Book Study: First Peter
Book Overview
The book of 1 Peter is a letter of encouragement to believers facing trials, reminding them of their identity in Christ and the living hope secured through His resurrection. Peter emphasizes that suffering refines faith and calls Christians to holiness, obedience, and sincere love. He describes them as a chosen people, built into a spiritual house with Christ as the cornerstone, urging honorable conduct, submission to authorities, and patient endurance in suffering. Practical guidance is given for households, leaders, and the community, stressing humility, compassion, and service. Throughout, Peter highlights that suffering for righteousness is a blessing, aligning believers with Christ’s own suffering, and assures them that God will restore and strengthen them. The letter closes with encouragement to resist the devil, remain humble, and trust God’s grace, promising eternal glory after temporary trials.
Brief Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
Peter encourages believers with a living hope through Christ’s resurrection, reminding them trials refine faith. He calls for holiness, obedience, and sincere love, grounded in redemption by Christ’s blood and the imperishable Word of God.
Chapter 2
Believers are living stones built into God’s spiritual house, with Christ as cornerstone. As a chosen people, they must proclaim God’s goodness, live honorably, submit to authorities, and follow Christ’s example of patient suffering and trust in God.
Chapter 3
Peter instructs wives and husbands to live respectfully, urges all believers toward humility and peace, and affirms suffering for righteousness as Christ did. Baptism symbolizes salvation, representing a clear conscience before God through Christ’s victorious resurrection.
Chapter 4
Believers must abandon sin, live for God’s will, and practice love, hospitality, and service. Trials should be embraced as sharing Christ’s sufferings, glorifying God. Judgment begins with God’s household, so believers must trust Him and continue doing good.
Chapter 5
Peter exhorts leaders to shepherd humbly, encourages all to clothe themselves in humility, and warns vigilance against the devil. He assures that after suffering, God will restore, strengthen, and establish His people, closing with blessing and peace.
Key Verses
1 Peter 1:3–4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
1 Peter 1:15–16
“But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
1 Peter 3:15
“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 4:12–13
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed.”
1 Peter 5:6–7
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.”
