New King James 1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ²elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied

New American Standard ¹Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen ²according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure

New Living Translation 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 lands of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia. ²God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood.

May you have more and more of God’s special favor and wonderful peace.

NIV – "To God’s elect, strangers in the world."

"While there’s life, there’s hope." This ancient Roman saying is often quoted today. While there is some truth to it, it must be said that hope is not contingent on life, but faith. I Peter 1: 3 says that every believer has a "living hope." This hope is the theme of this book.

This book is Peter’s pastoral letter. We are well familiar with Paul’s letters to the churches that he founded, but little is known about Peter’s pastoral letters.

They are "aliens" of the Dispersion. This is the technical term used of the cultural dispersion of Jews of when they were scattered throughout the world after the exile of 587 BC. But Peter is not using this term in that same sense. While the Jews were national aliens, the believers Peter was addressing were spiritual aliens.

Peter addresses this letter to those who are "practically homeless."

I Peter 1: 17 "the time of your stay on earth" is the New American Standard

New Living says, "during your time as foreigners here on earth."

I Peter 2:11 "I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims"

This is the same word used in Hebrews 11: 13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

But the key thought here is that as strangers, aliens – they were suffering. At least fifteen times in this letter, Peter referred to suffering; and he used eight different Greek words to do so. Some of these Christians were suffering because they were living godly lives and doing what was good and right. Others were suffering reproach for the name of Christ and being railed at by unsaved people.

Peter also knew that persecution was coming their way. I Peter 4:12 "do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you."

Whether the trial had already begun or he just knew it was headed there is uncertain. But as a loving shepherd, he was preparing them for the intense time of suffering.

Notice the location of these churches – in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).

Some of these places were mentioned as being present on the day of Pentecost. Thus, they heard the gospel under the preaching of Peter and may be views him as their pastor. As he writes to them, it is interesting to note that its not addressed to just one church, but several.

This reveals to me no matter where the church is or even what age that church existed, the needs are basically the same. One letter to five different areas is sufficient, not five letters.

These areas were very different: coastal regions, mountain ranges, plateau, and lakes. They had very different origins or ethnic roots. Some were named after the Gauls. There was a substantial Jewish population. Most of these areas were rural.

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Its also interesting to note that Paul was restricted by the Holy Spirit to going into Bithynia in Acts 16:6-7 and the reason may have been because of Peter’s work there.

The scene is this: pilgrims had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast when they heard about the gospel of Jesus preached under the power of the Holy Spirit, got baptized in the Holy Spirit and returned back to the same house, to the same family and the same community. But they were different now and were viewed as "aliens." Where did you come from? They no longer felt welcomed in their previous circles. They no longer felt comfortable in their previous lifestyles. They were practically homeless resulting in suffering.

As one as said, "Our deepest needs drive us to our deepest beliefs." That need drives these people to hope.

This letter was written to Christians to produce hope who were suffering.

Hope in the midst of suffering? In the midst of trial? Hope is more greatly needed and treasured in the midst of hurt and pain.

Peter is preeminently the apostle of hope, as Paul is the apostle of faith and John of love.

But how could they expect and experience hope?

I Peter 1: 3 "has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Some of the weak arguments against Peter as the author of this book is that it is lacking of examples and quotations from the life of Jesus. Well, two things can be said: 1. Peter’s first hand information about the person, ministry, sayings and doings of Jesus is the basis of the Gospel of Mark. 2. The whole background of the book of I Peter is the example of suffering that Jesus went through and the hope that proceeds out of his example.

Jesus suffered, died but rose again. His example gives us hope of glory. We have already noted the theme of suffering, but another noted theme in this book is glory. In every chapter, except three, glory is mentioned predominately. One of the encouragements that we have is that our suffering will one day be transformed into glory.

It is also noteworthy that the theme of Mark is Jesus as Servant. And the example of Jesus as shown forth in I Peter is that as a servant, He suffered.

I Peter 2:21 "because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"

Not only is Jesus an example, but so is Peter himself and Peter was an example because of his experience in Jesus Christ.

Peter wrote this letter from "Babylon" (5:13). The "Babylon" from which Peter sends his greetings is not the ruined city in Mesopotamia. But in Revelation, the "contemporary" idea of Babylon was Rome and I believe that Peter is using Babylon as that code word. Peter, like the ones to whom he was writing, is a "displaced person."

Peter was most likely put to death in Rome about 67-68 AD although some say it was as early as 64 AD. Any way, he was in Rome experiencing the persecution of Nero.

But Peter knows firsthand that this hope is real. I Peter 5:12 "This is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it."

The last major theme of this book is grace. It is mentioned in every chapter. As we depend of God’s grace to give us strength in times of trial, to serve God in spite of the difficulties and it will lead ultimately lead us to glory.

I Peter 5:10 includes them all together. "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

I have spiral bound flip card tent with different sayings as composed by John Maxwell. When I was sitting up my office the first of June, I ran across this and sat it on my desk. As I turned to June 10, this was the saying from John Maxwell, "Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present."