Page 521 - Demo

Like some of the letters attributed to Paul, the two letters attributed to Peter are probably pseudonymous, that is, written by a disciple of Peter. This does not mean that they do not accurately re ect Peter’s teaching, or even incorporate his own words at times. The First Letter of Peter was probably written in the decades following Peter’s death, between 70 and 90 AD. The central theme of the letter is baptism.
1:1
Peter addresses Gentile believers throughout Asia Minor. They are “chosen” by God, but they are also “sojourners,” travelers who have not yet arrived at their true home.
1:8
We are among the people Peter talks about here: we believe and love without having seen.
1:13
In Exodus 12:11, the Israelites are told to eat the Passover meal “with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your sta in hand, you will eat it in a hurry.” Girding the loins suggests preparation, dressing oneself for a long journey.
a. [1:1] Jas 1:1.
b. [1:2] Rom 8:29.
c. [1:3] Ti 3:5.
d. [1:4] Mt 6:19–20.
e. [1:6] Jas 1:2–3.
f. [1:7] 1 Cor 3:13.
g. [1:8] 2 Cor 5:6–7.
h. [1:11] Is 52:13–53:12; Dn 9:24.
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 PETER 
I. ADDRESS
1Greeting.*
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the
*a2 dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, in
the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sancti cation by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance.b
II. THE GIFT AND CALL OF GOD IN BAPTISM
Blessing. 3* Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,c 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, unde led, and unfading, kept in heaven for youd 5who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the nal time. 6* In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to su er through various trials,e 7so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by re, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.f 8Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,g 9as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.
10* Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, 11investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testi ed in advance to the su erings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them.h 12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you [through] the holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look.
Obedience. 13* Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind,* live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at
* [1:1–2] The introductory formula names Peter as the writer (but see Introduction). In his com- ments to the presbyters (1 Pt 5:1), the author calls himself a “fellow presbyter.” He addresses himself to the Gentile converts of Asia Minor. Their privileged status as a chosen and sancti ed people makes them worthy of God’s grace and peace. In contrast is their actual existence as aliens and sojourners, scattered among pagans, far from their true country.
* [1:1] Dispersion: literally, diaspora; see Jas 1:1 and Introduction to that letter. Pontus. . . Bithynia: ve provinces in Asia Minor, listed in clockwise order from the north, perhaps in the sequence in which a messenger might deliver the letter.
* [1:3–5] A prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God who bestows the gift of new life and hope in baptism (new birth, 1 Pt 1:3) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The new birth is a sign of an imperishable inheritance (1 Pt 1:4), of salvation that is still in the future (to be revealed in the nal time, 1 Pt 1:5).
* [1:6–9] As the glory of Christ’s resurrection was preceded by his su erings and death, the new life of faith that it bestows is to be subjected to many trials (1 Pt 1:6) while achieving its goal: the glory of the fullness of salvation (1 Pt 1:9) at the coming of Christ (1 Pt 1:7).
* [1:10–12] The Spirit of Christ (1 Pt 1:11) is here shown to have been present in the prophets, moving them to search, investigate, and prophesy about the grace of salvation that was to come (1 Pt 1:10), and in the apostles impelling them to preach the ful llment of salvation in the message of Christ’s su erings and glory (1 Pt 1:12).
* [1:13–25] These verses are concerned with the call of God’s people to holiness and to mutual love by reason of their redemption through the blood of Christ (1 Pt 1:18–21).
* [1:13] Gird up the loins of your mind: a gure reminiscent of the rite of Passover when the Israelites were in ight from their oppressors (Ex 12:11), and also suggesting the vigilance of the Christian people in expectation of the parousia of Christ (Lk 12:35).