1 Peter 1

• To the elect: The apostle Peter begins his letter by reminding suffering Christians of their special status because of God’s action for them (1:2).

• who are exiles of the Dispersion: An exile is a person taken from his or her homeland to live in a foreign place. Peter uses this image to remind Christians that they live in a world shaped by values and ways of life that oppose Christ.

• Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia: These were Roman provinces in the region that is now Turkey. Peter may list them in the order that a messenger would follow when delivering the letter to the churches.

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father: In the Bible, God’s foreknowledge refers to his knowledge and loving purpose from the beginning. It means that God chose his people in advance and set his love on them before they knew him (compare Romans 8:29; 11:2).

new birth: This is a way of describing Christian conversion (compare John 3:1–13; James 1:18; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). This Greek word, which occurs again in 1 Peter 1:23, frames the message of 1:1–25.

In most New Testament letters, a section of thanks or praise follows the greeting. Peter praises God because his mercy gives new spiritual life. This life creates hope for the future, even during difficult times.

The language of inheritance often refers to what God has promised his people. It originally applied to the land of Israel (see Deuteronomy 3:28). Later, inheritance came to mean the people of God and God's presence with them (see Psalm 33:12; Ezekiel 44:28). In the New Testament, the inheritance is the spiritual benefits and eternal salvation that God promises to his people (see Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 9:15).

• For the salvation: In the New Testament, salvation often means the final rescue from sin and death when Christ returns. This hope encourages Christians to persevere until the end (see also 1:9, 10; 2:2; 4:18).

• ready to be revealed: The future revealing of God’s salvation stands in contrast to the present time, when God and his purposes are not fully seen (see also 1:7, 13).

• proven character of your faith … refined by fire: Faith, like gold, becomes purer when tested or refined by fire.

• may result in praise, glory, and honor: This could mean that God will give praise, glory, and honor to faithful Christians. It could also mean that their faithful lives will bring praise, glory, and honor to God.

salvation of your souls: The Greek word translated souls often refers to the whole person and not just to some part or aspect of the person (Matthew 20:28; Mark 8:35). Salvation affects our whole person, not the inner person only.

this salvation: The prophets in the Old Testament spoke about this salvation long before it came. Even the angels desire to understand it more fully.

• trying to determine: The prophets in the Old Testament received many messages about the future. But they did not know exactly when the promised salvation would come or how God would bring it.

• The Greek phrase translated the time can also mean what person. The prophets understood that the Messiah would come and that he would suffer before he was glorified. But they did not know who the Messiah would be.

long to look: The same Greek word is used of the disciples when they looked into the empty tomb of Jesus (Luke 24:12; John 20:5, 11).

prepare your minds for action (literally gird the loins of your mind): In Peter’s time, a man had to tuck the hem of his long robe into his belt before he could work or run.

New birth and the hope of salvation call Christians to live as God’s people. They must turn away from the values of the world and follow the holiness of God, who redeemed them.

"Be holy, because I am holy": This phrase appears often in Scripture. It emphasizes that God's people must be holy like God (see Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7; also Ezekiel 20:12; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Revelation 22:11).

Christians belong to heaven. Because of this, they live in this world as foreigners with different values and with a clear purpose from God. Their heavenly identity calls them to live faithfully and responsibly in the places where God has put them, while looking forward to the fullness of life with God (1:1; see Philippians 3:20).

foreigners and exiles: Christians belong not to this world but to the kingdom of heaven (see 1:1, 17).

A ransom is a payment made to set a captive free. In the ancient world, slaves could sometimes pay a ransom and gain their freedom. Christ’s death is the ransom that God used to set people free from sin (1:19).

a lamb without blemish or spot: The Jewish Passover lamb had to be without any defect (Exodus 12:5). Christ fulfills the meaning of the Passover. He was without defect or sin (compare Hebrews 4:14–16; 7:26–28).

With Christ’s coming, God is fulfilling Old Testament promises of redemption, and the last days have begun.

have a genuine love for your brothers (Literally, must have brotherly love): See study note on 5:9.

After calling believers to live holy lives (1:13–21), Peter explains how they must show love to one another as fellow Christians.