1 Peter: An Introduction

Exegetical Point: To address the audience of the letter with an encouraging greeting.

Homiletic Point: To address the church with an reminder of their position in Christ.

Introduction

How did we communicate before phones and internet? Kids? - Letters!

What would you do if you had a letter to send someone but there was no “Australia Post”? - Send a messenger.

This is how the ancient church would communicate. The couldn’t just ring and chat, or send an email instantly.

They had to send a letter, on foot or by boat to the churches. They’ve got a fancy name “Epistle”.

These letters were precious, because of the difficulty in communicating, and because these were words from Jesus’ chosen representatives in the world (Apostles).

They’ve got a fancy name “Epistle”. They’re like open letters.

The many letters of the NT are packed densely with Gospel truth - using every available line to remind people of truth, and to encourage the churches to live in a way that glorifies God.

The letters of Peter are no different.

New series, in Peter over next few months. Promise we’ll do more than 2 verses a week.

This week is an introduction.

What areas does it address? How is it relevant to us?

v1 & 2 set the scene for the letter - and from these two verses, we can see 4 things that set the stage for the letter. 4 elements that set the stage for what is to come.

Peter - Who’s he?

First things first - who’s sending the letter?

Unlike our modern letter writing style, the way they started their letters was with who was sending it. Makes sense! You wanna know who’s writing to you before you get to the end!

How does this letter start? No prizes for figuring this one out:

1:1a

The New International Version Chapter 1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

So who’s this fellow?

Peter the apostle -

Disciple of Jesus Christ sent out as a witness.

Alongside Jesus throughout His ministry - even opposing it at one point. Peter had the highs of being one of the first to see Jesus is the messiah, azn dlows of being called “satan” for trying to dissuade Jesus from the glorious cross.

Witness to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus - and the outpouring of the spirit to the gentiles.

Now writing to predominantly gentile churches about the Christ he lived with, loved and serves.

Exiles from Home

1:1b

Who’s the Audience? The people Peter is writing to?

The New International Version Chapter 1

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

So, he’s writing to people in specific places in what is now modern Turkey.

Interestingly, while there’s overlap not many places where Paul went on his missionary trips, so people have guessed this meant Peter went to this area, given that Paul was prevented by the Spirit (reference).

Acts 16:6–7 NIV

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

The names of the places are in a loop, so the person carrying the letter could go from place to place in a bit of a loop.

How are the people of these churches described?

Elect exiles of Dispersion.

SO, they’re chosen people, but they’re a dispersed people. Spread out.

Elect is a dirty word to some, but in the bible it is used as a beautiful word of comfort. If God is for us who can be against us?

For these people, it was especially comforting because they would have been a predominately non-Jewish people - the way that their earlier life is described throughout the letter is decidedly non-Jewish.

So for them, to be called elect and exiles is an immense comfort! They’re not “tacked on” to the people of God, they’re chosen by God.

But the other comfort is that they’re exiles - Peter recognises that their situation is not ideal, it’s not the best - it implies that there's better days to come when exile is over.

They’re not home. Like Israel, who had been cast out of their homeland, we are not home with the Lord yet.

We too are Exiles - this is not our home. We’re sojourners in this world. The church is dispersed. We’re not the Church in Turkey in the first century, but what Peter writes to them applies to all Christians in exile till the return of Christ.

So don’t attach yourself to this place. Live as a pilgrim on the way, and throw off anything that would tie you down.

Chosen, Sanctified, Obedient

1:2a

Peter now turns to say something about his audience, their identity in God. Interestingly, Peter speaks about all three person of the God head in a small space. The trinity is seen right here, and applied to their Christian identity:

The New International Version Chapter 1

who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Verse 2 has some interpretive words that do not appear in the Greek. They may be helpful translation, but they are added: “Who have been chosen” in v2 is not there. So take them or leave them, but lets pass over them for now and start with “according to”

Peter writes to these chosen exiles “according to”, you could say “though” or “in line with” the trinitarian work of God.

...According to God’s foreknowledge of God the father - he knew what he was doing, this is part of the plan. Chosen people.

How is this brought to pass?

…through the sanctifying work of the holy Spirit. This is how the foreknowledge and plan of God is actioned. The HS is God at work in the world.

What is the purpose?

…to be obedient to Jesus Christ under His covenant blood.

<gospel summary - blood of Christ that sanctifies>

This is the identity of us too, Chosen, Sanctified and Obedient.

Grace and Peace to you

1:2b

Now Peter has told them who’s writing, who he’s writing too (and where), now he extends his official greeting:

The New International Version Chapter 1

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

He extends a blessing over his listeners.

This letter is meant to be one of blessing and encouragement to them - that brings greater Grace and peace to their lives. Not the letter itself, but God working through the words to bring it to them.

We don’t think sermons or bible readings will change people, but we do believe that God works through the proclamation of his word to bring about the grace and peace in our lives.

That’s why we’re going to spend a few months going through this letter - so that we may have grace and peace too. We don’t want to just grow as intellectual aficionados of Peters Letters, but we want to ask God to work grace and peace into us to grow in obedience to Jesus. We want improvement in our discipleship, not stagnation, despair and ungodly living.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you - so that hope may abound in Christ, so that your holiness may be shown and your patient endurance may reveal Christ’s glory.