It’s Not Fair!
You do what’s right, and still things turn out rotten. You help a friend who fell off his bike, miss the bus to the big game and get kicked off the team. Or you’re accused of something you didn’t do, and your parents ground you. How can that be fair?
Peter wrote this letter to Christians who were being treated unfairly. They were good citizens who obeyed the law, but they were being persecuted anyway. Some lost their jobs and homes, and some even lost their lives. Peter wrote to show them how to triumph when life is unfair.
No More Living in Ignorance
• A new day, says 1 Peter 1:13–16
No Credit This Time
• Troubles? Read 1 Peter 2:19–21
Five Steps for the Sufferer
• For Peter’s list, go to 1 Peter 3:13–17
No Shame in Painful Trial
• For an explanation, see 1 Peter 4:12–17
Preview
• The writer is the apostle Peter, the leader of Jesus’ twelve disciples.
• Peter writes this letter around 64 A.D. to help Christians facing persecution.
As Peter writes, Nero is emperor in Rome. • Rome has been devastated by a fire Nero blames on Christians. • In revenge, Nero burns many Christians alive. • Christianity is now an illegal religion.