What was Peter steeped in before he had to understand salvation going to the whole human race?
Peter was steeped in Judaism, legalism, Temple worship, Christ's earthly ministry, and the Old Testament covenant promises. He had to admit God was no longer dealing with Israel on covenant promises but was bringing salvation to the whole human race, which was unthinkable to him.
Les explains that Peter was steeped in Judaism, legalism, Temple worship, and a little further along in Christ's earthly ministry, and steeped in all the covenant promises coming out of the Old Testament. Then all of a sudden he had to admit that God was no longer dealing with the nation of Israel on the covenant promises, but instead was out to bring salvation to the whole human race, which was unthinkable to him. So Peter had a hard time with it and even hedged a little, because these things are hard to be understood, even for a man like Peter. The unlearned and unstable twist them, as they do also the other Scriptures, and their end result is destruction.
Why was it hard or unthinkable for Peter to accept that God was now bringing salvation to the whole human race?
Peter was steeped in Judaism, legalism, Temple worship, Christ's earthly ministry, and the Old Testament covenant promises. Accepting that God was no longer dealing with Israel on those covenant promises but instead bringing salvation to the whole human race was unthinkable to him, so he struggled and hedged.
Why was salvation going to the whole human race unthinkable to Peter?
Peter's mindset was steeped in Judaism, legalism, Temple worship, Christ's earthly ministry, and the Old Testament covenant promises, so he assumed God was still dealing with Israel under those promises. The sudden shift to God bringing salvation to the whole human race was therefore unthinkable to him.