1st Century Christianity in the 21st Century.

The middle section of Peter’s first letter (chapter 3) begins with an instruction to Christian women that much of our modern society considers outrageously offensive and “sexist:” “…wives, be in subjection to your own husbands…”. What this socially-aggrieved response does not generally take into consideration is the overall thematic context of the Holy Spirit’s instruction; the instructions in chapter three continue the theme that actually began at 1 Peter 2:11. This theme speaks to the motivation of each group addressed…

In 1 Peter 2:11-12, the Holy Spirit sets up a contrast between the typical Gentile approach to life in the first century and the attitude God desires to see in His children. The heathen perspective of the Greco-Roman society was that it was “normal” (even expected and “desirable”) for a person to embrace and indulge every physical desire, and yield to every temptation. Hedonism was the standard for human behavior throughout most of the Gentile world, and self-restraint was seen…

If the “key” thought in Peter’s first letter is suffering, then the point of Christians enduring suffering lies in the commandment of 1 Peter 1:15-16 where Peter quotes Leviticus 20:7 and applies these words to Christians as a contrast to our former manner of life (1 Peter 1:14). In Leviticus, Mo- ses was commanding the children of Israel to avoid ANY participation in idolatry, and by referencing that commandment, Peter was effectively equating a life apart from God – where…

Peter’s brief letters are clearly intended to encourage and strengthen Christians who were facing the prospect of persecution for their faith in Jesus. A Jew from Capernaum in Galilee, Peter had been a fisherman before becoming one of Jesus’ first disciples, and was among His closest companions during the period of His earthly ministry. He was first directed to Jesus by his brother Andrew, and was the first of the apostles to openly confess his conviction that Jesus is the…