That ancient Roman saying is still quoted today and, like most adages, it has an element of truth but no guarantee of certainty. It is not the fact of life that determines hope, but the faith of life. A Christian believer has a “living hope” because their faith and hope are in God. This “living hope” is the major theme of Peter’s first letter. He is saying to all believers, “Be hopeful!” Before we study the details of this fascinating letter, let’s get acquainted with the man who wrote it, the people to whom he sent it.
