Peter's Descriptive Language

The late renowned Latter-day Saint scholar Robert Matthews noted about the descriptive language of the writings of Peter in the New Testament.  In particular, he highlighted Peter’s use of vivid adjectives that provide richer language as he taught the truths of the gospel.  For example, he wrote of the “precious blood of Christ” that redeems us—he could have simply said “blood of Christ” and the meaning would have been clear, but the adjective precious adds more feeling and a sense of heartfelt devotion on the part of Peter.  Here are some other examples of Peter’s descriptive language that I see in his two epistles (all italics are mine):

·        “Abundant mercy”—the Father showed not just mercy but abundant mercy to us in sending forth His Son and raising Him from the dead so we could be begotten sons and daughters unto God (1 Peter 1:3).

·        “Lively hope”—because of the Savior’s resurrection we have not just hope but a living hope, alive because He too lives and will raise us from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).

·        “Joy unspeakable”—because of Jesus Christ we have not just joy but unspeakable and glorious joy because through Him we will gain the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:8).

·        “An holy priesthood… chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people”—we are not just the people of God but we can become holy, chosen, royal, and a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:5, 9).

·        “A chief corner stone, elect, precious”—the Savior is not only the chief corner stone upon which we build our faith but He is elected of the Father and precious (1 Peter 2:6).

·        “Marvellous light”—the gospel brings us out of darkness into light that is marvelous; Peter wants us to feel his joy for the great blessings of the gospel light (1 Peter 2:9).   

·        “Fervent charity”—we should strive for charity that is fervent, steadfastly seeking to be filled with the love of God (1 Peter 4:8).

·        “Exceeding joy”—when we partake of Christ’s suffering we shall have exceeding joy at His coming (1 Peter 4:13).   

·        “Precious faith”—our faith in God and His Son is, like the Savior’s blood, precious to us (2 Peter 1:1). 

·        “Exceedingly great and precious promises”—we don’t just have promises from the Lord, but we have great and precious promises that we can be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

·        “Everlasting kingdom”—Peter referred to not just the kingdom of God but the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:11).

·        “Excellent glory”—the Father dwells not only in glory but in excellent glory (2 Peter 1:17).

I love these powerful adjectives that Peter used throughout his epistles.  They describe overall the kind of faith and joy that we should have in the gospel: abundant, lively, unspeakable, precious, marvelous, fervent, exceedingly great, everlasting, and excellent.  This kind of language is part of why Joseph Smith said about Peter’s writings: “Peter penned the most sublime language of any of the apostles.”