Analysis Of The Book Of 1 Peter

Final Project- 1 Peter 1:13-16 The book of 1 Peter was written by Peter around A.D. 62 and is written to the persecuted churches in Asia Minor; he is most likely writing from Rome. The occasion for Peter writing to these churches was that they were enduring a “fiery trial” and were going through harsh persecution and he is encouraging them and instructing them on how to stay strong and persevere. (Halley 662-663) The theme of the book of 1 Peter is: Living holy in a hostile world. In the midst of their persecution and in a time when Christians were being burned and killed for what they believed Peter writes to remind the church that regardless of their circumstances they are to live holy and remain focused on Christ. The Baker Exegetical Commentary states that, “verse 13 forms a transition between the opening of the body of the letter, with its majestic description of God has done in Christ, and the exhortations of the letter, which are the necessary implications if Peter’s readers are to live consistently with who they are in Christ.” (108) Peter is not introducing a new theme altogether “but rather implies a pause which accentuates that the argument of the preceding verses is now rounded off and applied to the

(MacArthur 66) These believers understood that they were children of God (1:14a) and as such Peter is urging them to not be conformed to their previous desires (1:14 b) but to instead demonstrate holiness in every aspect of their lives (1:15) because God is holy (1:16). To be holy means “that Christians must conform their thinking and behavior to God’s character.” (Baker 111) The standard of holiness was not just called for by Peter, but Christ first set this standard in His sermon on the mount (Matt. 5:4). The most compelling reason for God’s people to live in holiness is because of their relationship with