There are many themes or repeated words throughout 1 Peter as you’ll see on Chart 8 of your handouts.

We’ve seen over the past two classes some very specific exhortations which have nonetheless been very helpful for us. The basic principles and examples are all ones that we must apply in our individual cases. But now, at 4:7 the exhortation turns general again as he talks to the household of faith and keeps on with his message of the fiery trials before the eternal glory.

Verses 7-8

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer .”

Verse 1-2

In the last class Peter gave a couple of examples where it was important for believers to be submissive even if it meant innocent sufferings. First there was subjection to governments and the laws of the land. Second was servants to masters. At the heart of this was the example of the sufferings of the Messiah, who did no sin, yet committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. Now Peter continues “likewise” with wives being in subjection to their own husbands.

As we begin this section running from chapter 2:1-10 we will see some very similar teaching from the last class. This is because they are parallel in teaching. We have all ready mentioned Peter’s ability as a great teacher in his methodical repetition but he shows another great technique in presenting both a positive and negative side. It seems to be an aspect of our minds that we learn best when presented with comparisons, light and dark, cold and hot, etc. We will see that that is what he does here. Let’s look at the similarities between 1:13-25 and 2:1-10.

The first time that Peter met Jesus is recorded for us in John 1:42. Andrew, Peter’s brother, had already put it into his ear that he was about to meet the Messiah. Expectations were high. As they enter the room Jesus looks steadfastly on Peter, catches his eye, and says, “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas.” That’s all that is recorded of their first meeting but imagine the impression it must have made on Peter.

The book of Joshua chapter twenty-four records for us the last words of Joshua. He’s an old man, around 110 years old (23:14; 24:29). As a final act, he gathers all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and they present themselves before God (24:1). This could only mean that they were gathered at the place where the tabernacle was then set up. The ecclesia had come together for Joshua’s last exhortation.

After reminding them of their history and all that God had done for them, he says those famous words in verses 14-15,

I have a question for you. A little Bible trivia to start off the exhortation. Who in scripture is said to have disguised themselves? Specifically, those who disguised themselves to try and fool God. For some reason, as we’ve been doing our readings this year, I picked up on these characters and have been pondering it.

Peter and John came into the city of Jerusalem, weaving their way through the crowded streets, looking, and searching. The city was abuzz with everybody in preparation for the Passover. Not sure where they were going, they continued to be on the lookout for a man bearing a pitcher of water. Peter would exclaim, “Look, there’s a pitcher!” But as they got closer, they would realize it was a woman carrying the pitcher. No, Jesus had specially said it would be a man. That would certainly be something different as there were usually a lot of women carrying pitchers but not men. What next?

Inside this pdf attachment is a collection of all the charts used in the 1 Peter studies

Before looking at any of the epistles of Peter it is helpful to look at the man. Everything he experienced in the Gospels and the Acts comes shining through in his writings. So we’ll spend some time here reviewing his life and picking up lessons from the experiences of one of the greatest Apostles. All his triumphs and foibles are before us. Imagine having the highs and lows of your life perserved for future generations, millions, if not billions of people.