1 Peter

Instead of reading the blog, re-read 1 Peter.  We could talk in length about ANY scripture in 1 Peter.  I studied this book in my church and I think this is the one book we need to turn to all the time.  Trials are with reason and purpose.    This book talks about being a stranger here on earth, how we are saved, how we should be holy and why, how Jesus is the High Priest now and we are all in a priesthood, deeds, acts, the workplace, husband and wives, prayer, witnessing, baptism, living for God, Gods Glory, suffering, elders, humility, satan watching our every move and a ton more.  I would love to hear from all of you today.  A question? A new scripture?  An old favorite?

1 Peter Overview

This book was written by Peter in  62  A.D.  The last few books we read focused on the internal problems of the Church such as division, false teaching, heresy etc.  Now let’s look at what was going on outside the church for a minute.  Nero was the emperor in Rome and he was a horrible ruler that not only killed members of his own family but also was an extreme persecutor of the Christian sect.  Persecutions were political: worship of local deities or to participate in worshipping  of their statues (Christians would not bow down to this…remember Daniel). So Christianity became illegal as a threat to the safety of the empire.  Persecutions were social: Christianity had great appeal to the lower classes, wich caused the upper class to fear it, especially because Christianity taught we are all equal in Christ.  Christianity was hated for economic reasons because much of the economy was based on selling carved or made images to be worshipped, and Christianity forbids this.

While this book was written, Nero was  trying to make Rome a cultural capital of the world, so he set fire to much of the town to make room for new construction.  The fire burned for a week and the Christians were blamed for it. Evidently they confessed to it,  but under EXTREME torture tactics.  SO upon that omission Christians were persecuted again and it was Peter and Paul that may have died under Nero’s reign here.

I want you to have all that so when you read 1 Peter (maybe for the 100th time you fully understand the setting).  God also has foreknowledge what was to come and in 95 A.D. the Jews (Christians were lumped in) refused to pay an extra tax to support roman gods, under Emperor Domitian, and under this persecution John was boiled in oil and then sent to be exiled on an Island in Greece (do you know what happened there?? stay tuned).

Since then Christianity was under state ban until about 250A.D.  In 112 the roman governor Pliny wrote to the current emperor asking for clarification of “christian policy” and the emperor answered that they were not to seek out Christians BUT f anyone was to point out or allude to someone being a CHristian they should be questions (there was not don’t ask don’t tell policy back then).  They were asked 3 times to confess (I don’t want to imagine what this torture looked like) and if they said Yes finally they were sentenced to death. 

Sooooo now that we have the setting I pray that you read 1 Peter with Fresh eyes, and an open heart.  We as Christians WILL have trials.

If anyone needs a recap on who Peter was please ask me.  I would be happy to write-up a little summary.Just now that this is the Peter that followed Jesus so closely that he saw all the amazing signs and miracles Jesus performed.  Unfortunately, he was also the disciple that refused to know Jesus during the trial.  Peter gave the first ever Sermon just after Pentecost.  Peter had originally been Simon but Jesus changed his name to mean Rock.  Peter layed the foundation at that sermon for the church.  Fulfilling the scripture on this Rock I will build my church.  Peter was sentenced to crucifixion and his only request was that he was hung upside down.  He put Jesus in a category of his own and respectfully did not want to dies as He did.  So if you ever see an upside down cross, it is in reference to Peter’s death.