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.
Peter, an apostle...- Peter did not elevate himself above the other apostles. cp. 5:1; 2Pet 1:1
The Lord Jesus Christ had changed this man from unstable Simon {HB= hearing}, to Peter {GK= a stone} or Cephas {Aramaic= a stone}. cp. Joh 1:41,42; Luk 22:31-34
to the strangers scattered {GK=diaspora, lit., sown abroad}... elect...- cp. Jam 1:1
The Jewish people had been scattered into gentile lands, in fulfillment of God's promise to judge them if they turned from Him (cp. Deu 4:25-27). This dispersion away from the land of Israel was accomplished by the Syrian and Babylonian captivities (approx. 600 BC). Some of the people had returned to Israel in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, but in the first century AD, many Jews still remained in the lands of their diaspora. - - Peter had set out to reach them. Peter's ministry was primarily directed toward the Jews, whereas Paul went primarily to the Gentiles. cp. Gal 2:7-9 - - The five named locations are geographic regions of modern Turkey (v.1). At Pentecost, Peter's message was heard by men from Pontus & Cappadocia (Acts 2:6-9). The Holy Spirit prevented Paul from ministering in Bithynia. It may be that Peter's ministry had already reached that area (Acts 16:7; cp. Rom 15:20).
This letter was written from Babylon (5:13). This may refer to Rome, in a spiritual sense (cp. Rev 17:5; 18:10). However, geographic Babylon is suggested by the order in which the regions are addressed: generally from east to west, as though travelling from Babylon toward Rome (on a somewhat circuitous route). At this time, Babylon still had a large Jewish population.
Peter writes primarily to Jewish believers in Jesus Christ (but does not exclude gentile believers, cp. 2:9,10; 4:1-4). Many gentile believers had also been scattered, because of persecution (Acts 8:4).
strangers {ie., pilgrims, sojourners, cp. Heb 11:13}... elect {ie., chosen}-
Peter's purpose is to encourage 'strangers' in the world, who are the 'chosen' of God.
He contrasts the sufferings of believers (cp. v.6-7; 2:19-23; 3:9-10,14-18; 4:1-4,14)
with the glory that will follow (cp. v.7,8,11,21; 2:12; 4:11-16; 5:1,4,10,11).
Beyond the suffering that his readers were already experiencing, he foresaw an intensification of persecution (4:12), as the Roman government turned against Christians. Peter and Paul would both suffer martyrdom, under Nero, as this persecution began.
Yet, because this world is not our home, he encouraged believers to live in hope (cp. v.3,13; 3:15), and to stand firm by God's grace (5:12).
- - This letter, written in obedience to Jesus' command to ''strengthen thy brethren'', came from the heart of a man who had experience in the things about which he writes. He had been timid and fearful, but the Lord had made him bold. He had been imprisoned for the sake of Christ. Soon, he would suffer martyrdom by crucifixion.
The theme of this letter:'Christian Hope in the time of Trial'. [McGee]
- - The biblical term 'hope' means 'confidence' or 'sure expectation'. - - (It is very different from 'hope so' uncertainty.)
This hope is secured by all three Persons of the Godhead (v.2)-
elect according to the foreknowledge of God, the Father-
elect- The chosen ones. ''His invitation to 'Whosoever will' is 'Come unto Me'. It is a legitimate invitation to everyone, but there must be a response, and the response is your responsibility...'' [McGee] cp. Mat 22:14; Joh 6:37
foreknowledge- God's plan for salvation was ready before the world was created. He knew man would sin. He prepared the Way of salvation, in the Person of the Savior (v.20; Acts 2:23). He knows who will trust Him (Rom 8:29; 11:2).
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience...-
Believers are 'sanctified' or 'set apart' for God in two ways:
An objective Position (imparted holiness): God sees the believer as 'accepted in the beloved' through 'obedience' (or, submission) to His plan of salvation; ie., by faith in Christ, we belong in the family of God (Eph 1:6,7). The Holy Spirit calls us from unbelief to faith in Christ (2The 2:13,14).
A subjective Process (progressive holiness): The Holy Spirit works within the individual believer to mature him in practical (day to day) obedience to God's will. cp. v.14-16; v.22; Php 2:12,13
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ- The believer has been redeemed by the blood of Christ and accepted before God. But because he still lives in an impure world, and still struggles with his fleshly nature, cleansing from incidental sins is required, to remain in fellowship with God. This cleansing is also by Christ's blood. cp. 1Joh 1:6-9
(Each of the above points will be explained and expanded as the letter progresses.)
Grace... peace...- Because of God's grace, we can have peace in our hearts, even in troubled times.
I. Suffering and the Security of Believers - Produces Joy (1:1-9)
[Major book outline divisions from McGee]
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 {sorrow, grief} through manifold {various kinds of} temptations {trials, testings}:
1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, {cp. Zech 13:9} might be found unto praise {GK=epainos, commendation. eg. Mat 25:21, 1Cor 4:5} and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: {cp. Jude 1:24}
1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; {cp. 1Joh 4:19} in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, {cp. Joh 20:29} ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls. {cp. Joh 14:1-3; 16:22; Col 3:4}
Blessed [be] {GK=eulogetos, praised}- This word is used only in reference to God.
the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ-
The Lord Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. He is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father.
Believers are sons of God in a different sense. cp. Joh 20:17
who... hath begotten us again...-
By nature we were not His sons. But by His grace, a new kind of life has sprung up within us.
This word for 'begotten again' {GK=anagennao} is used only twice in the NT (v.3 and v.23). In other literature, this word is a botanical term referring to new plant life in the Spring season. Here, also it is associated with seed that has been sown (in v.1 'scattered' is GK= diaspora; in v.23 'seed' is GK= spora).
unto a lively {ie., living} hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ...-
He, the seed, died for those dead in sins, to include them in His life. cp. Joh 12:23,24; Rom 6:5
The believer's confident expectation (of resurrection & eternal life) is inseparably linked to Christ. Because He lives, we also live. Col 3:3,4
The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ. eg., v.5; Rom 13:11; 1Joh 3:2 [adapted from ScofRB note at Rom 1:16] When salvation is completed, everything will be brought into submission to God. 1Cor 15:21-28
Secure in this salvation, the believer has joy, even in present suffering.
The period of testing is temporary (v.6), and it has a beneficial purpose (v.7).
Read v.6-9 in the text above (with the cross reference links).
II. Suffering and the Scriptures - Produces Holiness (1:10-25)
1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, {cp. Jam 5:10} 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.
The OT prophets, speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (cp. 2Pet 1:21),
could not reconcile the apparent conflict within the message they received concerning-
the glory [of Christ]. eg. Isa 11; Psa 45
For the OT prophets, both events were yet future. They did not understand that the two events would be separated by a period of time. The NT writers, living between these events, saw that Christ's sufferings were past, but His glory was yet to come.
The NT preachers, speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit (cp. Joh 16:12-15),
now clearly proclaim the same message, the Gospel of salvation:
that Christ suffered, died and arose to make us His, and
that Christ is coming again to bring us into His glory.
Even so, our understanding of God's grace is incomplete,
- - as evidenced by the fact that even the angels desire to understand these things. cp. Eph 3:8-11
- - which is reason for us to study what Scripture says about these things. 2Pet 1:19-21
1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober {ie., soberminded}, 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;
{ie., ... in all aspects of your manner of life}
1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
The text of v.13-25 is built around four main verbs...
Because of our secure salvation provided by God's Grace (described in v.3-9), and attested by the Holy Spirit through the prophets and the Scriptures (v.10-12), we are to-
hope (v.13)- ie., live in confident expectation of the fulfillment of salvation (at Christ's return).
Such expectancy motivates the believer to be (A) prepared and committed to the task at hand {'loins girded', cp. Ex 12:11; Jer 1:17; Luk 12:35-37}, and (B) serious {'soberminded'} about God's Word, and about His business.
be holy (v.15)- ie., not living in conformity to the old way of the world (v.14), but living in conformity to Him (v.16; cp. Rom 12:2). ''Holinesss is to the spiritual life what health is to the physical life.'' [McGee]
1:17 And if ye call on the Father,
who without respect of persons {ie., without partiality} 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 {among} the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1:22 Seeing {that} 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. {quoted from Isa 40:6-8} And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The four main verbs (continued)-
fear {GK=phobos, fear, terror} (v.17). Live in reverential respect toward-
the Redeemer, in consideration of the precious {ie., of great value} price which He paid for you. cp. v.18-21; Luk 12:42-48
We had nothing with which to redeem ourselves (v.18).
Our tangible wealth had no real or lasting value (cf. v.4; cp. Psa 49:6-9) Our spiritual resources from human religion were vain {empty} (cf. v.3).
Christ redeemed us with His own blood, which is precious {ie., of great price}.
'blood as of a lamb without blemish... without spot'... - cp. Ex 12:5
Peter was introduced to Jesus as the 'lamb of God' (Joh 1:29,35-42).
After observing Him for 3 years, Peter and the other desciples were in a position to evaluate His suitability as the sacrificial lamb. cp. 1Pet 2:22-24; 1Joh 1:1-3
The Father 'foreordained' Christ for this purpose from eternity past.
'Foreordained' is a verb form of the word 'foreknowledge' in v.2.
He was made 'manifest' {ie., clearly revealed} in time
(by His incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven).
The Holy Spirit brought us to faith in God, and obedience to the Truth of the Gospel (v.21,22).
love (v.22), pure, powerful {fervent}, and unpretended {unfeigned}, for the brethren. cp. 1Joh 4:20,21; 5:1
These characteristics (to hope, to be holy, to fear, to love) are not natural to man.
They result from the transforming power of God, which makes new life spring up within the believer. 'Born again' is GK=anagennao (the word used in v.3) referring to new life from the Seed which God has planted. The Seed is the Son and the Word (the Scriptures) which speak of Him (cp. Luk 8:11; Joh 5:39; 12:23,24).
Natural man is fading away, like withering grass. He cannot endure testing. The pride of his institutions, religions, and philosophies will come to nothing.
But the life, which springs out of God's Word, will endure, because God's Word endures. 1The 2:13; Jam 1:18