1 Peter 1:1–2

Context

This is the opening greeting of 1 Peter. The sender identifies himself as "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ," and the close of the letter (1 Peter 5:12) states that it was written through Silvanus. The letter has traditionally been received as the work of the apostle Peter, although some scholars take differing views on the question of authorship.

The recipients are Christians living in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Roman provinces of Asia Minor in what is now Turkey. The letter encourages believers who are enduring slander and suffering to hold fast to hope and to live holy lives. Before doing so, its first two verses identify them as "strangers" chosen by God.

Interpretation

• Trinitarian reading: Verse 2 brings together in a single sentence the "foreknowledge" of the Father, the "sanctification" of the Spirit, and the "sprinkling of the blood" of Jesus Christ. For this reason, commentators from many denominations read the passage as an early text that reveals the saving work of the triune God (see Trinity).
• Meaning of "strangers": The term "scattered" originally referred to Jews living dispersed among the Gentiles (the Diaspora). On the basis of this expression, some hold that the recipients were Jewish Christians. Another widely accepted view, however, points to passages such as 1 Peter 1:14, 1:18, and 4:3 and holds that many of the believers were of Gentile background. This view reads "strangers" as describing the condition of all Christians, who sojourn in the world while looking toward their heavenly homeland.
• Sprinkling of blood: Many interpreters see the background of this phrase in the scene in which Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on the people (Exodus 24:8). On this reading, the sprinkling of blood signifies the believer's entrance into the new covenant.

Debates and Issues

The most widely discussed phrase is the statement that believers are chosen "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father."

• Reformed reading: The Reformed tradition, including Presbyterianism, understands "foreknowledge" not merely as knowing in advance but as God's prior determination in love. The Westminster Confession of Faith confesses that election is not grounded in any foresight of faith or good works.
• Arminian and Wesleyan reading: Arminianism and the Wesleyan tradition, including Methodist and Holiness churches, hold that God foreknew who would believe and chose them accordingly. This reading emphasizes both God's election and the human response of faith.

These discussions are treated in greater detail in the articles Predestination and Predestination and Free Will.

Translation also raises several points. In the Greek original, the word rendered "elect" stands immediately before "strangers" in verse 1, but translations in the Korean Revised Version (Gaeyeok) tradition move it to the end of verse 2. In addition, a minority view takes "obedience" as the obedience of Christ, but most commentators understand it as the obedience of believers.

Related Passages

• Exodus 24:8
• Romans 8:29
• Ephesians 1:4
• 1 Peter 2:11
• Hebrews 12:24