The Central Focus and Basic Structure of 1 & 2 Peter

 

The Central Focus and Basic Structure of 1 & 2 Peter

1 Peter 5:10: "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

Dimension	Detailed Content	Related Scriptures	Scripture Content and Explanation
Central Focus	The Triune God working in His economy to bring the chosen people into a complete enjoyment of Himself	1 Peter 1:2-3: "Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling of His blood. Grace and peace be multiplied to you."	Demonstrates the cooperation of the Triune God (Father, Spirit, Christ) in election and redemption
		1 Peter 5:10: "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."	God's comprehensive grace to perfect believers
		2 Peter 1:4: "By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."	Believers can share God's nature, becoming participants of His divinity
Basic Structure	The Triune God, having gone through various processes, becoming the portion of believers	1 Peter 1:11: "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating, testifying beforehand about the sufferings of Christ and the glories after these."	The work of Christ's Spirit in prophecy and fulfillment
		1 Peter 4:14: "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."	The Holy Spirit is with believers even in suffering
Spiritual Means	Human spirit (hidden person) + God's Spirit	1 Peter 3:4: "But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."	The true beauty of inner life lies in the state of the spirit
		1 Peter 4:14: "The Spirit of glory and of God" (literal translation)	The glory of the Holy Spirit comes upon believers
Path of Enjoyment	Exercising the human spirit, cooperating with the divine Spirit	1 Peter 2:1-5: "So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation."	The pathway of spiritual growth, pure and yearning
		1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."	The unique identity and mission of believers
Ultimate Goal	God obtaining a dwelling place, believers being glorified	1 Peter 2:9: "A people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."	Witnessing God's glory, reflecting His nature
		2 Peter 1:4: "Become partakers of the divine nature"	Believers can share God's essence and glory

 

Spiritual Insights

The central focus of 1 & 2 Peter is not merely about God's administration, but about how the Triune God works to bring believers into a complete enjoyment of Himself. These epistles reveal:

1.      The comprehensive work of the Triune God in salvation

2.      The critical role of the human spirit in experiencing divine life

3.      The pathway of spiritual growth through cooperation with the Holy Spirit

4.      The ultimate goal of believers becoming partakers of divine nature

Each scripture passage affirms the central theme: How believers, through their spirit, can fully enjoy the Triune God and accomplish His divine economy.

 

*Please refer to Thanksgiving 2024 International Conference: Living the Christian Life and Church Life under God's Administration for God's Economy - First Message: God's Administration for God's Economy