Sermon Tone Analysis

About Peter

The floorway inside the main entrance to a beautiful European cathedral consists of three large marble slabs

They are inscribe in Latin with CREDO, SPEIRO, and AMO.

They are inscribe in Latin with CREDO, SPEIRO, and AMO.

That is the order in which the 3 main epistle-writers of our NT occur.

First Paul - the apostle of faith, Peter - his emphasis on hope, last John with his emphasis on love

“I believe”, I Hope”, I love.”

I would add a fourth James - action.

In July 64 A.D. Rome burned.

Historians also believed that Nero had intentionally set the fire and wanted to rename the ruined city “Neropolis.”

The populace was incensed and Nero needed a scapegoat, whom he found in the local Christians.

Rumor had it that these Christians were cannibals, sexual perverts, or even atheists because they believed in only one God.

All of Rome soon turned on the New Testament believers.

Christianity was persecuted in its' infancy just as was our Saviour.

Simon Peter, the author, is mentioned 210 times in the New Testament compared to 162 for Paul.

He was married and refused to allow others to bow down to him.

Peter wrote to the elect scattered throughout Asia Minor.

Many believe he wrote from Rome.

But Peter was not mentioned in or Romans and if is Rome then must refer to Rome as well.

There was a sizable settlement of Jews in Babylon at this time and this points to the fact that Peter may have written this epistle there.

Simon Peter, the author, is mentioned 210 times in the New Testament compared to 162 for Paul.

He was married and refused to allow others to bow down to him.

Peter wrote to the elect scattered throughout Asia Minor.

Many believe he wrote from Rome.

Statistics

Statistics

Author: Simon Peter

Date: 64 A.D.

Key Verses: 1:1-8

Key Verses: 2:7

Key Words: suffer - 16 times, good - 9 times, glory - 16 times, grace - 8 times, conversation - 6 times.

5 chapters, 105 verses, 2482 words

Key Words: suffer - 16 times, good - 9 times, glory - 16 times, grace - 8 times, conversation - 6 times.

5 chapters, 105 verses, 2,482 words

The Living Hope

Chapters 1 through 2:10

Immediately after his opening salutation Peter commences with a grateful doxology (verse 3) for the great mercy of God in having "given us a new birth into a LIVING HOPE, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance"

Immediately after his opening salutation Peter commences with a grateful doxology (verse 3) for the great mercy of God in having "begotten us again unto a LIVING HOPE, by the resurrectioll of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance ... " The though! of this wonderful hope is expanded in the ensuing verses (verses" 5, 7, 8, II, 13, 21).

In fact, a further glance will show that all the verses up to the twelfth declare the hope, and verses 13-21 show the right reaction to it: "Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind," etc.

The thought of this wonderful hope is expanded in the ensuing verses (verses 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 21).

In fact, a further glance will show that all the verses up to the twelfth declare the hope, and verses 13-21 show the right reaction to it: "Therefore, with your minds ready for action,”

How interesting it now is to find that at verse 22 Peter sla.IJ.ts off to talk about the "LIVING WORD" !-"Seeing ye hav purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit• -, love one another with a pure heart fervently ; being born agaill

How interesting it now is to find that at verse 22 Peter starts off to talk about the "LIVING WORD" !

“Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,  because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

()

Christian Standard Bible.

(2017).

(2-23).

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.” ().

Christian Standard Bible.

(2017).

().

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.Seeing ye hav purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit• -, love one another with a pure heart fervently ; being born agaill

not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of G9di,r

which liveth and abideth for ever."

The "wherefore" with whi(:h.

chapter ii.

opens shows us our true reaction to that "living wo,:.:i''

(ii.

1-3).

The Therefore that starts off chapter two shows our reaction to the living Word.

Still more interesting is it to find that the next sub-sectiqn (ii.

4-10) is all about the "LIVING STONE" l-"To whom [Christ] coming, a living Stone, rejected indeed of men, butel !·. of God, and precious" (verse 4).

Verses 5-10 tell us our.relati j., thereto: "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual ho }i anholy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices."

,,;c

Still more interesting is it to find that the next section (2: 4-10) is all about the "LIVING STONE"

"As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—”

Verses 5-10 tell us our relation to God: “you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Christian Standard Bible.

(2017).

().

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.To whom [Christ] coming, a living Stone, rejected indeed of men, butel !·. of God, and precious" (verse 4).

Verses 5-10 tell us our.relati j., thereto: "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual ho }i anholy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices."

,,;c

So, then, in this first part of the epistle we find Peter speaking about three "living" realities of our Christian faith and life.

Christian Standard Bible.

(2017).

().

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.j., thereto: "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual ho }i anholy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices."

,,;c

📷So, then, in this first part of the epistle we find Peter speald , about three "living" realities of our Christian faith and liferr .

The "living hope" (1:3).

The "living hope" (i.

3).

The "living Word" (i.

23).

The "living Stone" (ii.

4).

The "living Word" (1:23).

The "living Stone" (2:4).

It is not just that these things are incidentally whole section is about them.

In chapter i. 3-21

It is not just that these things are incidentally whole section is about them.

In chapter 1:3-21 everything is about the "living hope" and our reaction to it.

about the "living hope" and our reaction to it.

In i.

In 1:22 - 3:3 everything is about the "living Word" and again our reaction to it.

everything is about the "living Word" and again our reaction to it.

In chapter ii.

4-10 everything is about the "living Stone" and our relation thereto.

In chapter 2:4-10 everything is about the "living Stone" and our relation to it.

The primary thought through out this first section is the "living hope" which is ours in Christ.

It is that to which we are immediately directed in the opening verse: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a LIVING HOPE by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an inherit­ ance, flawless, faultless, and fadeless, reserved in heaven for you."

The "living Word" and the "living Stone" are the pledge and base which make our "living hope" imperishable and indestructible.

The Pilgrim Life

Chapters 2:11 - 4:11

We resume at chapter 2:11 with that "Dear Friends."

At once we realize that a different note is now being sounded.

There is a transition from explanation to exhortation.

Peter is telling us about the pilgrim life and how to live it.

We can easily verify this if we read slowly onwards from that eleventh verse: "Dearly beloved, I urge you as strangers and pilgrims (exiles), to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.”

How methodical and progressive it all is! Consecutively we are told how to live the pilgrim life as citizens (ii.

r2-17), as employees (ii.