1 Peter was written to help Christians navigate the tensions and complexities of life in a world opposed to the Christian gospel. Faced with the onslaught of verbal and at times physical harassment, Peter writes a letter of exhortation and encouragement to Christians scattered across ancient Anatolia to help them stand in the true Grace of God. Seeking to aid these Christians navigate their faithfulness to Jesus and their friendships with one another, Peter offers a vision of God's saving grace at work in their lives. They have a new identity in Christ, a new community of sisters and brothers and a new purpose in practicing the way of Jesus. For different people in these communities, this will entail hard choices and even the willingness to stand against pagan values. Peter gives them a vision of Jesus, and walking in his footsteps, that will encourage and empower them to live lives characterized by holiness and honor.
Industry Reviews
“Exegetically profound, historically informed, theologically astute, and pastorally contextualized, Sean du Toit provides a thorough exploration of 1 Peter. Robust enough to engage academic readers, it is equally accessible as a helpful resource for pastors and preachers, and as a wise guide for lay readers too. Well-researched and well-crafted, this commentary deserves a place in the library of all serious Bible students and teachers.”
—Joseph C. McAuley, lead pastor, St Luke’s
“This is academic scholarship made accessible to every pastor and preacher. Sean writes as an experienced and appreciated local church preacher. He goes beyond gathering relevant cultural, historical, biblical and theological insights; his aggregating this material into what is insightful for forming followers of Jesus at a congregational level is exceptionally helpful. Especially in these times when the Western Church needs to learn how to live faithfully under increasing pressure.”
—Mark Pierson, worship curator and pastor, author of The Art of Curating Worship
“In this lively and engaging commentary, Sean du Toit shows how 1 Peter is an exhortation and encouragement to the readers to live faithfully for Jesus and the gospel in highly challenging situations. Informed by the latest scholarship, Sean opens up the meaning of the text in fresh and vivid ways so we can see the riches of this amazing letter. In sections entitled ‘Fusing the Horizons,’ Sean helps us as readers today to see how we can also be faithful to Jesus, as we face indifference or hostility in secular contexts not too far removed from those of the original readers of 1 Peter.”
—Professor Paul Trebilco, professor of New Testament studies, Theology Programme, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
