Introduction to 1 Peter

How to Study the Bible

1:1 Peter One of the disciples Jesus called, which made him an apostle (Matt 4:18–22).

an apostle of Jesus Christ Peter cites his apostleship to establish that his letter is authoritative and should thus be received and circulated.

to the chosen In the Hebrew Bible, the nation of Israel is designated as God’s chosen or elect people (see Deut 4:37; Isa 45:4). In the nt, this term is expanded to include the Church, which consists of both Jews and Gentiles. Although Peter is the apostle to the Jews (see Gal 2:7–8), the churches he writes to in Asia Minor probably had mostly Gentile (non-Jewish) members (see 1 Pet 1:14, 18; 2:9–10; 4:3–4).

Election

in the dispersion The Greek term diaspora—used in the ancient Greek ot called the Septuagint—originally described Jews or Jewish communities scattered throughout the world outside of Israel (see Isa 49:6; Psa 147:2; John 7:35 and note). Here it is used figuratively to describe the Christian sojourn in this age before arriving in the coming age.

in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia May describe the clockwise route that Peter’s letter carrier takes, beginning in Pontus in the north and ending in Bithynia in the northwest.

1:2 the foreknowledge Conceptually related to those chosen by God in v. 1; this term refers to God’s selection of His people, for a relationship with Him. See Eph 1:5 and note.

sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ Refers to Christ’s sacrificial and atoning work on the cross. In the ot God made a covenant with His people by instructing Moses to throw the blood of a sacrificial animal on them (see Exod 24:3–8). In a similar manner, Peter considers Christ’s blood as the means of establishing a new covenant with God’s redeemed people (see 1 Pet 1:19 and note; compare Isa 52:15 and note).

1:3 born again Refers to the believer’s new life that is only possible because of the death and resurrection of Christ. First Peter’s use of new-birth language to describe salvation reflects Jesus’ teaching (1 Pet 1:23; 2:2; see John 3:3, 7).

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ This rebirth is accomplished by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and serves as the Christian reason for hope: certainty of future salvation. Once dead in their sins, Christians now live with assured hope of their own resurrection.

1:4 an inheritance Refers to the hope mentioned in 1 Pet 1:3. Peter’s emphasis on the lasting nature of this inheritance would have comforted his audience as they suffered displacement and experienced uncertainty about the future.

reserved in heaven In contrast to the deuterocanonical book of 2 Esdras, which would have been known to his audience, Peter emphasizes the achievements of Christ’s atonement rather than an individual’s good works (compare 2 Esdras 8:33).

1:5 salvation Refers to God’s deliverance of His people from physical and spiritual captivity.

ready to be revealed in the last time For Peter, salvation is both a present reality experienced through the believer’s new birth in Christ and a promise of final deliverance in the future.

1:6 for a short time Although Christians will receive their inheritance with joy when Christ is revealed (1 Pet 1:7), they may face suffering and trials during the relatively brief present time.

by various trials Peter exhorts the churches in Asia Minor to stand firm in the midst of persecution, which likely includes state-sponsored reprisals for refusing to pay tribute to Caesar as well as general persecution against Christians, who were viewed as a maligned offshoot of Judaism.

1:7 tested by fire Possibly refers to imperial persecution under the reign of Nero, but most likely describes the role trials play in the growth of Christian faith. According to 1 Peter, faith that remains true in the face of suffering is more valuable than anything else.

the revelation of Jesus Christ Refers to Jesus’ second coming.

1:10 careful inquiry Describes the trustworthy nature of the ot prophets’ prediction of salvation that Christ made possible for believers. Peter comforts his audience by reminding them of the continuity between God’s promises in the ot and their present-day experiences.

1:11 Spirit of Christ Refers to the Holy Spirit, although this designation is uncommon in the nt (see Rom 8:9; Phil 1:19). Peter stresses the continuity of the Spirit’s role in revealing God’s plan: The same Spirit of Christ that spoke to the prophets about Christ helped reveal the gospel to believers (1 Pet 1:12).

1:12 into which angels desire to look Peter seems to indicate that angels are curious about matters of grace (v. 10) and the gospel. This claim highlights the privilege of Christians who have matters of salvation revealed to them. Jewish tradition often depicted angelic beings as interested in human affairs (see Luke 15:10). The phrase may possibly refer to fallen angels, although Peter most likely has in mind angels of heaven.

1:13 prepared your minds for action This idiom, which is often rendered as “gird up the loins of your mind,” refers to the ancient practice of men tucking their long robes into their belt when they needed to move quickly (see Jer 1:17; Job 38:3).

put your hope Christians are called to anticipate and live in anticipation of their salvation. Christ’s resurrection is the basis for Christian hope; His final revelation will complete God’s deliverance of His people.

1:14 former desires Likely refers to the unethical behavior of Christians before their conversion. Due to its emphasis on separation from previous behavior, the phrase may indicate that Peter wrote the letter to churches composed primarily of Gentile believers who did not abide by the Jewish law (see 1 Pet 1:18; 2:9–10; 4:3–4).

1:16 You will be holy, because I am holy Holiness can refer to being blameless and without sin, but it also describes a person set apart for service to God. Here Peter cites the Septuagint version of Lev 19:2 to exhort Christians to lead holy lives. However, for Peter true holiness does not consist of keeping the law, but instead obeying the Father (1 Pet 1:17). Both in the ot and the nt periods, God calls His people to holiness—to reflect His character (see Lev 19:2; 20:7, 26).

1:17 conduct yourselves with fear Peter commands Christians to fear God, not those who persecute them (see 1 Pet 2:23).

time of your temporary residence See v. 1 and note.

1:19 precious blood of Christ Refers to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross (see v. 2 and note). First Peter often highlights the costly nature of Christ’s sacrifice and the salvation it made possible (see vv. 7; 2:4–7).

unblemished and spotless lamb This may refer to a lamb qualified for sacrifice. Here Peter likens Christ’s sacrifice to that of a lamb offered according to the ot sacrificial system (see Lev 22:21; 23:12; Exod 12:5; Num 6:14) or, more likely, the Passover lamb in the exodus narrative. In the nt, Christ is depicted as the perfect Passover lamb whose sacrifice redeems believers from the slavery of sin (see John 1:29, 36; 1 Cor 5:7 and note; compare Heb 9:14; Isa 53:10 and note).

1:20 before the foundation of the world God’s redemption of sinners through the precious blood of His Son was always part of the divine plan of salvation (compare John 1:1 and note). Earlier in the letter Peter reminds his audience that the ot prophets anticipated salvation (see 1 Pet 1:10 and note); here he seeks to comfort them with the knowledge that Christ’s sacrifice unfolded as part of God’s eternal plan.

1:22 purified your souls Recalls ritual purification washing practiced in Judaism at the time. These washings dealt only with external matters, whereas the purification Christ offers includes the whole person (see Matt 15:1–20). The soul of a Christian is purified through acceptance of God’s truth, as manifest in Jesus, and rejecting their former way of life (see 1 Pet 1:18).

1:23 not from perishable seed but imperishable Contrasts temporary earthly life with eternal life. The new birth is completely distinct from human birth and life; it involves supernatural birth and is secure because God handles the process.

1:25 word that has been proclaimed to you The Greek word used here, euangelizō, describes the proclamation of good news and often references the gospel in the nt. Peter may have equated the “word of the Lord” from Isa 40:8 with the gospel (compare Luke 4:16–30).