20161015 Saturday, October 15 2016
1 Peter 01: What Did Peter And Isaiah Say About Being Born Again?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ... Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever"

The ministry of the apostle Peter is less-documented than that of the apostle Paul for two separate reasons.

While both were personally and purposefully chosen by the Messiah, Paul was a scholar, while Peter was a "regular guy" fisherman - so it was quite natural that much more was written by Paul (see also Why Were The First Apostles Fishermen Instead Of Carpenters?).

The other reason is that Paul was sent as an apostle to the world (see Paul, The Apostle To The World), while Peter was chosen, not only just to Israelites, but to just one tribe of the Israelites - Judah. It was moreover the reason that Paul traveled far and wide across the "world," while Peter remained in Judea ("1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days" Galatians 1:18 KJV and "2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem ... 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship" Galatians 2:1,9 KJV).

Most of the epistles were written by Paul because they were a necessary part of a long-distance ministry, rather than a city or local area within easy walking distance in which epistles would be both unnecessary and inappropriate (see The Epistles: What Is An Epistle?).

For whatever reason, natural or acquired, Peter repeatedly demonstrated an xenophobic (having ignorant fear and hatred of the people of the rest of the world - a form of self-inflicted retardation based on arrogant nationalism) attitude toward the world, whereas Paul feared no one. Paul actually rebuked Peter for it: "2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision." (Galatians 2:11-12 KJV)

Peter's first epistle is exceptional in that he got to write to "everyone" a little farther away, in Turkey ("to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia"). Paul had already gone through, and far beyond, his homeland Turkey (see The Return Of The Home Town Apostles), but for Peter, it was a reaching out (perhaps because Paul had rebuked him for being too much of a "home boy") for the purpose of showing that there is only one true Gospel, for everyone (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?).

"1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." (1 Peter 1:1-12 KJV)

The famous "born again" and "John 3:16" verses are the teachings that were given by Jesus Christ to the Pharisee Nicodemus, as recorded by the apostle John (John, like Peter, was a fisherman, so being so was hardly a handicap in writing - John was given to write the Book of John, 3 epistles and the Book of Revelation). But "born again" was a long-known (as revealed by the LORD, who was later born as Jesus Christ, to His prophets) Truth. Notice that Peter taught the "born again" prophecy, as also taught by the prophet Isaiah centuries earlier - Peter quoted Isaiah 40:6-8 in verses 24 and 25 below).

"1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (1 Peter 1:13-25 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "born again" really mean? When will it happen?
See What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16? and The Harvests Of Salvation