Introduction

1 Peter

Introduction

Peter, and apostle of Christ, writing to those Christians in the area north of Asia Minor, an area where Paul was “prevented” by the Spirit to go and evangelize, but nonetheless a church was started there. These Christians are identified by Peter as God's elect (chosen by God's foreknowledge) but are exiles. The church to which Peter writes is made up of exiles from the dispersion (Diaspora) and “aliens” in their new land, as well as those scatered (from Acts 8) and converts from the area. The converts being themselves “exiles” in their own land because of their new beliefs.

The people living in the lands of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia were adherents to many different pagan religions, most based off the Greek and subsequent Roman polytheism. Everyone in a particular city would participate in civic ceremonies and other meetings that centered on the worship of some deity. The Believers, having been changed by Christ did not wish to partake in such things and were therefore outcasts in the society. Even though most residents themselves did not believe in the gods they worshipped, they thought it very unsocial of the Christians to abstain from activities that involved “community.” They were branded as unpatriotic for not submitting to the emperor and disloyal to the city for not participating in civic events. They were thought of as unprofessional, as most guild meetings took place in pagan temples, and seen as “anti-family” as the family gatherings centered on household worship, and also many family gatherings took place in the pagan temples. So the Christians in these areas were seen as outcasts, or “aliens” in their own community for their beliefs and adherence to the Christian faith.

Peter first identifies his audience as “God's elect,” the elect being the chosen people of God, chosen according to God's foreknowledge, which is an intimate knowing and implies prior choice, before any action of the person. Peter addresses them in such a manner as to inspire hope, as he later emphasizes is through Jesus Christ, and remind them that as they now live in exile, as aliens among the people, that that is exactly what they are no matter what their geographical location. For we (the elect) are citizens of the Kingdom of God, not citizens of any earthly kingdom. This is one of the main points of Peters epistle, as he calls on the people to live holy lives, quoting God's own words from Leviticus 11:44, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And to be holy, literally means to be set apart, or different.

Peter's reference to being sprinkled with blood also signifies this call to be holy. The sanctification of believers indicates not only a positional change, when God reached out to them, but a practical change in lifestyle (for the better) from a less holy lifestyle to one that is set apart for God, exemplified in their obedience to Jesus Christ. The sprinkling of the blood was used in Exodus 24:7-8 where we see God's chosen people being obedient, and Moses sprinkling the “blood of the covenant” on them. The sprinkled blood sealed the covenant and set the people apart for God.

What does this signify for us?

We are also among the elect, and therefore we have the same hope that Peter talks about in verses 3-9.

We are also aliens living in a foreign land. We may be outcast from our society, just as the residents of northern Asia, for our beliefs and lives (lives that exemplify the life of Christ, which Peter calls a “stumbling block” to unbelievers in verse 8).

We are sanctified by the same Spirit, for the same reason, with the same covenant, made by the same God, and we should, therefore, live “holy as [He] is holy.”


	1 Peter Introduction Peter, and apostle of Christ, writing to those Christians in the area north of Asia Minor, an area where Paul was “prevented” by the Spirit to go and evangelize, but nonetheless a church was started there. These Christians are identified by Peter as God's elect (chosen by God's foreknowledge) but are exiles. The church to which Peter writes is made up of exiles from the dispersion (Diaspora) and “aliens” in their new land, as well as those scatered (from Acts 8) and converts from the area. The converts being themselves “exiles” in their own land because of their new beliefs. The people living in the lands of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia were adherents to many different pagan religions, most based off the Greek and subsequent Roman polytheism. Everyone in a particular city would participate in civic ceremonies and other meetings that centered on the worship of some deity. The Believers, having been changed by Christ did not wish to partake in such things and were therefore outcasts in the society. Even though most residents themselves did not believe in the gods they worshipped, they thought it very unsocial of the Christians to abstain from activities that involved “community.” They were branded as unpatriotic for not submitting to the emperor and disloyal to the city for not participating in civic events. They were thought of as unprofessional, as most guild meetings took place in pagan temples, and seen as “anti-family” as the family gatherings centered on household worship, and also many family gatherings took place in the pagan temples. So the Christians in these areas were seen as outcasts, or “aliens” in their own community for their beliefs and adherence to the Christian faith. Peter first identifies his audience as “God's elect,” the elect being the chosen people of God, chosen according to God's foreknowledge, which is an intimate knowing and implies prior choice, before any action of the person. Peter addresses them in such a manner as to inspire hope, as he later emphasizes is through Jesus Christ, and remind them that as they now live in exile, as aliens among the people, that that is exactly what they are no matter what their geographical location. For we (the elect) are citizens of the Kingdom of God, not citizens of any earthly kingdom. This is one of the main points of Peters epistle, as he calls on the people to live holy lives, quoting God's own words from Leviticus 11:44, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And to be holy, literally means to be set apart, or different. Peter's reference to being sprinkled with blood also signifies this call to be holy. The sanctification of believers indicates not only a positional change, when God reached out to them, but a practical change in lifestyle (for the better) from a less holy lifestyle to one that is set apart for God, exemplified in their obedience to Jesus Christ. The sprinkling of the blood was used in Exodus 24:7-8 where we see God's chosen people being obedient, and Moses sprinkling the “blood of the covenant” on them. The sprinkled blood sealed the covenant and set the people apart for God. What does this signify for us? We are also among the elect, and therefore we have the same hope that Peter talks about in verses 3-9. We are also aliens living in a foreign land. We may be outcast from our society, just as the residents of northern Asia, for our beliefs and lives (lives that exemplify the life of Christ, which Peter calls a “stumbling block” to unbelievers in verse 8). We are sanctified by the same Spirit, for the same reason, with the same covenant, made by the same God, and we should, therefore, live “holy as [He] is holy.”