The Key of the Bible, Biblical commentary · Part 2 · Section 2 · Subsection 16
I Peter.
THe first Catholique Epistle of PETER the Apostle. So called, partly in reference to the dispersed Jewes to whom generally this Epistle is directed (as was fore noted); partly in respect of Peter the Apostle Penman of it, 1 Pet. 1.1.
PETER [foreign] a Greek name. Not the Proper name, but rather the Surname of this Apostle, Act. 10.5. His proper name was Simon, an Hebrew name foreign i. e. An hearer. From foreign To Heare. Act. 10.5. Ioh. 1.43. Christ surnamed him Peter. This surname was 1 Promised to him by Christ when he was first called to be Christs Disciple, Ioh. 1.43. 2. Given to him by Christ when he called him to the Apostleship, &c. Mark. 10.16. Luk. 6.14. 3. Confirmed to him by Christ also, upon Peters firme and excellent confession of Christ, Matt. 16.17. Peter in Greek is the same with Kephas or Kipha in Syriack, both signifie a Stone. Christ gave him this name by Anticipation, in reference to that firm and solid Confession of Faith touching Christ, which Peter should, yea did make; and on which Faith confessed, as on a Rock, Christ did promise to build his Church, &c. Matth. 16.16. &c. Which was fulfilled, Peter preaching the first Sermons whereby both Iewes and Gentiles were converted to Christ, and the first foundation of the Christian Church after Christ was laid, Act. 2.14. &c. 10 34. &c. Which was the Priviledge conferred by Christ upon Peter peculiarly above all the Apostles. Peter was the sonne of Iona, and brother of Andrew; by trade they were Fishers, whence Christ called them to be Fishers of men, Matth. 4.18. …eter had his notable Eminencies; As 1. … singular courage, zeale, and boldnesse for expressing himselfe, Matth. 26.3. Luke 22, 23. Act. 2.14. Hereupon counted one of the three pillers of the Primitive Church, Gal. 2.9. 2. He made that admirable Confession of Christ, Matth. 16.16. 3. He was one of the three which Christ took up into the Mount to see his glorious transfiguration, Matth. 17.1. &c. Mark. 9.2. Luk. 9.28. 4. He was one of the three which Christ took out from his Apostles to accompany him in his bitter Agony, Matth. 26.36, 37. &c. 5. Christ after his resurrection eminently restored him to the exercise of his Pastorall office, by his threefold profession of his sincere love to Christ, after his threefold denyall of Christ, Ioh. 21.15, 16, 17. He had also his remarkable Infirmities. 1. Inconsiderately cut off Malchus his Eare, Matth. 26.51. &c. 2. Self-confidently presumed against denying Christ, Matth. 26.31. to 36. 3. Shamefully denyed Christ thrice, and every time worse then other, Matth. 26.69, to 75▪ 4. And walked not with a right foot in the beginning of his Ministry, drawing the Gentiles to Iudaize among the Iewes, &c. Gal. 2.14. &c.
When and Whence this Epistle was written. It's more then probable Peter wrote this Epistle by Sylvanus to the Iewes of the dispersion while he was now at Babylon, 1 Pet. 5.12, 13. There was a Babylon in Chaldea, Psal. 137. A Babylon in Egypt. And in resemblance hereunto the mysticall Babylon, viz. Rome, Rev. 14.1. & 16.19. & 17.5. & 18.2▪ 10, 21. Now Papists themselves upon this place generally contend, that here by Babylon is meant Rome, that they may prove Peter was at Rome, Fenardent. in loc. But they forget how herein they confesse Rome to be that wicked Babylon destined to destruction, Rev. 17. and 18. Luther leaves every man to abound in his own sense which Babylon it was. Pareus thinks that Babylon in Chaldea is to be here understood, where Peter the Apostle of the Circumcision preached to the Iewes: and that no one reason can be given why Peter should conceale the name of Rome, had he intended Rome. D. Par. Com. in 1 Pet. 5.13. From that phrase, if any man suffer as a Christian, 1 Pet. 4.16. intimates that this Epistle was written after Antioch, had received the faith, for there the disciples were first called Christians, Act. 11.26. and it was about the same time, that Iames was crowned with Martyrdome, Act. 12.1, 2.
Occasion. The strangers that came up to Ierusalem at Pentecost, were many of them converted by Peters Sermon, and so baptized Acts 2. to whom therefore Peter here writes, as to new borne babes, 1 Pet. 2.2. weak, and as yet unsetled in the faith, and upon their returne into their owne countreys, much exercised for Christs sake with afflictions and crosses, as the current of the Epistle manifests.
Scope. That therefore the Apostle as a spirituall father, might confirme these his children in faith, against all troubles and persecution, he writes to them all this Epistle, assuring them, that the faith or doctrine of grace wherein they stood, was the true grace of God, and cons…quently he exhorts and stirs them up to persevere therein. To grow and abound in grace and godlinesse. This the great drift of both his Epistles, See 1 Pet. 5.12. and 2 Pet. 3.1. &c.
Principall parts of the Epistle to this end, are,
I. The Inscription, c. 1, 1, 2.
II. The Substance of the Epistle it selfe, which is principally Hortatory, in reference to that grace of God. He incites them, 1. To the constant exercise and improvement of that grace of God, whereby they are brought into a regenerate and sanctified state; and this concernes them all in their generall calling as Christians, c. 1, 3. to c. 2. v. 13. 2. To the due exercise of grace, in respect of their respective conditions and relations wherein they stand towards others. And this exhortation concernes them severally, according to their respective particular callings and conditions. viz. How 1. Subjects are to behave themselves towards magistrates, c. 2, 13. to 18. 2. Servants towards their masters, ver. 18. to end. 3. Wives towards their husbands, and husbands towards their wives, c. 3, 1. to 8. 4. All brethren towards one another, v. 8. 5. Distressed and afflicted ones towards oppressours and Persecutors, c 3, 9. to c. 5, 1. 6. Presbyters towards their flocks, and the younger towards the Elder, c. 5, 1. to middle of v. 5. 7. How all of them should carry themselves towards others, themselves, and God, v. 5. to 10. And so he sweetly closes up the whole series of his exhortations, with a patheticall prayer to the God of all grace, for their stablishment and perfection in grace after their short afflictions: concluding it with a gratefull doxology unto God, v. 10, 11.
III. Conclusion of the Epistle, containing an intimation of his Scope in writing, salutations, and a valediction, c. 5, 12, 13, 14.