1 Peter 1:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

NIV: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

NASB: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

CSB: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen

NLT: This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

KJV: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

NKJV: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Peter begins according to the custom of the time, identifying who the letter is from and to whom it is written. Peter states his name (given to him by Jesus) and his title. As one personally commissioned by Jesus, an apostle had the authority to speak on Christ's behalf. Peter claims that authority here.

Peter writes to a very specific group. His intended audience is made up of people who are "exiles" (forced away from their homes), who are "scattered" (dispersed). These people are described as "elect," also translated as "chosen." Verse 2 will reveal what it means to be one of these elect.

Though Peter's Christian readers may have been scattered, in part, by religious persecution, his use of the word "exile" points to one of the main ideas of this letter: that believers no longer call this time and place home. Our citizenship is in heaven; we represent our true king and country while living as aliens and strangers in a foreign culture.

The particular scattered group of exiles Peter mentions now reside in five Roman providences of Asia Minor, an area currently found in northern Turkey. The letter was intended to be passed among the churches in the region, likely to be read aloud to each group of believers.

1 Peter 1:1–2 introduces the letter, identifying both writer and audience. The message is from the apostle whom Jesus named ''Peter,'' formerly named Simon. He writes to the Christians scattered and persecuted for their faith across several regions. Peter here refers to these believers as ''elect,'' meaning those specially chosen by God.

Peter, the apostle of Jesus, writes a letter to Christians facing persecution to comfort them with the truth of who they are in Christ—children of God with every reason to rejoice in their salvation and future glory in eternity. Next, he urges them to live like the holy ones of God they already are by obeying God now, loving each other earnestly, and placing all of their hope in the endless life to come.

This beautiful, profound, and challenging first chapter of 1 Peter lays the foundation for the rest of Peter’s letter. In spite of whatever suffering we may face, God Himself has already shown us great mercy in Christ by including us in His family! Jesus is our living hope. Our future is secure and endless and perfect. As the children of God we have every reason to rejoice, even in this present darkness. Peter then calls us to prepare ourselves to live as the holy people God has made us to be.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.