Chapter 1
A call to the elects.
v. 3-12 Hope and faith confirmed in temporal suffering.
v.2 A good line for pastoral benediction.
v.7 Reason for suffering.
v.8 I think Janet Mefferd is missing this part when she kept implying she couldn't stand this world and can't wait for Christ to come. But in our faith we are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
v.8-9 Could be and had been applied in some way to Old Testament saints.
v.10-12 Another point for a christocentric rather than only christotelic interpretation of the OT. "...It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you [Christians]..."
v.13-25 Be Holy - Against Antinomianism.
v.18 Vain futility of life - such is the death of Adam and Eve on the day they ate the fruit.
v.20 Yet another case against the Christotelic-only hermeneutics of OT. "...before the creation of the world..."
v.21 God raised Jesus from the dead.
v.23 Born again. Of imperishable seed.
Chapter 2:
v.1-3, continues against antinomianism.
v. 1 malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. All 5 against craving for pure spiritual milk in v.2.
v.4-12, Christ as the living stone. We are also living stones being built into a spiritual house - for what? To be a holy priesthood. Holiness is once again stressed. Offering spiritual sacrifices. Note in Psalm 4 that sacrifices of righteousness is joined with putting trust in the Lord, as shown here in v6: The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame...a quote from Isa 28:16.
v.7-8, a stumbling block it is to those who reject Christ, just like those who deny gravity and jump from the roof to their folly.
v.10: Most commentaries regard the people here as both Jews and gentiles.
v.11 It is a war, between sinful desires and our souls.
v.12 Good for memory verse.
v.13-25 Submission to Rulers and God
v.14 Authorities are formed by God for a sense of justice.
v.15 Doing good silences the ignorant fools. And that is God's will.
v.16 True freedom can only be viewed in the context of slavery to God.
v.18 Submission of slaves to even harsh masters. I believe this is applied to marriage for wives (Eph 5:24) not to mention that the same Greek word submit is used in Eph 5:21 for everyone. Therefore, divorces based on spousal abuse are never a church's stand. A church must use the fear of God, love and wisdom to confront this issue. Are marriages lower than the slave-master relationship? That is not to say that Peter advocate slavery, Kevin Rudd probably did not read this carefully, but authority is still authority until it is not. Those who suffer doing good are better than those who turn good to evil. It is also following the example of Christ(v22-24, quoted from Isa 53:9). And advocating gay marriage based on the abolition of slavery, Mr. Rudd was just being rude.
v.19-20: An extension of v12.
v.23: Take the evil done to us and entrust ourselves to him who judges justly.
v.24: Similar to Romans 6:11 - Die to sins and live for righteousness, alive to God in Christ.
Chapter 3:
v.1-7 Wives & Husbands. The passage shares much similarities with Paul's 1Corinthians 7 (eg. 1cor 7:16, etc.)
v.4 The beauty of inner self: of the regenerated. Of the holy women.
v.7 mistreatment of wives is prayer hindering. God will not listen to such prayers.
v.8-22 Do not be afraid to do good.
v.15-16 popular apologetics verse.
v.17 compared suffering out of doing good with doing evil. But stressed on God's will. Therefore, it is not a rule of nature, that suffering be a positive thing save only when it is of God's will.
v.18 Christ died to bring us to God.
v.19-20. Christ preaching to the spirits in prison...in the days of Noah...
This I refer to Calvin's commentary in v.19-20 (especially in v.20 when the translator preferred commentaries from Beza, Doddridge, Macknight and Scott) and Geneva Bible Translation Notes in v.19. There are two interpretations that satisfy me.
1. That this ministry was done in the time of Noah, that Christ through the mouth of Noah preached. This explanation satisfies me most.
2. On the other hand, in a wider sense, I will take from Calvin's in v.19 that Christ preached to godly saints [of old], the prison is seen as the law (Gal 3:23), in the OT time, through the prophets (1Peter 1:11).
In all cases, only the chosen were saved while the others were preached to by Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. And a christocentric preaching is seen in all times.
v.21 Explanation of the water baptism: not removal of dirt but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. The baptism cannot save us. It uses the resurrection of Christ to save us.
v.22 started and ended with topic on Submission. Even angels submit to Christ.
Chapter 4
A New Life
v.6, I take the dead here to mean all holy saints before Christ presence on Earth. Another christocentric lesson. I am also aware of the Calvin commentary where another meaning was discussed: That the dead refers to our death in sins.
v.7, When feeling not able to pray: Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
v.7-11 Good passage to meditate on for FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS, ECCLESIOLOGY.
v.12-19 Meditation on proper suffering. (v.14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ...)
v.18 The righteous scarcely be saved...
v.19 Be faithful in suffering. Commit the keeping of my soul to him in well doing.
Key verse:
v.17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God...
Chapter 5
v.1-4: A message for the elders/pastors. Serving as willingly and not because one must.
v.3-4 A crown of glory for the shepherds of God with examples to the flock entrusted by God to the elders.
v.5-6 Submission to those who are older or elders of God. In the sense of the age, the younger ones must display humility not just to the older ones, but toward one another among themselves. This is a good example to the older ones as well, for one humbles himself under God's mighty hand. Grace is given to the humble, and the humble will be lifted up in due time.
v.7 Anxiety is not for us but to be cast on Him who cares for us.
v.8 Humility and meekness are not short of self-control and being alert. For the awareness of the Devil is a must.
v.9 The effects of fellowship spans beyond close proximity throughout the world. In a spiritual warfare.
v.14 Greeting: A kiss of love.