![\"Saint](\"http:\/\/stmichaelarchangel.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Kowalchyk-St_Peter.jpg\")
<\/a>Saint Peter<\/p><\/div>\n
This letter also uses a\u00a0\u00a0 distinctive metaphor for Jesus. He is \u201ca living stone\u201d. In John, Jesus is the \u201clight of the world,\u201d the \u201cbread of life,\u201d the \u201cgate for the sheep,\u201d the \u201ctrue vine,\u201d and so forth. In Hebrews, Christ is the \u201cgreat high priest\u201d and \u201csacrifice.\u201d Here He is a \u201cliving stone,\u201d indeed the \u201ccornerstone\u201d of \u201ca spiritual house.\u201d The author then calls the recipients to be \u201cliving stones\u201d in \u201ca spiritual house\u201d and to be \u201ca holy priesthood\u201d offering \u201cspiritual sacrifices\u201d. The important image of the community as priests leads to one of the best-known passes in this letter: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God\u2019s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. <\/em><\/p>\n The letter\u2019s advice in a time of persecution is striking. The author instructs his readers how to respond to those who were persecuting them: \u201cDo not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated\u201d. The letter suggests that their persecutors operated out of fear; they were not to be intimidated by them.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Instead, they were to \u201ccast all their anxiety\u201d on God. \u201cFear not – do not be afraid\u201d is the constant counsel of the Bible, Old and New alike. Thus, though this letter is from the early second century, it preserves much that is authentically Jewish and Christian.<\/p>\n Unlike the Epistle of James, First Peter presents the moral exhortation which is its dominant feature in close relationship to Christian doctrine: the Trinity of persons in God; the redemptive value of Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection; the sinfulness of man, whom God destined to be holy. Some scholars are of the opinion that 1 Peter is taken substantially from an early Christian baptismal liturgy. Whether this view is correct or not, the passages in question are among the clearest expositions on the meaning of Christian baptism to be found in the NT.<\/p>\n It is well worth your time and effort to read this five chapter letter. You won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The first letter of Peter is distinctive for a number of reasons. It is one of only two documents in the New Testament (NT) that uses the word \u201cChristian\u201d. It is the only document in addition to John that uses … Continue reading