A discussion on 1 Peter

A discussion on 1 Peter

The First Apostle and Bishop of Antioch and Rome

Peter s Travels Born in Bethsaida (near Galilee) Bishop of Antioch for 7 Years Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Minor Bithynia Rome

Simon the Sorceror Acts 8: 9-24 is the account of Simon asking to pay money for preisthood The sin of Simony 0r Paying for Influence in the Church is named after him A lot of texts, apocrypha, and various historiacal writings refer to Simon the magician or Simus Magus Viewed as the first heretic Rumors that Simus came to Rome and build a following, Peter came to Rome and removed him Avanzio Nucci Peter s Conflict with Simon

Council of Jerusalem Acts 15, Galatians 2 An apostolic conference that happened around the year 50AD, 20 years after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ The council decided Gentile converts to Christianity were not required to keep the Law of Moses (at least in its entirety) As we have already learned, the cause of this council was associated with Paul s missionary efforts and came to be a major issue in Antioch Peter gives his Apostolic Decree (which was recorded by James) in Acts 15; 19-21: Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Interesting example of Peter as the leader of the Christian Church, and more importantly the involvement of the Priesthood governing the affairs of the Church

Interesting Notes about Peter Many believe that he was the author of the Gospel of Mark (because Mark served as Peter s principle scribe) There are a lot of non-canon texts attributed to Peter. These are known as Apocrypha and they are many: Acts of Peter Gospel of Peter Preaching of Peter Revelation of Peter Judgment of Peter Martyred by the Emperor Nero in Rome, crucified upside down (he did not feel he was worthy to be crucified like the savior), his confession led to his death Catholic s believe that his bones are buried in the Confessio of St. Peter s Basilica where a cemetery was found in 1968. Bones were verified as being a 61 year old male from the 1 st century Since 1969, the statue of Peter at this location is crowned with a Papal Tiara and the Ring of the Fisherman (see next slide) during the Feast of the Chair

Images of Papal Tiara and Ring

The Sacerdotal Chair The chair that Peter sat on as a Bishop of Rome for 25 years The Feast of the Chair of Rome has been held every year since the 4 th Century View of the Role of Priesthood in Catholic Church. Catholic s believe in a very similar manner to ancient Israel. A priesthood holder is necessary to mediate between God and man. To act for Man in advocacy and offerings for the Atonement of Christ. Principle complaint of Martin Luther

1 Peter

Background Letter was most likely written in Rome Most likely this letter was written around 62 or 63 AD before the persecutions of Nero reached their worst levels Traditionally, the Roman government tolerated religions, Christianity was no exception to that The Church leadership had decided to preach the Gospel unto all nations and therefore the Gospel and teachings about Jesus started to spread throughout the Roman Empire Statements were being made on how Jesus of Nazareth was killed by his own people under Roman rule and had risen from the dead The message indicated that Christ would return and establish his own (new and better) kingdom. Nero did not like this. Misunderstanding and hatred by Nero and others led to persecution, and the tolerance view began to change

Theme The letter focuses on the way Saints ought to react to persecution and continued suffering for their belief in Christ 1 Peter 1: 13-17 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Peter seems to be teaching the Saints on how to deal with an increased hatred, therefore this letter is a warning message to Christian Saints 1 Peter 1: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

Peculiar People 1 Peter 2: 9-10 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Chosen Generation, Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation, a Peculiar People are all phases used by Ancient Israel - Read Isaiah 43:20 - Exodus 19:6 - Peculiar or Peculium used to mean the concept of private property - interesting Peter is therefore referring to the Christian followers as the New Israel Discuss the concepts of a chosen people with the royal priesthood and compare to our day

1 Peter 2: 18 26 and Isaiah 53 1 Peter Chapter 2 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Isaiah Chapter 53 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

1 Peter 2: 18 26 and Isaiah 53 1 Peter Chapter 2 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. Isaiah Chapter 53 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

1 Peter 2: 18 26 and Isaiah 53 Isaiah Chapter 53 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Patience in Suffering Imagine that Peter actually saw these events and witnessed the scourging and crucifixion of Christ Think of this phrase: Who, when he was reviled Peter uses the word, buffeted which means to be struck with fists Peter mentions stripes which is the bruise or bloody welt left from Roman Scourging How is Christ the perfect example to us of having patience while suffering? Giulio Cesare Procaccini The scourging of Christ

How should we respond to Persecution? 1 Peter 3:13-17 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Fiery Trial 1 Peter 4: 12-19 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Judgments to Begin at the House of God 1 Peter 4: 17-19 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. D&C 112: 24-26 24 Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord. 25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; 26 First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.

Peter s Reference to the Gospel Being Preached to the Dead by Christ

The People that Ignored Noah Spencer Kimball in the Book Miracle of Forgiveness writes: They were drowned in their sins. Their marriages were for time. They reveled in worldliness. They were possibly like many in the world today who place no curb upon their eating, drinking and licentiousness. Their ignoring the laws of God and the warning of the prophets continued until the very day when Noah and his family entered the ark. Then it was too late. Too late! What finality in that phrase! Following their eternal history, we find Peter telling of them more than two millennia later:

1 Peter 3: 18-20 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Spirits in Prison Kimball Continues: At last, they had a chance in the spirit world to hear the voice of missionaries and prophets again. But so late! What sad words! Nearly a further two millennia passed into history and we hear of them again in modern revelation. Of the vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in 1832, the Prophet writes:

D&C 76: 71-74 71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament. 72 Behold, these are they who died without law; 73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; 74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.

Too Late! Kimball Continues: Too late! The terrestrial for them! It could have been the celestial, and it could have been exaltation! But they procrastinated the day of their preparation. The same lamentable cry of "Too late!" will apply to many of today's Church members who did not heed the warning His laws are immutable. They will not be modified. Your opinion or mine does not alter the laws. Many in the world, and even some in the Church, seem to think that eventually the Lord will be merciful and give them the unearned blessing. But the Lord cannot be merciful at the expense of justice.

Jesus Promise to the Dead John 5: 24-25 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

The Promise Fullfilled D&C 138 1 On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures; 2 And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world; 3 And the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world; 4 That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved. 5 While I was thus engaged, my mind reverted to the writings of the apostle Peter, to the primitive saints scattered abroad throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and other parts of Asia, where the gospel had been preached after the crucifixion of the Lord. 6 I opened the Bible and read the third and fourth chapters of the first epistle of Peter, and as I read I was greatly impressed, more than I had ever been before, with the following passages:

The Promise Fullfilled D&C 138 7 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 8 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 9 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:18 20.) 10 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Peter 4:6.) 11 As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.

The Promise Fullfilled D&C 138 12 And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality; 13 And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer s name. 14 All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. 15 I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand. 16 They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death. 17 Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy.

The Promise Fullfilled D&C 138 18 While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful; 19 And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance.

Did Jesus Actually Visit the Wicked? 20 But unto the wicked he did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised; 21 Neither did the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of the ancient prophets behold his presence, nor look upon his face. 22 Where these were, darkness reigned, but among the righteous there was peace; 23 And the saints rejoiced in their redemption, and bowed the knee and acknowledged the Son of God as their Redeemer and Deliverer from death and the chains of hell.

Did Jesus Actually Visit the Wicked? 24 Their countenances shone, and the radiance from the presence of the Lord rested upon them, and they sang praises unto his holy name. 25 I marveled, for I understood that the Savior spent about three years in his ministry among the Jews and those of the house of Israel, endeavoring to teach them the everlasting gospel and call them unto repentance; 26 And yet, notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands. 27 But his ministry among those who were dead was limited to the brief time intervening between the crucifixion and his resurrection;

Did Jesus Actually Visit the Wicked? 28 And I wondered at the words of Peter wherein he said that the Son of God preached unto the spirits in prison, who sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time. 29 And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; 30 But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead. 31 And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel. 32 Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

What is Being Taught? 33 These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, 34 And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 35 And so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross. 36 Thus was it made known that our Redeemer spent his time during his sojourn in the world of spirits, instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets who had testified of him in the flesh; 37 That they might carry the message of redemption unto all the dead, unto whom he could not go personally, because of their rebellion and transgression, that they through the ministration of his servants might also hear his words.

What happens if the dead repent? 57 I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead. 58 The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God, 59 And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation. 60 Thus was the vision of the redemption of the dead revealed to me, and I bear record, and I know that this record is true, through the blessing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, even so. Amen.

Message of Salvation He took the glorious message of the gospel and proclaimed it to the dead with the promise that they, if they would obey it, should partake of its blessings Joseph Smith