1 Peter 1:1-2

I. INTRODUCTION AND GREETING 1 Peter 1:1-2

1Pe. 1:1-25 :1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Expanded Translation

Peter, a commissioned messenger of Jesus Christ sent forth with orders, to the selected and chosen ones who are journeying in a strange land to their heavenly homethose scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

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Peter

A descriptive proper name, signifying a stone, or a rock. Its Aramaic equivalent was Cephas. This name was given to Simon by the Lord Himself, in anticipation of the hard, staunch, unyielding rock-like character Christ knew this man would come to possess (John 1:42). See the sketch of his life in the introduction.

an apostle of Jesus Christ

An apostle is a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with ordersThayer, The author immediately confirms his right to pen an authoritative epistle by stating that he was commissioned by Christ, Jesus had told His Apostles before His ascension, These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you, But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you (John 14:25-26). Hence the Holy Spirit was moving Peter, even as he later wrote concerning the prophets (2 Peter 1:20-21). See also 1 Peter 1:12.

to the elect

The word elect, eklektos, means picked out, chosen, selected, or, as we would say, hand picked. The obvious reference here is to Christians, those whom God has chosen to obtain salvation through Christ and to be the special recipients of His favor, as in Colossians 3:12 and Titus 1:1. Note the same word in 1 Peter 2:9: ... ye are an elect race.

who are sojourners

This phrase is simply another way to describe Christian people, Some have thought the reference was to literal sojourners journeying through these countries on foot, with pack, cane, tent, etc. But the obvious reference is to those who were on a spiritual journey! Hence, Thayer's complete definition of the word parepidemos: Properly, one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives; (hence) stranger; sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner; in the N. T. metaphorically in reference to heaven as the native country, one who sojourns on earth, so of Christians. The same word is used in 1 Peter 2:11 in the same sense, and also in Hebrews 11:13, where it is rendered strangers. Our home is not on this earth, We are on a journeya business trip if you please! The song writer caught the idea in the words:

I am a stranger here, within a foreign land; My home is far away, upon a golden strand;

E. T. Cassel

of the dispersion

This term is used in James 1:1 in obvious reference to the Jewish people. However, the wording of that passage is not precisely the same as the one before us. Notice at least two differences: (1) In James it is specifically mentioned that James is addressing his epistle to the twelve tribeslimiting and confining his recipients to the Hebrew people. (2) Here the term of the dispersion occurs without the article in the original. But in James his en tei diasporai, in the dispersion.

The Jewish dispersion generally has reference to those Jews living outside of Palestine, yet maintaining their religious observances and customs among the Gentile nations. See John 7:34-35. This scattering of the Jews began during the times that they were carried away by the king of Assyria in the case of the Ten Tribes, and in the Babylonian captivity in the case of Judah. Many of those carried away never returned to their native country, but did maintain religious observances. These were termed The Dispersion. But the mere word diaspora is not of itself so limited in its scope. The verb form occurs in, Acts 8:1, where, concerning the Jerusalem church we are told, And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. Again in 1 Peter 1:5 of that chapter: They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word. See also Acts 11:19.

It seems best here to also give the word a general sense. We have already seen that the epistles of Peter were certainly addressed to Gentile Christians as well as Jewish. (See the Introduction.) Macknight contributes this thought: ... the Gentile believers in Pontus, &c. might be called -sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus,-' although none of them were driven from their native countries. For the dispersion may signify, that they lived at a distance from each other in the widely extended regions mentioned in the inscription; and that they were few in number, compared with the idolators and unbelievers among whom they lived.

in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia

All kingdoms or provinces lying within the present borders of Turkey. They may be easily located on any good map depicting the Roman provinces in New Testament times. PONTUSlocated near the Euxine or Black Sea, a sea often in ancient times simply termed Pontus, and giving this country its name. Jews and proselytes were present from this country on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:8), as they were also from Cappadocia and Asiaa fact which may at least partially account for the existence of Christians and churches in these countries, GALATIAlocated in the north part of the central plateau of Asia Minor. Evidently there were quite a number of churches in this area, 1 Corinthians 16:1, Galatians 1:2, It is specifically mentioned as being included in the labors of the Apostle Paul, See Acts 16:6; Acts 18:23, as well as his epistle to the Galatians. CAPPADOCIAin east-central Asia Minor, bordering Armenia. ASIAbordering the Aegean Sea. John wrote to the seven churches that are in Asia (Revelation 1:4). BITHYNIAwas also a coastal province, in the north of Asia Minor, Its north-west corner bordered the Propontis and also the famous Bosporus Strait, (The latter is usually considered the dividing line between Asia and Europe. It has been the scene of many wars.) Continuing east, the country follows the hump of Turkey's northern coastline. Paul and Silas had assayed to go into this country (Acts 16:6-7), but the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not, Evidently other evangelists labored here soon afterward with the Lord's blessing.

1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Expanded Translation

in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, into the realm of obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. God's favour be upon you and peace be increased.

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according to the foreknowledge of God the Father

The words according to, from the Greek word kata, may be taken in the sense of in conformity with or in accordance with. The idea is that we are the elect of God just as He foreknew.

The word foreknowledge constitutes a very literal rendering. The Greek prognosis is compounded of pro, before (as our prefix pre-) and gnosis, knowledge. Hence our modern Words of prognosis, prognosticate, etc. The lexicons give its meaning as foreknowledge, prescience; hence forethought, previous determination, pre-arrangement purpose.

It is taught by some, here, that this pre-determination on the part of God has reference to an inflexible arrangement He has made from eternity that certain individuals shall be saved, and that others should just as irrevocably be condemned. Has not God pre-planned it all? is the thoughtWhy try to change His plan? The whole doctrine, however, supposes that when God foreknows a matter, the persons involved within the sphere of His foreknowledge necessarily lose their freedom of choice. It is helpful to notice the only other occurrence of this particular word in the New Testament. In Acts 2:23 we are told that God had foreknowledge of Christ's crucifixion. Surely our Heavenly Father did plan and will the death of His beloved Son ahead of time. But are we to conclude from this that our Saviour was a helpless victim of circumstance, carried by the irresistible current of Divine Providence? If so, it seems strange that He would speak thus: Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father (John 10:17-18). Simply because God knew what course of action would be taken does not necessarily mean that He forced the persons involved to take that course. As Matthew Henry suggests: Foreknowledge may be taken. for mere prescience, foresight, or understanding, that such a thing will be, before it comes to pass. Thus a mathematician certainly foreknows that at such a time there will be an eclipse. This sort of foreknowledge is in God, who at one commanding view sees all things [or at least can see all things] that ever were, or are, or ever will be. But such a prescience is not the cause why anything is so or so, though in the event it certainly will be so, as the mathematician who foresees an eclipse does not thereby cause that eclipse to be.

It is also well to notice that in the second chapter of Acts, Peter was speaking of one person when he spoke of the Father having foreknowledge of His Son's violent death. But in this passage the reference is not to individuals, but a class or group of peopleChristians. The Apostle has just spoken of the elect and sojourners, both of which terms apply to the Christian society, the church, It therefore appears that though God may know ahead of time who will or will not accept Christ as their Lord, this verse only shows that God foreknew He would have a group who would be His elect and sojourners at this time in history. The church was no after-thought of God. He planned and arranged for it in advance, even before times eternal (Titus 1:2).

Notice here the work of the Godhead in man's redemption, All three members are mentioned in this verse, God planned it, the Spirit worked it, and Christ sealed it.