Persecution: 1 Peter 1:3 – 17 and 4:2 – 19 – JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Persecution is the suffering, harassment or hostility that Christians face because of their faith.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of persecution;
2. state the main teachings of 1 Peter 1:3-17 and 4:2-19 on suffering;
3. narrate the story of the persecution of Stephen;
4. state reasons why early Christians were persecuted;
5. list ways Christians should respond to persecution.

What is persecution?

Persecution is the suffering, harassment or hostility that Christians face because of their faith.

• Who persecuted: religious authorities, political authorities and individuals who opposed the message of Jesus Christ.
• Forms: insults, imprisonment, torture and death.
• Martyr: a person who dies because of their faith. Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

What is the background to the First Letter of Peter?

The First Letter of Peter was written by the apostle Peter to encourage Christians who were suffering for their faith.

• Writer: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
• Readers: Christians scattered across the provinces of Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1).
• Problem: believers were insulted and made to suffer because they followed Christ.
• Purpose: to give hope, to call believers to holy living and to teach them how to face suffering.

What does 1 Peter 1:3-17 teach?

1 Peter 1:3-17 teaches that Christians have a living hope in Christ and must stay faithful and holy during trials.

• Living hope (1:3): God gave believers a new birth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
• Heavenly inheritance (1:4-5): the inheritance cannot perish, spoil or fade, and God keeps it in heaven for believers.
• Joy in trials (1:6): believers rejoice even though they suffer various trials for a little while.
• Faith tested (1:7): trials prove that faith is genuine, as fire tests gold. Faith is worth more than gold.
• Love for Christ (1:8-9): believers love and trust Jesus though they have not seen him.
• Self-control and hope (1:13): believers must be alert and set their hope fully on God’s grace.
• Holy living (1:14-16): believers must stop their old desires and be holy, because God is holy.
• Reverent fear (1:17): believers must live in respect for God, who judges everyone fairly.

What does 1 Peter 4:2-19 teach?

1 Peter 4:2-19 teaches that Christians must live for God’s will and accept suffering for Christ with joy.

• Live for God’s will (4:2): believers no longer live for human desires.
• Leave the old life (4:3-4): former friends are surprised when believers stop sinful habits, and they may insult them.
• Be self-controlled and pray (4:7): believers stay clear-minded so that they can pray.
• Love one another (4:8): love covers many sins.
• Show hospitality (4:9): believers welcome one another without complaining.
• Use gifts to serve (4:10-11): each person uses their gift to serve others and to bring glory to God.
• Do not be surprised by trials (4:12): a fiery trial is not strange.
• Rejoice (4:13-14): sharing in Christ’s sufferings brings blessing, because God’s Spirit rests on those insulted for Christ’s name.
• Do not be ashamed (4:16): a person who suffers as a Christian should praise God.
• Trust God (4:19): believers entrust themselves to their faithful Creator and keep doing good.

What is the difference between suffering for wrongdoing and suffering as a Christian?

Suffering for wrongdoing is punishment for a crime, while suffering as a Christian is hostility that comes from following Christ (1 Peter 4:15-16).

What is the story of the persecution of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)?

Stephen, one of the seven deacons, was the first Christian martyr.

1. Stephen was known for wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit. He performed miracles and boldly preached the gospel.
2. His preaching angered the Jewish leaders, and they falsely accused him of blasphemy.
3. He was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council.
4. He defended his faith by recounting the history of Israel. He showed that the people had often resisted God’s messengers.
5. The leaders became enraged and dragged him out of the city to stone him.
6. Stephen stayed faithful. As he died, he prayed that God would forgive those killing him.
7. His death began a wider persecution of the church, in which Saul (later called Paul) took part.

What were the reasons for the persecution of Christians?

Early Christians were persecuted for five main reasons.

1. Preaching the gospel: many religious authorities opposed the message and saw it as a threat to their power.
2. Jesus as the Messiah: the claim that Jesus was the Messiah angered many Jewish leaders.
3. Roman opposition: Roman authorities saw Christians as a rebellious sect that refused to worship the emperor.
4. Jealousy: some people envied the growing influence of the early church.
5. Religious tension: Christianity was seen as a breakaway from traditional Jewish belief.

How should Christians respond to persecution?

Christians should respond to persecution with prayer, faith, mutual support, obedience and joy.

• Intercessory prayer: pray for persecutors and ask God for strength to endure, as Stephen did.
• Spiritual growth: keep growing in faith so as to stand firm in trials (1 Peter 1:6-7).
• Christian fellowship: support and encourage one another (1 Peter 4:8-10).
• Obedience to God: stay obedient and keep spreading the gospel.
• Rejoicing and hope: be glad to share in Christ’s sufferings and keep hope in the inheritance in heaven.
• Holy living: keep doing good and avoid wrongdoing (1 Peter 4:15, 19).
• Trust in God: entrust yourself to the faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19).

Evaluation

1. Define persecution.
2. How did Stephen die?
3. State three reasons why early Christians were persecuted.
4. According to 1 Peter 1:7, why does God allow faith to be tested?
5. List three ways Christians should respond to persecution.

Assignment

List two ways Christians should respond to persecution and explain each in one or two sentences, using a verse from 1 Peter.