The author of 1 Peter identified himself as “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1). He viewed himself as a divinely ordained, directly commissioned, authoritative representative of the Lord Jesus himself. Several statements in the letter indicate that the Peter who plays a prominent role in the Gospels is the author. For example, he called himself an “elder and witness” to Christ’s sufferings (5:1). Further, he described Christ’s crucifixion with an intimate knowledge that only a disciple would have of that event (2:21-24).
Several expressions in 1 Peter reflect Peter’s experiences with Jesus. For example, the exhortation for elders to “shepherd God’s flock” (5:2) evokes the charge that Jesus gave Peter in John 21:15-17. Moreover, the command to “clothe yourselves with humility” (5:5) may recall the episode in John 13:2-17 where Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.
Objections to the letter’s authorship by Peter are inconclusive and cannot be proven. The claim that someone wrote this letter using the apostle’s name as a pseudonym cannot be sustained. A number of early church leaders—e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria—accepted the letter as authentic. Further, the early church soundly rejected the practice of writing under an apostolic pseudonym as forgery. In light of the above, the epistle should be accepted as genuinely written by the apostle Peter. Silvanus may have in some fashion helped Peter write the letter while serving as his secretary (Gk amanuensis), but more likely he was merely the letter carrier (5:12).
The recipients of 1 Peter are identified in 1:1. Peter wrote to the “exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” These were Roman provinces located in the northern part of what is now modern Turkey, unless Galatia includes the Galatia in the southern region of Asia Minor. These people were likely persecuted Gentile Christians. They had earlier been involved in idolatry (4:3), were ignorant (1:14) and “empty” (1:18) before they came to Christ, and formerly were “not a people” but now were “God’s people” (2:9-10).
The reference in 1 Peter 5:13—“She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings”—suggests Rome as the place of the letter’s origin. “Babylon” was used cryptically to refer to a place of exile, but specifically for Rome. Other possibilities for Babylon include the cities of Babylon in Mesopotamia and Egypt, but these places are highly unlikely because we have no record of Peter ever being in those places.
First Peter was probably written sometime between AD 62–64. While Paul was under house arrest from AD 60–62, he did not refer to Peter in Rome. Peter likewise did not mention Paul as being in Rome; only Silvanus and Mark were his companions (5:12-13). These facts suggest that Peter wrote 1 Peter some time after AD 62 and before the writing of 2 Peter.
The theme of suffering appears throughout 1 Peter. The recipients of the letter are the sufferers in four of its five chapters. Given a composition date of about AD 62–64, 1 Peter was written during the persecution of Christians under Nero’s reign. The persecution arose in Rome and was spreading into Asia Minor.
Peter’s intent in writing was to strengthen believers in the midst of the suffering and persecution they were facing. His message to them continues to speak to modern believers, reminding us of our heavenly hope and eternal inheritance in the midst of our sufferings. We are called to holiness and a life of love. We are also called to glorify God in our daily lives and to imitate Christ.
The structure of 1 Peter has been the subject of discussion from the earliest history of the church. The diversity of outlines illustrates that the task of exegesis is not merely a science but also an art. Peter wrote this letter with a typical opening for a letter (1:1-2) and then began the next major section (1:3–2:10) with a blessing (1:3). The two succeeding sections are marked by “dear friends” (2:11; 4:12), and as noted earlier the segment from 2:11–4:11 concludes with a doxology and “Amen.” The fourth section of the letter also ends with a doxology and “Amen” (5:11) before the closing.
Let us not be mistaken: God never gave us faith to play with. Faith is a sword. But it was not made to exhibit upon a parade ground. It was meant to cut and wound and slay. Whoever has it may expect, between here and heaven, to learn what battle means. God has made nothing in vain; he especially makes nothing in the spiritual kingdom in vain. He made faith with the intent that it should be used to the utmost and exercised to the full.
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:
To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad A in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, B even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
QUOTE 1:7
We must expect trial because trial is the element of faith. Faith without trial is like a diamond uncut, the brilliance of which has never been seen. A fish without water or a bird without air is faith without trial.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. C 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
QUOTE 1:12
Does anyone suppose that he knows all about the gospel and does not need further hours of study, thought, and prayer? Poor miserable fool! Angels, who are vastly superior to us in intelligence, desire to learn and know more.
13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. A 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, B so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure C heart love one another constantly, D 23 because you have been born again — not of perishable seed but of imperishable — through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For
All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25but the word of the Lord endures forever. E
And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
1:4 “An inheritance that is imperishable.” The substance of everything earthly passes away by degrees. Even solid granite will rot and crumble. It is a paradox that the substance of things seen is devoid of substance. Empires, dynasties, and thrones have tottered by internal corruption. But the inheritance of the saints of God has nothing within it that can make it perish.
1:7 “The proven character of your faith.” Let us not be mistaken: God never gave us faith to play with. Faith is a sword. But it was not made to exhibit upon a parade ground. It was meant to cut and wound and slay. Whoever has it may expect, between here and heaven, to learn what battle means. God has made nothing in vain; he especially makes nothing in the spiritual kingdom in vain. He made faith with the intent that it should be used to the utmost and exercised to the full. We must expect trial because trial is the element of faith. Faith without trial is like a diamond uncut, the brilliance of which has never been seen. A fish without water or a bird without air is faith without trial. We may surely expect that our faith will be tested.
1:12 “Angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.” Angels have never sinned; consequently, they need no atonement or forgiveness. Never having been defiled, they need not be washed. Yet they take a deep interest in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. What, then, shall I say of the madness of those who are defiled by sin but have no interest in the fountain where they can be washed whiter than snow? Let us note furthermore, so that it may humble us, that angels have keen intellects. They far excel us. Yet, though they have learned so much about the gospel, they still desire to look into it. Does anyone suppose that he knows all about the gospel and does not need further hours of study, thought, and prayer? Poor miserable fool! Angels, who are vastly superior to us in intelligence, desire to learn and know more. This is a grand thing. As the angels are such deep students of the things of God, let us try to be the same.
A 1:1 Gk diaspora ; Jewish people scattered throughout Gentile lands
C 1:11 Or the glories after that
A 1:16 Lv 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7
2Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, F so that you may grow up into your salvation, G 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good. H 4 As you come to him, a living stone — rejected by people but chosen and honored by I God — 5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood J to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored K cornerstone,
and the one who believes
in him
will never be put to shame. L
QUOTE 2:6
To risk all with Jesus is to end all risk.
7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,
The stone that the builders rejected —
this one has become the cornerstone, A
8 and
A stone to stumble over,
and a rock to trip over. B
They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
9 But you are a chosen race, C,D a royal priesthood, E a holy nation, F a people for his possession, G so that you may proclaim the praises H,I of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, J so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor K as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
18 Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel. 19 For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.
21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; L 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds M you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, N but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer O of your souls.
2:6 “The one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” All Christ has promised to be, he will be to those who trust him. Christians will never have any cause to be ashamed of Jesus upon whom they believe. They shall never be driven to confess that they made a mistake in trusting him and are, therefore, ashamed at having been so miserably duped. To risk all with Jesus is to end all risk.
2:24 “He himself bore our sins.” There was a substitution for our sins, and by that substitution believers are saved. The Lord Jesus Christ bore the punishment that was due to us. The offended God stooped from his glory so that he might save those who dared to rebel against his glory. The infinitely glorious Son of God became a sin-bearer. He had pity on us, became one of us, and bore our sins. The priest of old brought a lamb as a substitute, but our Lord Jesus Christ had no substitute for himself. Let us remember that everything he did for us, he did himself. The heart that was broken for our sins was his heart, and the life given up was his life.
F 2:2 Or desire pure spiritual milk
G 2:2 Other mss omit for your salvation
J 2:5 Or you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood
C 2:9 Or generation, or nation
D 2:9 Dt 7:6; 10:15; Is 43:20 LXX
E 2:9 Ex 19:6; 23:22 LXX; Is 61:6
G 2:9 Ex 19:5; 23:22 LXX; Dt 4:20; 7:6; Is 43:21 LXX
3In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 3 Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4 but rather what is inside the heart A — the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.
7 Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, B 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
10For the one who wants to love life
and to see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit,
11and let him turn away from evil
and do what is good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it,
12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against
those who do what is evil. C
13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear D or be intimidated, E 15 but in your hearts regard F Christ G the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, H those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh I but made alive by the Spirit, J 19 in which K he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few — that is, eight people L — were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge M of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
A 3:4 Or rather, the hidden person of the heart
B 3:8 Other mss read courteous
F 3:15 Or sanctify, or set apart
H 3:16 Other mss read when they speak against you as evildoers
I 3:18 Or by the flesh, or in the fleshly realm
J 3:18 Or in the spirit, or in the Spirit, or in the spiritual realm
4Therefore, since Christ suffered N in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding O — because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin P — 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living — and they slander A you. 5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, B so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
QUOTE 4:2
The way to do a great deal is to keep on doing a little. The way to do nothing at all is to be continually resolving that we will do everything.
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. C 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God D rests on you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. E 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. F 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
ILLUSTRATION 4:13
Dogs do not usually bark at those who live in the same neighborhood with them but only at strangers. When obscene tongues are lifted up against us, we have reason to hope that we are strangers and foreigners to the citizens of this world.
18And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? A
ILLUSTRATION 4:18
If the wheat must be winnowed, how certainly will the chaff be destroyed? If the gold must pass through the fire, how assuredly will the dross be consumed? If there is a great fire in a city and a massive stone structure with iron girders can only be saved by the firemen with great difficulty, what will be the fate of a wooden house, covered with tar and full of oil?
19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.
4:2 “To live the remaining time . . . for God’s will.” I do not know how much time remains, but it cannot be long even for the longest-lived person. We must not forget that while we are talking about the rest of our life, it is already passing by. Every moment we are here, we are traveling at an immense rate, speeding onward to the great goal of death. We must be earnest. For while we are making up our minds to be earnest, our time is slipping away. The way to do a great deal is to keep on doing a little. The way to do nothing at all is to be continually resolving that we will do everything.
4:4 “They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you.” How strange this world is! It speaks evil of men because they will not do evil. Yet it has always been so. Those of whom “the world was not worthy” (Heb 11:38) have been the people of whom the worldly have said, “He should not be allowed to live!” (Ac 22:22). The world’s verdict concerning Christians is of little value.
4:13 “Rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ.” If we do not share in Christ’s humiliation, how can we expect to share in his exaltation? But if worldly people rebuke and reproach us, we may take it for granted that they can discern something of Christ in us.
4:18 “If a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” If even the righteous are so severely tested, what short work will God make of the unrighteous? The God who tries and tests the best will certainly not wink at the worst.
N 4:1 Other mss read suffered for us
O 4:1 Or perspective, or attitude
P 4:1 Or the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin
D 4:14 Or God’s glorious Spirit
E 4:15 Or as one who defrauds others
5I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing B out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; C not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with D humility toward one another, because
God resists the proud
but gives grace
to the humble. E
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, F will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. G 11 To him be dominion H forever. I Amen.
12 Through Silvanus, J a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. K
5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God.” Pride is so natural to fallen human beings that it springs up in the heart like weeds in a watered garden. We may hunt down this fox and think we have destroyed it, but our exultation is pride. None have more pride than those who dream that they have none. Pride is a sin with a thousand lives and a thousand shapes. By perpetual change it escapes capture.
Therefore, let us humble ourselves under the hand of God as creatures under the hand of the Creator, as chastened children under a father’s rod. Many people have been humbled, and yet they have not become humble. There is a great difference between the two things. If God withdraws his grace and allows a Christian to fall into sin, that fall humbles him in the sight of people, and yet he may not be humble. He may never have a true sense of how evil his action has been. He may still persevere in his pride and be far from humility. The most hopeful way of avoiding this humbling affliction is to humble ourselves. Let us be humble that we may not be humbled.
5:7 “Casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” His care, though tender and comprehensive, causes no anxiety to him, for his great mind is more than equal to the task. But our care ferments within us and threatens the destruction of our meager souls. We are to cast our care, which is folly, upon the Lord, for he exercises a care, which is wisdom. Care to us is exhausting, but God is all sufficient. Care to us is sinful, but God’s care of us is holy. Care distracts us from service, but the divine mind does not forget one thing while remembering another.
5:8-9 “Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” Satan knows how to use God’s providence to serve his own ends. One of the greatest mercies God grants is not permitting our inclinations and opportunities to meet. Have we not sometimes noticed that when we have had the inclination to sin there has been no opportunity, and when the opportunity has presented itself, we have had no inclination toward it? Satan’s principal aim with believers is to bring their appetites and his temptations together, to get their souls into a dry, seared state, and then to strike the match, and make them burn! He is so crafty and wily with the experience of many centuries that human beings, who are but of yesterday, can scarcely be considered a match for him. What should we do to overcome this adversary? “Resist him, firm in the faith.” This is our first means of defense. The devil will soon give up if he finds that his attacks drive us to Christ.
B 5:2 Other mss omit overseeing
C 5:2 Other mss omit as God would have you
D 5:5 Or you tie around yourselves
F 5:10 Other mss read in Christ Jesus
H 5:11 Some mss read dominion and glory ; other mss read glory and dominion
I 5:11 Other mss read forever and ever
J 5:12 Or Silas ; Ac 15:22-32; 16:19-40; 17:1-16