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 …show more content…
(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
In this opening chapter, Paul begins with a formal introduction of himself. He asserts the source from whom he obtained his apostolic call and ministry from- the risen Christ and “God the Father” (v.1). He follows with a stern rebuke of the Galatian Christians who have allowed themselves to be duped into to embracing the heretical teachings promulgated by the Judaizers. A. Salutation 1:1-5
As we develop a closer relationship with Christ we are to end up more mindful of His Holiness.
The authorship of First Peter seems very obvious, but according to commentary from Edward Gordon Selwyn there is definite room for discussion. Peter is written in the prelude to chapter one, but in the final greetings in chapter five, help from Silas is mentioned. There are many different parts of the book that confirm Peter as the main author though. In chapter five, verse one, the author states that he was a "witness of Christ's sufferings," in which Peter witnessed all that Jesus endured. The author exhorts the elders in chapter five, verse two, to tend to God's flock that is under them. Peter could be saying this in reference to the instance when Jesus was speaking to him in John chapter 21 about feeding His lambs and taking care of His sheep. These are just a couple of statements that would be "quite natural" for Peter to make in his writing (Kelcy 8). The other possibility in the authorship of First Peter is that Silas, also known as Silvanus, helped write the book as an amanuensis. With Peter's lack of formal schooling, some scholars say that Silvanus must have had a part in the...
In his thought-provoking book, “The Pursuit of Holiness,” Jerry Bridges offers a personal look on what it means to be holy like Christ. The book is scripture backed and covers all areas of holiness as a Christian. In the book, Bridges starts off with assessing just what holiness is. To be holy is to be morally blameless and to have no sin (p. 15). Holiness is being separated from the ways of the world and becoming more like Christ. To be holy does not mean that you obey a set of rules, but is instead string to do always do what is pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. In Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, Paul challenges the people to give up their bodies as a holy sacrifice for kingdom work. He continues on saying that this is truly
In transition, the last two lines of the verse “Be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure.” (850), are very significant. They capture the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies and refer to what is often called the double imputation. In this, our sins were laid upon the pure, unblemished Christ, which he then in turn absorbed the punishment of God’s wrath for the sake of mankind. The relationship between Toplady’s concepts and biblical verse are once again evident in this encounter. Referring back to the Bible for an explanation, the first book of Peter reads: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (The Holy Bible, 1 Pet. 2:24) This passage correspondingly defines double imputation as being a justification by grace through faith alone. Therefore, loosely translated,
In trying to understand Philippians 2:5-11 it is equally important to understand what is going on both before this passage occurs and what happens after. Paul is writing a letter to the church in Philippi and unlike some of his other letters he is filled with joy when writing to them. Immediately his letter begins with praise and thanksgiving directed towards the Philippians due to their kindness and provisions that they had consistently provided for Paul while he was in Prison. Paul then goes on to write about the fact that his imprisonment has advanced the Gospel of Christ. Paul then continues on to talk about the way in which the Philippians need to compose themselves and tells them to “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). He says this because at the time the Philippians had a lot of forces that opposed them, just as Christ did when he was here on earth. Rather then becoming boastful or prideful Paul urges the Philippians to be like a servant who gives all the glory to God and not upon oneself. This then leads him into 2:5-11.
In The Pursuit of Holiness the author, Jerry Bridges, shows the Christian what it looks like to be truly holy. Holiness is to live a life of conformity to God’s will. Holiness is a joint effort between God and his people, it is not something God just gives us when we accept him into our lives. Many times Christians neglect the responsibility we have of moving towards God and pursuing holiness. Holiness is not something that is fully attainable, it is a constant pursuit to be like God. Holiness is expected by God. Not only is it expected, it is a part of our birthright as Christians. God specifically calls us to holiness, “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44a). God is perfectly holy. Therefore, to be holy is to conform to the character of God, and not to this world. Since God is perfectly holy we can have confidence that when dealing with us he is just and perfect. Bridges explains that holiness is God’s greatest attribute. Since he is holy, that makes all his other attributes good, holy, and just. God, being all of these things, cannot hold us to a standard of any less than holiness.
‘So Peter opened his mouth and said “Truly I understand God shows no partiality”’ (Acts 10:34)
Paul the Apostle is the central figure in many New Testament writings. Many historians have attributed fourteen New Testament letters to Paul’s writing; seven of these letters are uncontested meaning historians are sure that Paul wrote them, the remaining seven are contested. Paul was not always a Christian; in fact, he persecuted Christians before Christ came and temporarily blinded him. Upon seeing Christ, Paul devoted his life to Christianity and set out to spread the teachings of Christ. Scholars often credit Paul’s leadership to the ability of the Church to become Hellenistic in one generation. Paul also answered specific worries and questions that his converters may have had in many of his writings; one of these writings is 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians, Paul set out to deal with the many believers in Corinth who are divided into the followings of Paul or Apollos rather than Christianity as a whole. The converts of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12-14 were divided during times of worship because of jealousy invoked by the spiritual gifts received from the “Spirit”; the worships and the church became a place to boast who is closest to God, instead of a place of worship, interpretation, and love. In 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, Paul set guidelines in times of worship to heal the divide among his converts present in 1 Corinthians 12-14.
One thing God has been teaching me in the past couple weeks is just how much knowledge is packed into a passage of scripture. So many different revelations can be received from one same passage of scripture. The passage I choose to exegate is Acts 10, which includes the account of Peter and Cornelius. The person I want to focus in on in this passage is Peter because for one, we see a heart change take place in Peter in this passage and two, God works through his obedience to begin a new movement of Christianity.
That is, when Jews go to Gentiles they need to show that Christianity is available to the Gentiles, without forcing them to become Jews to be Christians. Cornelius had assembled his relatives and close friends to hear Peter’s message. Peter explained as he entered the house that Jews do not associate or visit Gentiles because they are viewed as unclean, but God had shown Peter that he should not consider any man unclean, so he came without objection. This provided an opportunity to explain the gospel to those in the house and the Holy Spirit fell upon all listening. The Gentiles began to speak in tongues as the Christians had at first, showing that they were authentically saved with the repentance that leads to life (Acts 10:44–48;
In Acts 2:14 Peter is fulfilling this command by preaching a sermon to the people of Jerusalem
This is a journal article critique of Robert D. Culver’s “Apostles and the Apostolate in the New Testament” published in the April to June 1977 issue of Bibliotheca Sacra, a Dallas Theological Seminary publication for over 165 years which concentrates in the studies in theology, Bible exposition, and ministry. The author of this article Robert Culver was a professor of Theology who taught a combined 25 years at Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He was an author, preacher, pastor and teacher right up until his death at 98 years old. His most noted publication was the massive 1200-page Systematic Theology: Biblical & Historical in 2005. The examination of Apostles in the New Testament is covered under
“The Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges focuses primarily on God’s holiness and how all of God’s children should live their lives always making an effort to be holy. Bridges states that everyone is called to be holy. It is important for Christians to pursue holiness. Similarly, God does not force anyone to be holy. It is up to each individual to decide for themselves to follow God and be holy.
Professor Barry D. Smith, The New Testament and Its Context, The Letter of II Peter http://www.abu.nb.ca/courses/ntintro/2Pet.htm.