1 Peter--kick off

Overall Structure:

• 1:1-2
• 1:3-2:10 (note: begins with "blessed")
• 2:11-4:11 (note: begins with "beloved" and ends with a benediction)
• 4:12-5:11 (note: begins with "beloved" and ends with a benediction)
• 5:12-14

Study Questions:

What does it say?

• Who are the recipients?
• What is Peter telling the recipients about themselves?
• What does Peter say about faith? Holiness? Trials? Obedience? Community?
• Who are the "elect exiles" (1:1-2)?
• How do the Father's foreknowledge, the Spirit's sanctification, and obedience to and sprinkling with Christ's blood relate to the recipients' status as "exiles" (1:1-2)?
• What is the "true grace of God" in which the recipients stand firm (5:12-13)?
  

What does it mean?

• What situations might have prompted this letter from Peter?
• What big truths did Peter apply to these situations?
• What is the letter about?

How should we respond?

• How are our situations similar?
• Which big truths in this letter apply to our situations?
• How might we respond?

Resources for Going Deeper:

1 Peter articles at bible.org
First Peter: Introduction, Argument, and Outline
"1 Peter" on wikipedia (read with requisite caution)
1 Peter on NETBible (good footnotes and other resources)