Here is some background information on Peter’s first letter. The Apostle Peter wrote it. This is the same Peter whose original name was Simon. Jesus renamed him Peter. John 1: 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).[1]
We find numerous stories of Peter in the Gospels. He was a fisherman and left his career to follow Jesus. He watched Jesus heal and do miracles and listened to His teachings. Also, He walked on water (Matt.14:24-33). Despite a warning, Peter denied Jesus three times. But Jesus needed Peter to help build His church, so He forgave him (John 21).
Matthew 16: 6 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John… 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. [2]
Peter’s Ministry
At the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter preached, and three thousand believed (Acts 2:14-41). Peter was one of the prominent leaders in the church at Jerusalem (Gal. 2:9). While he ministered to Jewish believers, Peter also ministered to Gentiles (Acts 8:14-25, 10:24-48). Peter seems to write his first letter to both Jewish and Gentile believers. He refers to many of the stories from the Hebrew Bible but also includes those whose lives had changed (1 Peter 4:4).
Peter closes the letter with this: 1 Peter 5: 13 Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.[3] Here Babylon is most likely a code for Rome. Peter wrote this letter a few years before his martyrdom in 67 a.d. Peter’s primary message is to trust the Lord, live obediently no matter your circumstances, and keep your hope fixed on God’s ultimate promise of deliverance. Suffering is to be expected, but it is temporary and yields great blessings for those who remain steadfast.
Recipients of the Letter
1 Peter 1:1b I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.[4] These were all Roman provinces in what is now central Turkey, and the letter would have been circulated among them. At that time, there was opposition from multiple fronts. The Jews thought Christians were heretics. Christianity was not a sanctioned religion like Judaism, resulting in government persecution. Family members of new believers often ostracized them. Peter wrote this letter to encourage these believers to stay focused on their hope in Jesus.
Peter’s message is still relevant to us today. As believers, we still have the pressure of society pressing in and asking us to compromise our beliefs. We must focus on the hope that Jesus gives now and eternally. To learn more about Peter’s first letter, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-hope
[1-4] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.