Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Why did Peter write 1 Pete

What is the context of the entire letterWhat is the time period of the letter?

What is the context of the entire letterWhat is the time period of the letter?

Why did Peter write 1 Pete

What is the time period of the letter?

***

Some of you may know that I was in the Army National Guard and that I retired as a Captain.

In order to become an officer you have to go through Officer Candidate School (OCS for short).

OCS is much like boot camp but for officers.

On the first day of OCS, the instructors, in an effort to welcome us into the school, give us a taste of corrective training.

This corrective training consists of yelling at us at the top of their lungs, making us do push-ups until we can’t push-up anymore, then switch to sit-ups and when we can’t do any more sit-ups, they switch to jumping jacks etc.

They do this until THEY become tired.

Every command is to be returned with Sir Candidate Dulin Yes Sir! at the top of our lungs.

Before they begin this “welcome”, the instructors stand off at a far distance but not far enough where we can’t see them.

We all stand there in formation with our eyes on them knowing what is coming.

As they creep towards us, we shout words of encouragement and strengthening to each other to prepare each other for the fury…the persecution that is about to come.

Like my fellow classmates, Peter, writing from Rome is witnessing the beginning of Christian persecution.

He writes this letter to warn, to strengthen and to encourage the brethren in the Asia Minor Roman provinces.

The readers are encouraged to remain faithful to Christ in the midst of difficulties and sufferings.

Like the creeping instructors on the first day of OCS…and THEIR approaching fury, the sifting period of

The sifting period of believers had partly come already, and was partly approaching; the roaring of the lion that threatened to devour the faithful, was already heard.

The readers are encouraged to remain faithful to their Lord in the midst of difficulties and sufferings.

Emperor Nero’s state enforced persecution the sifting period of believers had partly come already and was approaching.

Even though the state sponsored persecutions by Nero’s government had not yet begun, Believers were experiencing persecution from pagan elements of society, perhaps from the leaders of pagan mystery cults whose authority has been undermined by Christian teaching against adultery and lust.

And most important of all, the letter lifts up Jesus Christ as the example par excellence of one who suffered innocently; Christians under persecution should follow his example (2:21–23; 3:13–18).

It is this awareness that they are the new people of God that leads them to holy and righteous living, even in the midst of persecution and suffering.

Even though the state sponsored persecutions by Nero’s government had not yet begun, persecution from pagan elements of society, perhaps from the leaders of pagan mystery cults whose authority has been undermined by Christian teaching against adultery and lust.

the roaring of the lion that threatened to devour the faithful, was already heard.

John Peter Lange et al., A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: 1 Peter (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008), 5.

The sifting period of believers had partly come already, and was partly approaching; the roaring of the lion that threatened to devour the faithful, was already heard.

John Peter Lange et al., A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: 1 Peter (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008), 5.

The sifting period of believers had partly come already, and was partly approaching; the roaring of the lion that threatened to devour the faithful, was already heard.

the roaring of the lion that threatened to devour the faithful, was already heard.

It’s possible persecution even came from members of a their own family because they cannot understand why a son or a daughter would leave home and become a follower of a movement that is facing persecution.

It is possible that it comes from former friends who now insult, despise, ridicule, and humiliate those who no longer indulge in paganism’s foolish practices.

This is why Peter wrote this epistle

Perhaps some of you have felt persecution in similar forms.

I know I have.

I became a believer at the age of 37…when my son was only 14.

Our relationship suffered because he could not understand why his father suddenly would turn the other cheek instead of fighting over words; refusing to use vulgar words; refusing to watch certain movies; diligently following the rules of the land.

it had begun in the form of verbal slander and social pressure from the local populace (4:14-15).

They were being ridiculed for their separated lives (4:4-5) and were being accused of being traitors (2:13-17).

Mostly from ****The local Cults because their holy way of living was beginning to effect their ritualistic headinism***The church was even experiencing internal problems like worldliness (2:11-16) and greedy elders (5:2-3)

It is more probable that the

So Peter writes this letter to lift up Jesus as their example of one who suffered innocently and with Christ’s example Peter aims to provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony no matter their circumstances (1:13–2:12).

To provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony (1:13–2:12).

In the first half of chapter 1 Peter explains the relationship of trials to God’s purposes in salvation (1:1–12).

To provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony (1:13–2:12).

Or perhaps it comes from former friends who now insult, despise, ridicule, and humiliate those who no longer indulge in paganism’s foolish practices

The whole of the letter of 1 Peter can be summed up in Chapter 5 verse 12.

Peter is exhorting the believers to testify to God’s grace by living lives of holiness, love and growth despite their circumstances (1:13–2:12).

Purposes

Peter, therefore, wrote to explain the relationship of trials to God’s purposes in salvation (1:1–12); to provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony (1:13–2:12); to call for submission of believers to civil authorities (2:13–17), of servants to masters (2:18–25), and of wives to husbands (3:1–8); to discuss the proper attitude of believers in suffering (3:9–4:19); to give guidelines to the elders for the proper performance of their ministry (5:1–4); to call them to humility (5:5–7); to warn them against the tactics of Satan (5:8–11); and to send greetings (5:12–14).

I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is cthe true grace of God.

dStand firm in it!

c Acts 11:23; 1 Pet 1:13; 4:10

d 1 Cor 15:1

Peter, therefore, wrote to explain the relationship of trials to God’s purposes in salvation (1:1–12); to provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony (1:13–2:12); to call for submission of believers to civil authorities (2:13–17), of servants to masters (2:18–25), and of wives to husbands (3:1–8); to discuss the proper attitude of believers in suffering (3:9–4:19); to give guidelines to the elders for the proper performance of their ministry (5:1–4); to call them to humility (5:5–7); to warn them against the tactics of Satan (5:8–11); and to send greetings (5:12–14).

Robert G. Gromacki, New Testament Survey (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1974), 352.

Therefore, Peter wrote to explain the relationship of trials to God’s purposes in salvation (1:1–12); to provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony (1:13–2:12); to call for submission of believers to civil authorities (2:13–17), of servants to masters (2:18–25), and of wives to husbands (3:1–8); to discuss the proper attitude of believers in suffering (3:9–4:19); to give guidelines to the elders for the proper performance of their ministry (5:1–4); to call them to humility (5:5–7); to warn them against the tactics of Satan (5:8–11); and to send greetings (5:12–14).

Robert G. Gromacki, New Testament Survey (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1974), 352.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Pe 5:12.

This is why Peter wrote this epistle

CHAPTER ONE

Contents: Christian’s conduct under suffering in the light of full salvation.

So Peter writes this letter to lift up Jesus as their example of one who suffered innocently and with Christ’s example Peter aims to provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony no matter their circumstances (1:13–2:12).

Contents: Christian’s conduct under suffering in the light of full salvation.

CHAPTER TWO

Contents: Exhortation to holiness and growth in view of Christ’s great sacrifice.

Christ’s vicarious sufferings.

CHAPTER THREE

Contents: Duties of husbands and wives toward one another.

Exhortations to Christian consistency.

Christ’s vicarious sacrifice.

Keith Brooks, Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 81.

CHAPTER FOUR

Contents: Exhortations to mortification of sin and living unto God.

Suffering with Christ.

Peter gives many instructions on what this looks like, but staying within the THEME of Unity that Ben started last week, we are going to focus in on .

So if you have your Bible with you, please turn with me there.

CHAPTER FIVE

Contents: Christian service in view of Christ’s soon coming.

Peter gives many instructions

To call for submission of believers to civil authorities (2:13–17), of servants to masters (2:18–25), and of wives to husbands (3:1–6), and the husband’s responsibilities to his wife.

submission of believers to civil authorities (2:13–17), of servants to masters (2:18–25), and of wives to husbands (3:1–6), and the husband’s responsibilities to his wife.

The persecutions did not stem from the imperial government, but originated from the local populace in the form of verbal slander and social pressures (4:14–15).

Quite possibly, they could have been ridiculed for their separated lives (4:4–5) and/or accused of being traitors (2:13–17).

The church was also infected with some internal problems such as worldliness (2:11–16; 4:1–5) and greedy, autocratic elders (5:2–3).

Purposes

Peter, therefore, wrote to explain the relationship of trials to God’s purposes in salvation (1:1–12); to provoke the readers to lives of holiness, love, growth, and testimony (1:13–2:12); to call for submission of believers to civil authorities (2:13–17), of servants to masters (2:18–25), and of wives to husbands (3:1–8); to discuss the proper attitude of believers in suffering (3:9–4:19); to give guidelines to the elders for the proper performance of their ministry (5:1–4); to call them to humility (5:5–7); to warn them against the tactics of Satan (5:8–11); and to send greetings (5:12–14).

Finally, all of you...

Finally...

Most translations say “Finally”.

Peter is indicating that he is summing up his exhortations that began at 2:11 and ending in 3:7.

In 2:13 he commands us to Keep your behavior excellent so that God would be glorified even if we are slandered for our excellent behaviors.

Peter is indicating the summary of his exhortation that began at 2:11 and ends in 3:7.

In 2:13 he commands us to Keep your behavior excellent so that God would be glorified even if we are slandered for our excellent behaviors.

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they bslander you as evildoers, they may 1because of your good deeds, as they observe them, cglorify God din the day of 2visitation.

And then he begins to instruct specific groups of people on how to stay EXCELLENT...slaves, masters, wives and husbands and in the middle of that he reminds us of Christ’s example of the proper response to suffering ().

So Peter is concluding this section of submission with a call to submission of the entire Christian community.