Suffering Transformed to Glory A Study of 1 Peter Author & Date

Author: • The Apostle Peter • Written likely in Rome (1 Pe 5:13)

Date: • A.D. 62-63 • Before onset of Neronian persecution Destination • 5 Provinces of Asian Minor • Asia province most Hellenized and Roman of all provinces • Rapid colonization of other provinces occurring as part of Roman policy

Recipients • Mainly Gentile (1 Pe 1:14; 4:3-4) • brought by others and not known • Described as those who are “aliens” in the world and “scattered” throughout the Destination & Recipients region I have written you briefly, in order to Purpose: encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. ( :12) Outline: • Introduction (1 Pe 1:1-2) • Called to Salvation (1 Pe 1:3-2:10) • Living as Aliens to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (1 Pe 2:11-4:11) • Persevering in Suffering (1 Pe 4:12-5:11) Outline & • Concluding Words (1 Pe 5:12-14)

Themes: Themes: • Suffering with the right perspective (1 Pe 1:1-7; 2:1-25; 5:12) • Lordship and Suffering of Christ (1 Pe 1:4-11; 3:18-22) • Discipleship and Sanctification (1 Pe 1; 2:1-11; 5:1-9) 1. The Christian Life as a Battle & Witness (2:11-12) Living as Aliens to Bring Glory to God in 2. Testifying to the Gospel in the Social Order (2:13-3:12) a Hostile World 3. Responding in a Godly Way to Suffering (3:13-4:11)

(1 Pe 2:11-4:11) • The Blessing of Suffering for Christ (3:13-17) • Christ’s Suffering as the Pathway to Exaltation (3:18-22) :18-22 What is Peter addressing in 1 Peter 3:18-22?

Why believers in Christ should not fear in the midst of suffering but be fully confident in their final victory 1 Peter 3:18: Christ “Died” or “Suffered” for Sins?

The manuscript witnesses have strong external support for either reading, therefore internal evidence must be considered:

1. The verb for “died’ is a favorite by the author (used 11x in 1 Peter)

2. The scribes would be more likely to substitute “he died for sins” in place of “he suffered for sins” since the former is closer to more common idioms and early liturgy

3. The link to v. 17 along with the introductory causal “for” (hoti) favors the reading Christ “suffered” for sins.

Conclusion: The overall evidence tilts in favor of the reading that Christ “suffered” for sins in v. 18a, with his death for sins explicitly mentioned later in v.18b. 1. Describes Christ preaching through to those who lived while Noah was building the ark.

2. Refers to Old Testament saints who died and were liberated by Christ between His death and resurrection The Main Views of 3. Refers to Christ preaching to the sinful human beings :19 who perished during Noah’s flood between His death and resurrection, offering them the opportunity to repent and be saved

4. Describes Christ’s proclamation of victory and judgement over the evil angels (spiritual powers), particularly those in Genesis 6:1-4 View 4: Christ’s Proclamation of Victory Contextual Reasons: Explanation: The same Greek participle (poreutheis) translated “went” is used in v. 22 to clearly The word “went” in v. 19 describe Christ’s ascension. While there are other instances where this Greek word is used to describe the ascension (Acts 1:10-11; John 14:2, 3, 28; 16:7,28), there are no instances where it refers to any descent (Views 2 & 3). Also, Christ did not really go anywhere if he preached through Noah (View 1). Fits much more as a reference to angels (View 4) than to human beings (Views 1-3) especially since the plural word “spirits” (pneumata) almost exclusively refers to angels. The word “spirits” The only place where it does not is Heb 12:23, where the addition of the word righteous makes it clear that human beings are in view. This also fits the context of verse 22 with the angels and authorities being in submission to Christ. The word prison is never used to describe the place of punishment for human beings (Views 1-3) after death but is used of Satan’s confinement for 1,000 years. The idea that The idea of “prison” evil angels are imprisoned is taught in :4 and also clearly taught in Jewish tradition (1 Enoch 10:4; 15:8,10; 18:12-14; 21:1-10; 67:7; 2 Enoch 7:1-3; 18:3; Jub. 5:6).

The most basic meaning of this word is to make an announcement, make known, or proclaim aloud as a herald. Though often used to speak of proclaiming the Gospel, it is The word “preach” also used in other contexts (Rev. 5:2; Gal. 5:11; Rom 2:21). This also fits with the idea of Christ’s victory in this text (cf. Col. 2:15) 1 Peter 3:21: Does baptism save us? At first blush, it may seem that Peter is stating that water baptism saves believers. However, when looking at the parallelism between v. 20 and v. 21 we discover that water is a symbol that typologically associates the flood with Christian baptism:

3:20 3:21

a few you

were saved baptism now saves

through the resurrection of through water Christ

Just as the flood water served as reminder to Noah and his family of their salvation, so too baptism serves as reminder of the salvation that we have through the power of the Christ. APPLICATION: How does what Peter describe during the time of Noah encourage believers in Peter’s day as well as us today? Encouragement from the Story of Noah

Just as in the days of Noah… So too in these days…

God was patient and delayed his judgment against the God is patient and delays his judgment against those disobedient who are disobedient (2 Pe 3:3-4, 3:8-9)

Pagan humanity derided and maligned Noah’s warning to Pagan humanity will deride and malign believers for their repent faith in Christ (1 Pe 4:3-4; Jn 15:18-21; 16:33)

Just as the rain eventually began to fall for forty days and The final judgment of God will also overtake scoffing forty nights and overtook the unbelieving world unbelievers in the future (1 Pe 4:3-5; 17-19; 2 Pe 3:10)

Despite there being only a few who believed, God was Despite there being a small group of believers, God is faithful and saved all who believed faithful and will save every one of those who believe (1 Pe 1:3-9; Jn 6:39-40)

Conclusion: The God who saved Noah is the same God who will save Christian believers