The Epistles of Peter

From: Short Sketches of the Books of the Bible

By: Nicolas Simon

The character of Peter’s epistles is in keeping with Peter the person. Certainly it is the restored Peter, the Apostle, feeding the flock of God; nevertheless we see in them the experiences of the Gospels (John 21:15-19¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. ¹⁹This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (John 21:15‑19)). The first epistle was probably written from Babylon (1 Peter 5:13¹³The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. (1 Peter 5:13)), while the nearness of his martyrdom suggests that the second could be from Rome1 (2 Peter 1:14¹⁴Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. (2 Peter 1:14)). The reference to Babylon is not symbolic; the verse should read, “She that is elected with you in Babylon salutes you” (JND)—it refers to an individual, not the church. (Election is individual.)

Both epistles are addressed to the Jewish believers scattered throughout Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1¹Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (1 Peter 1:1); 2 Peter 3:1¹This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2 Peter 3:1)). They had forsaken Judaism for Christianity, their inheritance was heavenly, and their Messiah glorified. Physically and spiritually they were strangers and pilgrims (1 Peter 2:11¹¹Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11)). The Apostle encourages them in their earthly path, a way fraught with trials and persecution. Salvation in its fullness is a future thing (1 Peter 1:4-5⁴To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:4‑5)). The government of God is especially brought before us—in the first, towards the righteous, while in the second, in the judgment of the wicked.

First Peter

In the first chapter we have the Christian’s hope—a living hope. Though there are trials, the results will have an eternal weight (1 Peter 1:7⁷That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)). God’s daily government is to be recognized, and we pass this time of sojourning in fear, not because we are uncertain as to salvation, but because we have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:16-19¹⁶Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. ¹⁷And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: ¹⁸Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:16‑19)).

In chapter two, verses one through ten, we have Christian privileges. In contrast to the Jewish temple, we are, as living stones, “built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)). Christ is the corner stone. With our service God-ward thus established, we find there is also a testimony to man: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9⁹But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)).

In connection with these two—our service before God and our testimony before this world—we experience God’s moral government in our lives. The ark and Dagon could not dwell together (1 Sam. 5:3³And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. (1 Samuel 5:3)). “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16¹⁶Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16)).

Peter begins his exhortation with, “Beloved, I exhort you, as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:1¹Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (1 Peter 2:1)1 JnD). He views the Christian’s pilgrimage as a pathway of suffering, in the midst of which we are to conduct ourselves in such a manner so as to bring glory to God. This applies both in connection with governments and masters, as well as in domestic relationships. “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” (1 Peter 3:14¹⁴But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (1 Peter 3:14)).

When our lives are governed by the will of God, we will suffer; such a walk must be at the expense of our own will (1 Peter 4:1, 2¹Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; ²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1‑2)). A path of worldly excess may have its pleasures, but those that walk in it will have to give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead (1 Peter 4:4-5⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. (1 Peter 4:4‑5)).

We have a gift; we are to use it for the glory of God as faithful stewards (1 Peter 4:10¹⁰As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)). If we suffer for the name of Christ, then happy are we (1 Peter 4:14¹⁴If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:14)). None are to suffer as an evildoer (1 Peter 4:15¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. (1 Peter 4:15)). God works his ways of government first with those nearest Him, and so judgment must begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17¹⁷For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)).

The book closes with the aged Peter exhorting the elders, “Feed the flock of God” (1 Peter 5:2²Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5:2)). And to the younger, “Submit yourselves unto the elder” (1 Peter 5:5⁵Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5)). “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10¹⁰But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)).

Second Peter

Peter’s second epistle addresses the terrible wickedness of the last days of Christendom. Unregenerate teachers, denying the Lord that bought them, would entice with vain words, promising liberty, but leading souls into the bondage of sin (ch. 2). Scoffers would make a mockery of Christianity and the hope of the believer (ch. 3).

While the second and third chapters are dark, the first is bright with encouragement. Peter exhorts them to make their calling and election sure, not in the eyes of God, for that would render the words meaningless, but in their walk. He desires that our entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ would be an abundant one, richly furnished (2 Peter 1:11¹¹For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11)). Peter recalls the mount of transfiguration; how could he forget that scene (2 Peter 1:17-18¹⁷For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2 Peter 1:17‑18)). We truly have a sure word, as we await, not the rising of the sun, but the day-star (2 Peter 1:19¹⁹We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19)).

While the language of this epistle, and especially the second chapter, resembles Jude’s, there it is apostasy that is spoken of, and here it is sin. Peter in using the angels as an example says: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned” (2 Peter 2:4⁴For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2 Peter 2:4)), while Jude, using a similar example, relates: “The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation” (Jude 6⁶And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Jude 6)).

It was Peter’s desire that they might be mindful of the words spoken before by the apostles (2 Peter 3:1, 2¹This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: ²That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2 Peter 3:1‑2)). His manner of speaking offers no suggestion whatsoever of apostolic succession. Just as there were mockers in Noah’s day, their voices are today loud and clear. The world, however, is not now facing a flood, but fire, and the total dissolution of heaven and earth. Knowing this, we are to be diligent, “found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14¹⁴Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 Peter 3:14)).

1. Secular history records that Peter died in Rome, a view widely accepted.

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