1 & 2 Peter

Peter’s letters are a masterpiece of Christian thought and encouragement for living in Christ.  The letter is so well written that some critics argue that a Galilean fisherman could not have written the letters in such literary Greek (the same argument is made about John).  None-the-less, Peter identifies himself as the author, but with the help of Silas (1 Peter 5:1). 

Christ declared he would build his church on Simon Peter and gave him the name Peter, the Rock.  The first twelve chapters of Acts record Peter’s leadership at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit established the church “among Jews of all nations” (Acts 2:5).  During the following 20 years Peter healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead.   Peter evidently struggled with Jewish legalism early in his ministry and was confronted by Paul in Antioch (Galatians 2:11).  God also confronted his legalism through a vision, whereby God revealed to Peter that he should live free of Jewish dietary restrictions.  At an event that was a “Pentecost” to the Gentiles, God sent Peter to Caesarea to baptize new Gentile believers when the Holy Spirit brought them to faith in Jesus Christ.  The last reference to Peter in Acts is his address at the Council of Jerusalem in 49AD, when he said that Gentile believers did not need to follow Jewish traditions to be Christians, they were saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ and rebirth by the Holy Spirit. 

Little is known of the details surrounding the writing of Peter’s letters or his life and ministry after the Council of Jerusalem in 49AD.  Peter closes his first letter with an enigmatic statement that he is in Babylon with Mark [and Silas].  Church tradition holds that Peter is writing from Rome, probably shortly before his crucifixion by Emperor Nero between 64 and 68 AD.  Peter’s letter is full of wisdom and assurance while facing persecution and suffering, love for Christ and others, and encouragement to live with joy, hope, holiness, and in the expectation of Christ’s return.

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