The First Epistle Of Peter

by Chris Simmons

As claimed in the salutation, Peter is the author of this very practical and needful letter. While it’s not possible to definitively determine when Peter wrote this letter, it is generally accepted by historians that Peter wrote it in the early days of the persecution instigated by Nero, around 64 or 65 AD. Peter recorded that Silvanus (also known as Silas, who accompanied Paul on his 2nd missionary journey) was the one to carry this letter of exhortation (5:12). In contrast to many of Paul’s epistles, this letter was not addressed to a church in a specific city but is instead addressed to “those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1:1). Thayer defines “aliens” as someone “who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives; hence stranger; sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner.” Peter again references their status as “aliens” in 2:11 where he wrote, “I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.” Peter referred to their time upon the earth as but a “stay” (1:17) which means to “dwell in a strange land” (Thayer). Peter is obviously trying to shape our mindset, as Christians and children of God, about life upon earth that we might come to see our physical life as simply a sojourning – a temporary stay – while we wait to journey to our home in heaven with God. Peter’s salutation is to help us remember that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20) and not this physical world we sojourn in. The great examples of faith, mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11, understood that they were but “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Is that our mindset?

Do we recognize the temptation and the danger of establishing our roots and affections in a place that is simply a temporary dwelling place? Many of us have gone camping in tents in times past, but do any of us really consider that tent to be our permanent home? Do we not, after a little while, long to return to where our real home is? Yet so many want to make what is to be our temporary home our permanent residence. A fundamental fallacy of all premillennial doctrines is that they, like the Jews during the time of the ministry of Christ, see this world as the object of their hope. Our hearts and our lives need to reflect the words of the song we often sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue… I can’t feel at home in this world anymore!”

Peter mentions that the recipients are Christians who are “scattered” amongst the various regions listed in 1:1. Clinton Hamilton says of the word “scattered,” that instead of focusing on whether it refers to Jews or Gentiles, we need to remember that “the meaning in this passage is that the Christians are scattered among people who do not share their citizenship in heaven and the conduct characteristic of such citizenship. Accordingly they are strangers or sojourners among them.” This addresses one of the key themes of this book – the need for holy conduct and behavior. Even though they were pilgrims in a temporary home, they needed to conduct themselves in manner worthy of the home of their true citizenship (heaven). Peter exhorts them to “not be conformed to the former lusts… but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1:14-15). Christians are called to “abstain from fleshly lusts” and “keep your behavior excellent” (2:11-12) among those of the world because they are watching and observing us and looking for opportunities to discredit or slander us. Peter also addresses our behavior in the home in our effort to influence our family for good (3:1-2). We must behave ourselves appropriately for the name we wear and the gospel we advocate and defend (Philippians 1:27). Peter notes in chapter 4 that the changed conduct and behavior of a Christian will elicit a negative response from those we used to “run with into the same excess of dissipation” (4:2-4). This leads to the second major theme of this letter.

The other primary theme of this letter is to offer hope to those who were suffering because of their faith. The nature of this hope is unlike any other. It is said to be “imperishable… undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1:4). It is a hope so powerful that it can enable us to endure the “various trials” that distress us (1:5) so that we might one day receive the “praise and glory and honor” at His coming. The genesis of our hope, which can anchor our souls, must be our “obedience to the truth” (1:22-23). We are to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ who “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2) endured the suffering and persecution of His death on the cross, entrusting Himself to His Father (2:21-24). Peter admonished us not to be “surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (4:12) but to rejoice in light of the hope of His return (4:13). Peter reminds us to be ever aware of the fact that Satan is the one who does not cease to use “suffering” as a means to “devour” us (5:8-9). Suffering and persecution will arise if we are truly children of God who “desire to live godly in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:12) and so Peter closes chapter 4 with the simple encouragement, “let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (4:19).

It was important to Peter that the Christians he wrote understand who they (we) really were – or who they (we) were to be. They were children of God redeemed by blood of the unblemished Lamb of God (1:18-19). They were “straying sheep” (2:25) who had been “born again” (1:22-23) according to the word of God, who were to continue to have an insatiable desire to grow (2:1-2). Christians are a special people who are described as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession” (2:9). As noted already, they were “aliens and strangers” in a foreign land who needed to behave themselves appropriately. They were those who had turned from their sinful ways (4:1-4) who were now humble and trusting servants of God (5:6-7) who were ever aware of their formidable adversary (5:8). They are those who have a singular focus of attaining God’s “eternal glory in Christ” (5:10). Is that who we are?