First Epistle of Peter
WRITER & READERS
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:1 (KJV)
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ"
It was customary in those days to start a letter with one's name. So, Peter starts his letters in that way. Today, we sign our names at the end of a letter, compelling the reader to go there before reading the letter.
Few seem to question the authenticity or authorship of Peter's epistles. Especially the Second Epistle, having many internal evidences that Peter wrote it. He speaks of having written a former epistle in 2 Peter 3:1. Many early Christian writers such as Polycarp, Irenaeus, Tertullian, etc., quote from it as authoritative.
Peter was primarily a fisherman. At first thought, we might not think of him as a writer. As far as we know, he never had a high education. In Acts 4, we read Peter's speech before the Sanhedrin. Verse 13 is rather striking. "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus." One would almost imagine from this, that Peter and John had little or no formal education; yet we hardly think this is true. A more accurate translation would perhaps be, "unlettered and common." In other words, he never sat at the feet of Gamaliel like Paul, having instead a meager, ordinary education.
Whatever Peter's training, he certainly wrote two masterly letters, demonstrating literary skill. No doubt he was helped by being with the Lord Jesus for three and a half years. And then we know he was under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, there would be no accounting for a fisherman writing such works of art.
If the Lord could use Peter, He can also use us. If we are filled with His Word and His Spirit, we do not need to be filled with man's education. Many, having little or no training in man's schools, have been used greatly by the Lord throughout the ages. A true knowledge of the Word surpasses any university training or degree.
In the first verse, Peter claims to be an "apostle of Jesus Christ." Perhaps no one had a greater right to claim this place. He was one of the first to be called to follow the Lord Jesus. He was with the Lord during His earthly ministry, always taking a leading place. Being naturally impetuous, he was usually first to speak and first to act. After his denial of the Lord, and restoration, he was thrice commissioned by the Lord Jesus, "Feed My lambs;" "Tend My sheep;" "Feed My sheep." He was the leading speaker at Pentecost, and played a leading part during the time of the early church.
Paul had to defend his apostleship (1 Cor. 9:1), but Peter never did. However, he never claimed any priority over any of the other apostles. Though "an apostle" is the highest he ever claimed, he did call himself an elder in 1 Peter 5:1, and a servant (bondman) in 2 Peter 1:1. Those are the extent of his claims for himself.
To be an apostle of Jesus Christ was certainly a great privilege. "Apostle" means "officially sent one." Surely, no one today claims to be an apostle in the official sense, but every true child of God can be a "sent one of Jesus Christ." What a privilege to represent Him in this sense; to speak for Him and live for Him! He may not send us very far, perhaps only next door, but it's also possible that He will send us to the other side of the world. Christians are ambassadors for the greatest of all – Jesus Christ. What human being, living or dead, can begin to compare with Him? To represent Him is to represent the "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords."
"To the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia and Bithynia."
This tells us the ones to whom Peter addressed his epistle. The NASB reads: "To those who reside as aliens." People temporarily residing on earth but whose home is in heaven (cf. 1 Chr. 29:15; Ps. 39:12; Heb. 13:14). The word, "scattered," could perhaps be translated, "dispersed." Jewish and Gentile Christians scattered, dispersed, throughout much of Asia Minor. This word is often used in connection with scattering or sowing seed. Some have thought that this would indicate that Peter was especially thinking of Christian Jews scattered in the countries mentioned. While this may be true, there is nothing in the expression that could not be applied to Gentile Christians, as well. Other portions of this Epistle indicate that the Christians in these churches were not primarily Jews, but rather mostly Gentiles (see 2:10; 4:3). Certainly, Gentile Christians were dispersed along side unbelievers, as well as Jewish ones. The Jews who professed faith in Christ, suffered persecution, but the Gentiles who left their traditional rites, were likewise scattered and persecuted.
This may be true of many even today. For instance, a Mohammedan trusting and obeying Christ, will, no doubt, be ostracized, and perhaps even compelled to flee his or her city and family. An orthodox Jew professing Christianity will be considered dead and there might be a mock funeral for him, burying him in effigy. Even in our own land, some who are converted to Christ may find themselves no longer welcome among friends and family.
A young man was converted to Christ. Shortly after, he said he did not intend to give up his old friends, but would go to them with his Bible. He tried this, but found it did not work. He called one of his old friends on the phone saying, "I am coming over." "All right," came the reply, "but leave your Bible at home." The young man replied, "But I must bring my Bible." "If you must bring your Bible, then don't come." Most Christians, upon surveying their lives, observe that they have obtained a whole new line of friends, since being converted to Christ. The old ones just melted away. The nearer we live to Christ, the more we will find ourselves to be strangers – aliens – scattered in the world. We are in the world, but not of it.
Our country is called a Christian nation, but how great a proportion is truly Christian? A young Bible major on a college campus was asked if he was a Christian. He became very upset and said, "What do you think I am, an unbeliever?" Another young student suggested that if he was not a genuine Christian, he might as well be an unbeliever. Our nation has a varnish of Christianity, but at heart too many are little different from those we read about in Romans 1:21-32. This is a description of national sins of Paul's time. Most, if not all, of these sins are prevalent in our land, today.
Christians should never forget that they dwell in the midst of people who are not children of God. These unsaved watch us very closely. Our every word and action should commend Christ and Christianity; and likewise condemn sin and wickedness.
The countries named in this verse are all in Asia Minor. It is strange that Peter should be writing to them. We have no record that he ever visited them, although he may have. A good deal of Paul's work was done there. Most all of Paul's first missionary journey was in Asia Minor and parts of his other two were spent there, too. Between Paul, his helpers and converts, they, no doubt, pretty well covered the whole of this section. Why do we find Peter writing to these converts in the Apostle Paul's field? Two explanations have been suggested. One is that Paul was in jail and these Christians turned to Peter for help. Others have thought that Paul had been executed and Peter was now taking them under his wing.
According to tradition, Peter at some time visited Asia Minor, but there is no evidence of this in either of his epistles. We read at the end of the First Epistle, that Mark was with him. Mark traveled extensively with Paul and also with Barnabas and may have given Peter information which lead to the writing of the Epistles. Then, too, after Paul's decease, these churches may have written to Peter asking him questions and these epistles could have been his reply.
