1 Peter 1:1–12: Temporary Suffering and Eternal Glory
Introduction
The Apostle Peter was a man who knew suffering well. He knew the bitterness of sorrow of denying his Master, as well as the pain of seeing Jesus mistreated, falsely accused, condemned to death, and crucified. More than this, Peter suffered extensively in his apostolic ministry, being imprisoned and beaten for the sake of Jesus (e.g., Acts 5:40). Yet, through all of this, Peter learned that to obey Christ was worth every bit of suffering that he had to endure along the way. In this letter, Peter confronts our temporary, worldly orientation by lifting our eyes to eternity and to heaven, so that we might become bold to follow Jesus into sufferings today, in order that we might one day share in the glory of his kingdom. In the first installment of this message, Peter begins building this case that our temporary suffering purifies us for eternal glory.
Discussion Questions
1. Who is Peter? What do we know about him from the Gospels? What does it mean that Peter is “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v. 1a)? What does it mean that we are “elect” (v. 1b)? What does it mean that we are “exiles” (v. 1c)? How do these two terms inform the meaning of each other by appearing here together? What is “the Dispersion” (v. 1d)? What is the foreknowledge of the Father (v. 2a)? How do the persons of the Trinity work inseparably for our redemption (v. 2b)?
2. Why does Peter begin the body of his letter with an expression of praise to God (v. 3a)? What is the “great mercy” of God’s causing us “to be born again” (v. 3b)? How does our inheritance connect with, but differ from, the inheritance of Canaan in the Old Testament (v. 4)? How does our inheritance give us reason to rejoice, even while grieved by various trials (v. 6)? Why does God introduce trials into our lives (v. 7)? How do these trials help us to love Jesus (v. 8–9)?
3. How did the ministry of the Old Testament prophets connect to the salvation that we enjoy today (v. 10)? Did Old Testament believers enjoy the same salvation that we do? If so, then how was their experience different from ours (vv. 10–12)? What did those prophets proclaim about the relationship between the sufferings of Jesus and his subsequent glory? How does Jesus’ pathway to glory through suffering inform what we are enduring in our lives today?
4. What are some trials that you are enduring right now? How might you both acknowledge the grievousness of those trials, while also rejoicing in the way that God is leading you through them to grow in your love for Jesus? How much motivation does the promise of praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus (v. 7b) hold for you? How does this opening passage of 1 Peter help to reorient your understanding of the significance of your suffering today?
