Read with Me
1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:
To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Listen with Me
Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ first followers, had been introduced to Jesus by his brother, Andrew (John 1:40-42). He was given the title of apostle, or “sent out one” along with eleven others by Jesus Himself (Matthew 10:1-5). Even though Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62), Jesus had restored him after His resurrection (John 21:15-19). And from that time forward, Peter became one of the pillars of the early Church and wore the title of apostle humbly and faithfully.
Peter characterized his audience as temporary residents in the world, mirroring Jesus’ description of his followers as being in the world, but not of the world (John 17:14-15). Peter knew well that the people who were allied with the system of the world could never accept them for who they truly were, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God on earth. And as such, he addresses them as his brothers and sisters.
This letter is specifically addressed to those Christians living in the regions of Asia Minor, areas that now comprise northern and central Turkey. Most of these had received the gospel through the work of Paul and his associates, and a good many of them were gentiles.
Peter identifies these people as those who had been chosen by God, not according to His sovereignty, but according to His foreknowledge. In this Peter agrees fully with Paul, that since God exists outside of time, He can know in advance who will choose to receive Jesus and follow Him. And those God foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29).
Peter’s point is that, even though many of his first readers were gentiles by birth, God knew that they would respond to the gospel, so He sent it to them. He followed that up by sprinkling them with the blood of Jesus for forgiveness, and by sending His Holy Spirit into their hearts to cleanse them and transform them from the inside out. At the same time, He set them apart for the work of His Kingdom and for obedience to all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
Peter finishes his introduction by blessing his readers with grace, God’s divine favor, and peace, shalom, wholeness and holiness in every area of their lives.
Pray with Me
Father, many people imagine a wall between the Jewish believers and the gentile believers in the early Church. And they imagine that there was even a wall among the apostles, with Paul being commissioned to go to the gentiles, while Peter was sent to the Jews. Even though there was some truth to those primary focuses, there was a lot of crossover. In Acts, we see Paul going first to the Jews in every area to which he was sent. And here we see a letter from Peter addressing areas of the Church that were majority gentile. This all underscores how blended the Church already was at that point. It also shows that the apostles understood their commission as truly being to “all nations” (Matthew 28:18). Help me, Lord, to not just reach out to those who are like me, but to always be open to reaching out to everyone around me with Your good news. Amen.