A good friend of mine has seen tough times and it has caused questions he has always set aside to come to the center of his attention. Questions like, why is there so much suffering in the world, and why doesn’t God do something about all the suffering in the world. There are of course quick answers to these questions, we brought suffering into the world when we sinned and God is not responsible for making our lives easy even though he has taken on the responsibility of our salvation. While these answers are true, they do not satisfy the deep feelings evoked when going through intense suffering.

I do not believe my friend is alone in his questioning, and for this reason Think-Biblically.com will launch a new Bible study series on the book of 1 Peter. Peter’s concern in his first letter is to encourage the believers during a mounting of brutal persecutions breaking out across the continent (boith in Israel, Turkey and province of Asia. In this respect, we can consider the epistle a letter of exhortation and advice. The concept of victory through suffering is found throughout. The word suffering appears 15 times throughout the letter and it is taught that it is only through suffering that we are bought and purified, and that is suffering itself that will one day carry us to our eternal home. What book could better address the questions that my friend, and many others around the world, have about the topic of suffering?

The sections of the book are arranged around four central themes: painful suffering, full glory, great hope, and courageous faith. While we must all suffer during our pilgrimage, our hope is in the glory we will experience at the end of time.

Following the salutation of 1 Peter, there is a section concerning our great salvation, relating our hope in Christ, the divine power who guides us through suffering, and the mysterious plan God has for all who call Him “Father” (1.3-.21).

The next section concerns itself with how the believer is to be purified, to be free from evil inclinations, and continually regard Christ in light of the great salvation of section one (1.22-2.8).

A listing of the believer’s duties follows (2.9-3.13) which, if lived up to, would characterize believers as holy, honorable, obedient outlanders.

Knowing that this is a hard message for his readers, Peter gives them encouraging instruction concerning the suffering they will endure (3.14-4.19).

Last, in chapter five, Peter gives final exhortations and warnings to church elders, to young and old, about teaching, living and dealing with the devil.

In short, Peter instructs believers how to live in a hostile, foreign environment and bring glory to Christ by facing trials and suffering with grace. This can be accomplished by focusing on an eschatological hope: their inheritance of eternal salvation. Peter makes sure it is impossible for us to forget all that Jesus suffered in order to secure our eternal freedom from sin and future with God.