Thessalonian Faith

Hope in Times Like These

(60-00a)

Pastor and author Colin Smith was right when he said the letter of 1 Peter is:

“God’s discipleship manual unedited. As you get inside this letter, it will get inside you and provide God-given direction for your life.”

Colin S. Smith, 10 Keys to Unlock the Christian Life
(Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2005).

Preface

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations in this study of 1 Peter are my own translation and are sometimes marked as MSV (My Study Version).

The purpose of the My Study Version Bible (MSV) is to compile a Functionally Equivalent translation of the Bible that is Faithful to the Text and Functional for Today. It is intended to clarify the message of the Bible text and is designed for studying and teaching the Bible.

The text of this Bible translation is based on the Literal Standard Version Bible (LSV), Copyright 2022, Covenant Press.  The original work is by Biblica and is available for free at biblica.com and open.bible (and also https://www.logos.com/product/252062/literal-standard-version). Permission to use and modify the LSV for this project is granted by and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike CC BY SA [4.0] license.

The Bible text amendments and annotations are derived from various Logos Bible Software resources and tools.  These are referenced through hyperlinks and footnotes associated with and embedded in the text.  References to these materials will not be visible or available in sections printed from this digital Bible or posted to a website. This digital Bible is compiled using the Logos Bible Software Personal Book tool and is formatted in a Phrasing (flow-of-thought) format.  Questions and suggestions regarding this project or translation can be sent to tim@thessalinianfaith.org.

Introduction

As I write this introduction on May 19, 2024,

  • The world is experiencing unrest and uncertainty.
  • Our country is dealing with political, social and economic pressures.
  • Neighborhoods have crime and security issues.
  • And Christians are ostracized, tormented, oppressed and even suppressed.

The people of God have experienced times like these now and then. By “now and then” I don’t mean every once in a while. I mean the people of God are experiencing times like these now, in the 21st century, just as they did then, in the first century.  Solomon was right when he wrote: “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Eccl. 1:9, NLT)

Truly, 

  • words of comfort and encouragement would be welcome.
  • words of assurance would be helpful.
  • words of guidance would be beneficial.
  • words of hope would give us confidence. 
  • the words of 1 Peter were written for times like these.

The apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:12 (NLT),

… My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

Pastor and author, Colin Smith, describes the book of 1 Peter as,

“God’s discipleship manual unedited. As you get inside this letter, it will get inside you and provide God-given direction for your life.”–

Colin S. Smith, 10 Keys to Unlock the Christian Life (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2005).

Pericope-Level Outline

(With links to Study Guides for each pericope/lesson.)

Hope in Times Like These

Hope for the Chosen in Christ (1 Peter 1:1-2) (60.01a)

Hope from Our Salvation by Christ (1 Peter 1:3-2:10) (Growing in our knowledge of Jesus)

  • Our Experience of Salvation (1 Peter 1:3-12; Hebrews 11:1-12:2) (60.02a) (60.02b) (Gives us hope – Ephesians 2:12–13)
  • Our Response to Salvation (1 Peter 1:13-25) (60.03a) (Proves our hope – 1 Timothy 4:10)
  • Our Growth in Salvation (1 Peter 2:1-10) (60.04a) (Demonstrates our hope – 1 Peter 3:14–17)

Hope through Living in Christ (1 Peter 2:11-4:11) (Growing in our relationship in Jesus)

  • Living Honorably Among Non-Believers (1 Peter 2:11-12) (60.05a)
  • Living  Humbly Towards Authorities (1 Peter 2:13-3:12) (60.06a) (60.06b) (60.06c) (60.06d)
  • Living Hospitably Among Non-Believers (1 Peter 3:13-22) (60.07a) (60.07b) 

Hope for Persevering with Christ (1 Peter 4:1-5:14) (Growing in our service with Jesus)

  • Think the Same Way as Christ  (1 Peter 4:1-11) (60.08a)
  • Hope Through Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19) (60.09a)
  • Hope In Community (1 Peter 5:1-14) (60.10a)

Paragraph-level Outline

Hope for the Chosen in Christ (1 Peter 1:1-2) 

Hope from Our Salvation by Christ (1 Peter 1:3-2:10)  (Growing in our knowledge of Jesus)

Our Experience of Salvation (1 Peter 1:3-12)

  • Possession of Salvation (1 Peter 1:3-5)
  • Proof of Salvation (1 Peter 1:6-9)
  • Prophecy of Salvation (1 Peter 1:10-12)

Our Response to Salvation (1 Peter 1:13-25) 

  • Confident Hope (1 Peter 1:13)
  • Uncompromising  Holiness (1 Peter 1:14-16)
  • Reverent Conduct (1 Peter 1:17-21)
  • Fervent  Love (1 Peter 1:22-23)
  • Accepted Reality (1 Peter 1:24-25)

Our Growth in Salvation (1 Peter 2:1-10) 

  • Crave the Word of God (1 Peter 2:1-3)
  • Build upon the Son of God (1 Peter 2:4-8)
  • Serve in the Family of God (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Hope through Living in Christ (1 Peter 2:11-4:11) (Growing in our relationship in Jesus)

Live Honorably among non-believers (1 Peter 2:11-12)

Live Humbly Towards Authorities (1 Peter 2:13-3:12) 

  • Everyone Toward Government Authorities (1 Peter 2:13b-17)
  • As Servants toward Masters (1 Peter 2:18-25)
  • ► Christ our Example (1 Peter 2:21-25)
  • As Wives toward your own Husbands (1 Peter 3:1-6)
  • ► Sarah our Example (1 Peter 3:5-6)
  • As Husbands Toward your own Wives (1 Peter 3:7)
  • Everyone Before the LORD (1 Peter 3:8-12)
  • ► God’s Standards (1 Peter 3:10-12)

Live Hospitably Among Non-Believers (1 Peter 3:13-22) 

  • Especially When Persecuted (1 Peter 3:13-22)
  • Christ our Inspiration (1 Peter 3:18-20)
  • Baptism our Declaration (1 Peter 3:21-22)

Hope for Persevering with Christ (1 Peter 4:1-5:14) (Growing in our service with Jesus)

Think the Same Way as Christ  (1 Peter 4:1-11)

  • On Purpose (1 Peter 4:1-6)
  • With Passion (1 Peter 4:7-8)
  • For Others (1 Peter 4:9-11

Hope through Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19) 

  • With Joy (1 Peter 4:12-14)
  • Glorifying God (1 Peter 4:15-19)

Hope in Community (1 Peter 5:1-14) 

  • With Leaders (1 Peter 5:1-4)
  • In Humility (1 Peter 5:5-7)
  • Being Alert (1 Peter 5:8-11)
  • As Family (1 Peter 5:12-14)