Short answer: Evangelicals overwhelmingly identify the author of 1 Peter 1:15–16 as the Apostle Peter (Simon Peter, also called Cephas), writing as an apostle of Jesus Christ to encourage scattered believers to live holy lives.
Key points an evangelical would emphasize
– Who Peter is
– Simon (Simon Peter, Cephas), a Galilean fisherman called by Jesus (Matt. 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20).
– One of the Twelve apostles and an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection (cf. Luke 5; 1 Cor. 15:5).
– Prominent leader in the early church (Acts 2; Acts 10; Acts 15).
– Early Christian tradition holds that he later ministered in Rome and was martyred under Nero.
– The claim to authorship
– The letter itself names “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:1).
– 1 Peter 5:12 indicates the letter was written “through Silvanus” (Silvanus/Silas), which evangelicals take to mean Peter used an amanuensis—explaining the competent Greek style while preserving genuine Petrine authorship.
– Early church testimony (e.g., Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, Tertullian) attributes the epistle to Peter, supporting apostolic authorship and early circulation.
– Date and place (typical evangelical view)
– Usually dated in the early-to-mid 60s AD, shortly before the Neronian persecutions (c. AD 64–68).
– The reference to “Babylon” (1 Pet. 5:13) is commonly understood by evangelicals as a cryptic reference to Rome, where Peter was active.
– Why this matters for 1:15–16
– 1 Peter 1:15–16 (ESV): “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
– From an evangelical perspective, this is authoritative apostolic teaching: Peter grounds Christian ethical demand (holiness in conduct) on the holiness of God and the Old Testament command (Leviticus), showing continuity between OT moral summons and NT Christian life.
– The verse fits the overall purposes of the letter: to encourage believers facing suffering to live holy, obedient lives shaped by their new identity in Christ (sanctification as a central theme).
– Objections and evangelical responses
– Some critical scholars question Petrine authorship because of the polished Greek and certain church-office language. Evangelicals typically respond that:
– Peter could have used a trained secretary (Silvanus), who shaped the Greek while Peter supplied the thoughts and apostolic authority.
– Peter’s own experience, education, and exposure to Hellenistic settings could explain his facility in Greek.
– Early and widespread patristic attestation supports genuine Petrine authorship.
– Evangelicals therefore maintain apostolic authorship and the letter’s authority for doctrine and practice.
– Theological and pastoral significance (evangelical emphasis)
– The verse anchors the Christian call to holiness in the character of God (he who called you is holy).
– Holiness is practical and pervasive: “in all your conduct” — not merely internal piety but daily behavior among a watching world.
– It connects justification (called by God) with progressive sanctification: believers are called to live lives reflecting God’s moral character by the power of the Spirit.
– Pastoral application: encourages perseverance under suffering and counter-cultural moral distinctiveness as witness to God’s transforming grace.
If you want, I can:
– Give a short biography of Peter with key New Testament episodes,
– Lay out the internal/external evidence for Petrine authorship in more detail, or
– Offer a brief sermon-style application of 1 Peter 1:15–16 for a small group. Which would help you most?
