Read or listen First Epistle of Peter online (ESV, YouVersion)

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To the Elect Exiles – 1 Peter 1:1–2

Peter does not introduce himself in any way (verse 1). This means that he was already well known. He also does not defend or explain his apostleship, so his authority as an apostle was evidently accepted by all the readers of the letter (compare Matt. 16:16–19).

Peter calls the recipients of the letter “elect” (verse 1). Christians are God’s chosen people. Israel was God’s chosen nation, but because it rejected Jesus, God chose for Himself a new Israel from among the Gentiles (see Rom. 9–11; Gal. 6:16). The expression also shows that becoming a Christian is God’s work, not a human achievement (compare Eph. 1:4 and 1 Pet. 2:9–10).

The readers of the letter were living “in dispersion” (verse 1). The Greek word is diaspora, a term especially used for the scattering of the Jews. Already at that time, most of the approximately four million Jews in the Roman Empire lived outside Palestine. After the Jewish revolt and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the number living in the land of their fathers became even smaller.

But Peter is not speaking here about Jews, but about Christians. They live as strangers in this world:

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles...”
(1 Pet. 2:11, ESV)

“...we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
(2 Cor. 5:8, ESV)

A foreigner had no citizenship rights. The idea of being a stranger also includes being a minority. The people of Israel themselves confessed that they were strangers:

“A wandering Aramean was my father...”
(Deut. 26:5, ESV)

Their forefather Abraham also lived as a foreigner in the land of Canaan:

“I am a sojourner and foreigner among you...”
(Gen. 23:4, ESV)

Christians receive the same calling:

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”
(Heb. 13:14, ESV)

The recipients lived in five provinces of Asia Minor, although at that time Bithynia and Pontus formed one province. The area was located in the northern part of present-day Turkey along the coast of the Black Sea.

Notice that all three Persons of the Trinity appear in verse 2 (compare Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 13:14).

The Greek word translated “foreknowledge” in verse 2 can also be understood as God’s plan. Both ideas fit well: salvation is based on God’s eternal purpose. Salvation history is also the history of God’s saving plan.

Sprinkling with blood part of the worship of the Old Covenant. When Moses made the covenant between God and Israel at Mount Sinai, the people were sprinkled with the blood of sacrificed animals (Ex. 24:4–8; compare Heb. 9:11–14, 18–28).

“Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you...”
(Ex. 24:8, ESV)

Paul also uses the greeting “grace and peace” in the openings of several of his letters (verse 2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2).

Through Suffering to Victory – 1 Peter 1:3–12

Sometimes in evangelistic meetings someone promises: “Follow Jesus, and all your problems will disappear!” Peter does not promise Christians an easy life without troubles—rather the opposite. But the Christian life has a true goal: heaven.

The Trinity is again present in this section: verses 3–5 speak about God, verses 6–9 about Christ, and verses 10–12 about the Holy Spirit.

In many of Paul’s letters, the opening greeting is followed by praise to God. Peter follows the same pattern.

Verse 3 points to baptism: in baptism we became children of God, and there we were born again (John 3:3–7; Rom. 6:3–5; Col. 2:11–13; Titus 3:5; James 1:18).

“...he saved us... by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
(Titus 3:5, ESV)

We were born again—we did not cause it ourselves. It was God’s work. The same truth is emphasized by the language of inheritance (verse 4): an inheritance is received, not earned.

Christ was the firstborn from among the dead:

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
(1 Cor. 15:20, ESV)

Christ’s resurrection promises the same future to all who believe in Him. Therefore Christians have a living hope. God’s goodness is beyond words.

Heaven is so wonderful that Peter describes it mainly with negative expressions (verse 4): it is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

God helps us in our daily walk (verse 5). We could not remain Christians without God’s work in us. Salvation was completed at Golgotha, but it will be fully revealed to all people only when Christ returns (verse 5). In this present age, Satan causes many to think that he is the victor, even though Christ has already defeated him.

God’s care does not mean that Christians will avoid suffering because of their faith (verse 6; Rom. 5:3; James 1:2–4). Trials reveal whether faith is genuine (verse 7). If faith proves true and enduring, it brings glory to Christ.

The coming glory is far greater than the sufferings we experience on the way to heaven:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
(Rom. 8:18, ESV)

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
(2 Cor. 4:17, ESV)

Already in the Old Testament, the refining of metal by fire was used as a picture of God testing His people (Ps. 66:10; Isa. 48:10; Mal. 3:3).

“For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.”
(Ps. 66:10, ESV)

Verse 8 speaks with the voice of an eyewitness: “Even though you have not seen Jesus on earth as I have...” The important thing in faith is not what we ourselves have seen, but whom we believe and trust.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
(John 20:29, ESV)

The goal of faith is salvation (verse 9). Here the word “soul” refers to the whole person.

Verses 10–12 show the many layers of Old Testament prophecy. On one hand, the prophets spoke to people of their own time. On the other hand, their writings also contained prophecies and foreshadowings of the coming Messiah and future events in salvation history (Luke 24:44; Rom. 1:2; 2 Pet. 1:19–21).

Some prophecies were fulfilled already during the Old Testament period:

“...according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet...”
(Dan. 9:2, ESV)

Some were fulfilled in Jesus, and others will be fulfilled in the last days. Because God is the One who gives and guarantees His promises, we can trust that prophecies not yet fulfilled will certainly come true, just as the fulfilled ones already have.

In verse 11, Peter speaks of the “Spirit of Christ” instead of simply “the Holy Spirit.” He wants to emphasize that the same Spirit who guided the Old Testament prophets also guided Jesus:

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit...”
(Luke 4:14, ESV)

The same Spirit also guides Christians:

“...the Helper, the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things...”
(John 14:26, ESV)

Peter stresses that the prophets were speaking specifically about the coming Messiah.

The fact that even angels long to look into salvation (verse 12) shows how precious the salvation given to Christians truly is. This is meant as encouragement: see how valuable the gift is that God has given you—do not abandon it.

Be Holy – 1 Peter 1:13–21

Verse 13 begins a long section of exhortations and their explanations, continuing almost to the end of the letter (1 Pet. 5:12–14).

The small word “therefore” is very important. In the Bible, instructions for Christian living come only after God’s saving work has first been declared. Our actions are always based on what God has already done in Jesus. As Martin Luther said: “Good works do not make a good person, but a good person does good works.”

To “gird up” oneself (verse 13) meant tying up the long parts of one’s clothing so they would not prevent work. Today we might say “roll up your sleeves.” When the Israelites prepared to leave Egypt for the Promised Land, they were to eat the Passover meal ready to depart at any moment (Ex. 12:11). Christians also must be ready at all times to leave this earthly pilgrimage and go to heaven.

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning...”
(Luke 12:35, ESV)

Peter speaks about sobriety (verse 13) in two other places as well (1 Pet. 4:7; 5:8). Here it means spiritual alertness and clear-mindedness—not being carried away by every false teaching.

“Therefore... preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace...”
(1 Pet. 1:13, ESV)

We have only one foundation for hope: the grace of God (verse 13; see also verse 21).

We are children of God (verse 14) because God has caused us to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3, 23). Therefore we can call God our Father (verse 17).

Faith includes obedience (verse 14) to the will of God:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind...”
(Rom. 12:2, ESV)

Christians may live under God’s guidance just as Israel was led by the pillar of cloud and fire during the wilderness journey (Ex. 13:17–22).

Paganism was a time of ignorance (verse 14). Scripture also speaks of this elsewhere (Acts 17:30; 1 Pet. 4:3–4).

The Roman Catholic practice of canonizing saints has led many people to think that only especially holy Christians are saints. But in the New Testament all Christians are called saints (verses 15–16). Our holiness is God’s holiness given to us.

Verse 16 quotes Lev. 11:44–45:

“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
(Lev. 11:45, ESV)

Verse 17 can be understood in two ways:

Even though we may call God our Father, He is also the Judge whom we should fear and obey. Even though God is an impartial Judge, He is also our Father who does not condemn us according to our merits.

Perhaps Peter intentionally writes in a way that includes both meanings. Those who think of God only as a gentle old man in heaven are warned that He is also Judge. Those who fear only a condemning God discover that He is also a merciful Father.

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned...”
(John 3:18, ESV)

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
(Rom. 8:1, ESV)

The Greek word for “work” in verse 17 is singular. The meaning may therefore be: “judges each one according to his work.” Faith in Jesus is the one thing that matters in the final judgment.

The fear of God (verse 17) means living according to His will:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom...”
(Ps. 111:10, ESV)

The Greek word for “sojourning” (verse 17, paroikia) later gave rise to words meaning congregation or parish in some languages, including the English word “parish.” Christians are meant to remain strangers in this present age.

Based on verses 18–19, Luther wrote the explanation to the Second Article of the Creed in the Small Catechism:

“He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person... not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.”

Redemption (verse 18) was a familiar idea in everyday life during that time: a slave could be bought free by paying the required price. In the Old Testament, redemption was also central to the sacrificial system.

Christ redeemed us with His blood:

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses...”
(Eph. 1:7, ESV)

Our debt of sin has been paid (Col. 2:13–15). Jesus was the spotless lamb required by the Old Testament sacrificial laws (Ex. 12:5; Isa. 53:7; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7), who gave His blood for the atonement of our sins.

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”
(Mark 14:24, ESV)

Christ has transferred us from an empty and meaningless way of life (verse 18) into the kingdom of God:

“...turn from these vain things to a living God...”
(Acts 14:15, ESV)

“The last times” (verse 20) refers to the time after Pentecost. Jesus fulfilled God’s plan; after Him there will be no new stage in salvation history. The entire period after Pentecost is the last age: the atonement has already been accomplished, and now we await the final judgment (Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:1; 1 John 2:18).

Peter says that we believe through Christ (verse 21). Christ Himself creates faith in us. Only through His work are we able to believe.

Only faith can give true and lasting hope (verse 21).

The Word of the Lord Remains Forever – 1 Peter 1:22–25

Some Bible scholars believe that First Peter is not originally a letter but a sermon given during a baptismal service. They think the baptism itself took place between verses 21 and 22. Everything before that would then be addressed to those preparing for baptism, and everything afterward to the newly baptized (compare verse 23 and 1 Pet. 2:2).

Bo Giertz reminds us that, properly understood, baptism is not only something in the past but part of daily Christian life. In verse 23 the Greek uses a tense that points to an ongoing reality. Baptism should remain continually important to us; every day we should return to the grace of baptism. Therefore it is not necessary to think that First Peter was written only for newly baptized Christians.

The mutual love of Christians (verse 22) can only be based on the life-giving love of Christ (verse 23; John 13:34–35; 1 Thess. 4:9–10).

Notice that the means of cleansing is not water itself, but the Word of God (verse 23; 1 Cor. 6:11).

In the Bible, truth (verse 22) is always something to be lived out. It is not only knowledge, but also action.

The Word of God is living and abiding (verse 23; Matt. 24:35). The living power of God’s Word means that it has the power to accomplish what it promises:

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
(Luke 1:37, ESV)