1 Peter 1:1-12

Peter begins his letter by describing the hope that all Christians have, in a jumble of phrases which reference eternity past, the Old Testament, the life of Jesus, and the future. It’s a big picture that’s meant to stir our praise to God and our gratitude to Jesus for doing all this for us.

Before time

“the foreknowledge of God the Father” (2)

“those who are elect exiles” (verse 1)

Old Testament

“the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you…” (10-12)

Jesus on earth

“the sufferings of Christ” (11)

“the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (3)

“the subsequent glories” (11),

Birth of the church

“those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven” (12)

A believer’s experience

“those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven” (12)

“he has caused us to be born again” (3)

“the sanctification of the Spirit” (2)

“sprinkling with his blood” (2)

“Though you have not seen him, you love him…” (8)

“you rejoice… you have been grieved by various trials” (6)

“you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith” (5)

The last time, and forever

“a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (5)

“your faith … may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (7)

“an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (4)

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Questions

• What did you find helpful in Luke preaching a big picture of the story of salvation? Were there areas you struggled to connect to your own life?

• Given how Peter describes hope as “a living hope” and defines it by what Jesus has promised, what do you think the difference is between what British people mean when they say “hope” and when Christians do?

• Peter changes the formality of ancient letter-writing: instead of saying “chaire”, which means “Hail” or “Greetings”, he says “charis” which means “grace” and adds “peace” as well. Then he writes a far longer thanksgiving than would be normal. What does this tell us about the gospel should change how we think and speak?

• What clues does Peter gives us in this passage about how we can enjoy our relationship with Jesus?

• How would explain to someone who isn’t a Christian what the hope that you have is?