First & Second Peter- Jensen Bible Self Study Guide

By Irving L. Jensen

If you are experiencing trials, you will find encouragement and comfort in the epistles of Peter. Writing to believers who were being persecuted for their faith, Peter shows how trials are an important part of spiritual development in the individual. This self-study guide will also help you explore Peter's practical guidelines for handling everyday responsiblities relating to the church, the home, and the world. In his second letter Peter reveals God's design for the future, including a graphic description of the destruction of the earth.

The books in the Jensen Bible Self-Study Guide series are designed to provide you with a broader understanding of God’s Word. Offering historical context and background, author information, charts, and other helps, these books will equip you with a comprehensive reference tool you’ll return to often. Each study includes an opportunity for analysis, response, and further study in a response-oriented format. The thirty-nine books in this series are suitable for both personal and group use.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Release date: Aug 9, 1991
• ISBN: 9780802497215

Irving L. Jensen

IRVING L. JENSEN (B.A., Wagner College; S.T.B., Biblical Seminary; Th.D., Northwestern Theological Seminary), was professor and chairman of the department of Bible at Bryan College, Dayton, Tennessee, and the author of numerous books, including the entire Bible Self-Study Series; Jensen's Survey of the Old Testament; Jensen's Survey of the New Testament; Jensen's Bible Study Charts; Acts: An Inductive Study; Independent Bible Study; and How to Profit from Bible Reading.

Book preview

Team

Introduction

Down through the ages Christians have been in need of inspiration, exhortation, and warning to strengthen their souls and to guard them against perils from without and perils from within. Shortly before Peter denied his Master, Christ told him, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31–32, emphasis added). Little did Peter know at that time how he would eventually be used of God to strengthen, through these two inspired epistles, not only believers of his own generation but believers of all generations to come.

As you study the epistles of Peter, make it your high aim to learn that which will help you to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This is your strongest fortification against every peril and device of Satan.

Some Suggestions for Study

1. Paragraph-by-paragraph study. This procedure of study is consistently fostered in these self-study books. Studying by paragraphs should always precede verse-by-verse study, so that you will not lose your bearing in details of the Bible text.

2. Word study. The epistles of Peter use an unusually large amount of strong key words, worthy of much individual attention. Suggestions will be given for such word studies. Meditate on implied as well as explicit meanings of important words of the Bible text.

3. Jotting things down. Someone has said that the pencil is one of the best eyes. Throughout the manual you are urged to record your observations. The analytical chart, suggested in some lessons, can be a productive work sheet for organizing one’s study of a chapter of the Bible. The analytical chart method is described in detail in my book Independent Bible Study.

4. Independent study. The emphasis here is always: first see for yourself what the Bible text says; then go to commentaries for help. Most of the directions of this manual are geared to encourage original, firsthand study.

5. The Bible, your textbook. Whatever version of the Bible you use, choose an edition with large print and wide margins. Also, make many notations on the pages of your Bible as you study—underlining, cross references, notes, etc.

6. Attitude of dependency. Depend on the Holy Spirit to throw light on the Scriptures that He inspired. Meditate on words and phrases that He calls to your attention in the course of your study. Continually ask the question, What can I learn from this? And always have an eager attitude to obey God’s Word to you.

Lesson 1

The Man Peter 

The recommended order of study of any book of the Bible is background, survey, and analysis. Background and survey are of an introductory nature. Analysis, which is a careful scrutiny of every part of a particular Bible book, takes up most of one’s study of the Bible text.

This lesson is devoted to one phase of the general background of Peter’s epistles—that of Peter’s biography. Further background and survey of 1 Peter is the subject of Lesson 2. Analysis of the Bible text of 1 Peter follows, beginning with Lesson 3. The same order is followed in the latter half of this manual.

* * *

Peter wrote only two New Testament books. It is interesting to observe that of the notable triumvirate of New Testament writers—Paul, apostle of faith; John, apostle of love; and Peter, apostle of hope—the man who does not appear in the gospels (Paul) wrote most of the New Testament books, and the man who is most prominent in the gospels (Peter) wrote the least number of New Testament books.¹

For some Bible books, we cannot be sure of the identity of authorship (e.g., Hebrews). For some books whose authorship is known, we have sparse biographical information concerning the author (e.g., Jude). However, in the case of 1 and 2 Peter, the gospels and Acts furnish much information concerning the life and character of those epistles’ author.

Peter is one of the most interesting characters of the New Testament. More personal information is given by the New Testament concerning Peter than concerning any of the other apostles. Spend much time in this part of the lesson, reading all Bible verses cited, so that you can become intimately acquainted with the man who was inspired to write such marvelous books for God’s people.

I. NAME 

Originally Peter’s name was Simon (a common Greek name), the Hebrew equivalent being Symeon (Acts 15:14). Jesus gave Simon a new name, prophetically pointing to his future status and position among the Christian circle. That new name was Cephas (Aramaic), or Peter (Greek; John 1:42; consult an exhaustive concordance to observe how frequently the name Peter appears in the New Testament, as over against only six references to the Aramaic name Cephas. It may be noted here that there is no other Peter in the New Testament.)

II. BIRTH 

We do not know the date of Peter’s birth. His father was a Jew named John or Jonas (also Jona). (Read John 1:42; 21:15–17; Matt. 16:17.) Peter had at least one brother, whose name was Andrew. The family’s hometown was Bethsaida of Galilee (John 1:44), located near the north shore of the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee).

III. FOUR PERIODS OF LIFE 

The biography of Peter can be divided into four parts: (1) pre-gospel period, (2) gospel period, (3) early church period, (4) later life period. The highlights of each of these are shown below.

A. Pre-gospel Period

1. Education. Peter probably had the normal elementary education of a Jewish boy in a small town. The description unlearned and ignorant of Acts 4:13 is better translated without schooling or skill (Berkeley) and refers to the fact that Peter did not have rabbinical training. What amazed the rulers and people was the fact that unschooled laymen such as Peter and John preached and performed with such mighty power.

2. Occupation. Many boys raised in the environs of the Sea of Galilee eventually entered the fishing trade. Peter and his brother, Andrew, were among these. When Jesus first met them, they were