, an assurance of the power of the Gospel and the power of a person's identity as a Christian.



It also gives concrete content on the responsibilities and the life which a Christian ought to live out. Peter's guide to how Christians have to live their life, compressing practical actions and attitudes with strong doctrine and firm values of the Christian life into 5 chapters. Peter packs a punch.



Much of Peter's words can be cross-referenced with other books of the New Testament as well, an indication that what he was saying was very much stemming from the same Christ-like view which the other apostles such as Paul, James and John were assuaging. Examples are Hebrews 11, Ephesians 4, ya you get the idea.



Though focused on the issue of suffering, Peter gives much weight also to the way Christians should deal with life's struggles and the people around us which make up the essence of life itself.



And Peter's message is clear: your attitude should be like that of Christ, your holiness should be like that of God, your motivation should be focused upon your eternal reward, and your guide should be the Holy Spirit. This is both the essence of Christian life - no, all life on Earth as it is (on which we are strangers), and yes, life is full of struggles. But we know that God is here for us.


1: Adapted from notes by Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford from The Student Bible