Introduction
The letter of 1 Peter, penned by the Apostle Peter, a key figure in early Christianity and one of Jesus Christ’s closest disciples, is a powerful message directed to believers scattered across various regions. This letter, specifically 1 Peter chapter 1, is rich with themes of hope, salvation, and the call to holy living amidst trials. Understanding Peter 1 provides profound insights into the Christian faith and offers timeless encouragement for believers today.
Salutation: Peter’s Greeting to the Elect (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Peter begins his letter by identifying himself as “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.” This immediately establishes his authority and credibility as a messenger of Christ. He addresses his letter to “God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.” These were regions in Asia Minor, indicating a broad audience of early Christians living outside of their homeland, possibly facing displacement and hardship.
He further describes them as “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.” This highlights the Trinitarian nature of God’s work in salvation: the Father’s foreknowledge, the Spirit’s sanctification, and obedience to Jesus Christ, symbolized by his atoning blood. Peter concludes this opening with a blessing: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance,” a common Pauline greeting that expresses a desire for God’s favor and tranquility to be multiplied in the lives of his readers.
Praise to God for a Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-12)
This section is a hymn of praise to God for the “living hope” believers possess through Jesus Christ. Peter exclaims, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” He emphasizes God’s “great mercy” as the source of their “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This new birth is not into a fleeting or uncertain hope, but a “living hope,” energized and guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection.
Peter further describes the inheritance awaiting believers: “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” This heavenly inheritance is contrasted with earthly possessions that are temporary and subject to decay. It is secure and incorruptible, reserved in heaven. He continues, “who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” Believers are actively protected by God’s power through faith, awaiting the full revelation of their salvation.
Despite present sufferings, Peter encourages rejoicing: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” He explains the purpose of these trials: “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Trials are not meaningless but serve to refine and prove the genuineness of faith, which is far more valuable than gold.
Peter then speaks of the believers’ love for Christ despite not having seen him physically: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” This joy is a result of their faith and anticipation of “receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
He concludes this section by highlighting the prophets’ intense study and anticipation of this salvation: “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care.” Even angels, Peter notes, long to understand these profound truths of salvation. This emphasizes the magnitude and wonder of the salvation believers have received.
Be Holy: A Call to Transformed Living (1 Peter 1:13-25)
Transitioning from praise to exhortation, Peter urges believers to “be holy” in light of their salvation. “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” He calls for mental alertness and soberness, urging them to fix their hope on the future grace to be revealed at Christ’s return.
He contrasts their past and present lives: “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” Having been called by a holy God, believers are to reflect His holiness in every aspect of their lives, moving away from their former desires rooted in ignorance of God.
Peter reminds them of God’s impartial judgment: “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” Knowing they are accountable to a just God, believers should live with “reverent fear” during their earthly sojourn, recognizing themselves as “foreigners” in this world.
He emphasizes the cost of their redemption: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Redemption was not achieved through earthly wealth but through the “precious blood of Christ,” highlighting the immense value and sacrifice involved.
Peter connects Christ’s pre-existence and resurrection to their faith: “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” Their faith is grounded in God, who raised and glorified Christ, demonstrating His power and validating their hope.
Concluding with a call to love and the enduring Word of God, Peter states, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” Obedience to the truth leads to purified lives and genuine love for fellow believers. This love should be “deep” and “from the heart.”
He emphasizes their new birth through the imperishable Word: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” This new birth is not from corruptible human seed but from the “imperishable” Word of God, which is “living and enduring.”
Peter ends by quoting Isaiah 40:6-8 to illustrate the contrast between the fleeting nature of humanity and the eternal Word of God: ““All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.” The Word of God, which is the foundation of their new birth and hope, is eternal and unchanging, contrasting with the transient nature of human life and glory.
Conclusion
1 Peter chapter 1 is a foundational text for Christian believers. It emphasizes the living hope they have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the precious inheritance awaiting them, and the call to live holy lives that reflect God’s own holiness. The letter encourages perseverance through trials, grounded in the assurance of salvation and the enduring nature of God’s Word. The message of Peter 1 remains profoundly relevant, offering hope and guidance for Christians navigating the challenges of life in any era.
