“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ…” With these words Peter begins his first letter to the followers of Jesus. In these few words, the author identifies who he is and his authority to write what he is going to say.
Who was Peter? Peter’s birth name was Simon. He was one of the very first disciples of Jesus and it was Jesus who changed his name. The Gospel of John 1:41-42 tells the story: “He [that is, Andrew] first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).” The name Peter means ‘rock.’ We can only guess why Jesus called Simon a ‘rock.’ Some people have the mistaken idea that he was called a rock because Jesus was going to build his church on him. They get this idea from Matthew 16:15-18. Jesus asked the question, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly [that is, the church], and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” But from the original Greek, it is clear that Jesus was not going to build his church on Peter the ‘rock,’ but rather on the ‘boulder’ of truth that Peter had expressed about Jesus. And in this very letter in chapter 2, verses 4 through 8, Peter himself makes it clear that it is Jesus who is the cornerstone that the church is built upon. So why did Jesus call Simon the ‘rock?’ Perhaps Jesus was looking towards the future when Simon would become someone that could be relied upon, and a source of strength to the whole church. Jesus once said to him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Peter writes that he is “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” The title of ‘Apostle’ was given to him by Jesus. In Luke’s gospel it says: “It happened in these days, that he [that is , Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles…” (Luke 6:12-13) There are four separate lists in Acripture of the twelve men that Jesus chose. In all four lists, Peter’s name is first. This is an indication of the high regard that Jesus and the church had of Peter. Mark tells us what the purpose of appointing the apostles was: “…that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” (Mark 3:14-15) Jesus gave these twelve men special power and training so that they would be able to carry on His work. The basic meaning of the word ‘apostle’ is “one who is sent.” But there is another aspect to the role that Jesus was asking these men to perform. After His resurrection and shortly before he ascended to heaven, Jesus told the Apostles: “…You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The Greek word that is translated ‘witness’ can also mean ‘martyr.’ One of the convincing proofs that Jesus rose from the dead is that Peter, who before the crucifixion denied Jesus, later became willing to die for his risen Lord. One of the themes of Peter’s letter is the Christian response to suffering. This is very appropriate because the church was entering a time of persecution during which Peter himself would die, just as Jesus had told him he would: ““Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don’t want to go.” Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God…” (John 21:18-19) From the historical evidence that is available it is very probable that Peter was crucified in Rome about 69 AD.
Peter addresses his letter, “…to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” These names are names of provinces in the Roman empire. All of them were within the country we know today as Turkey.
Peter calls the people he is writing to, “foreigners” (NIV, “strangers”). This word can have two meanings. The first refers to people who are living outside of their own country. It is very probable that the people Peter is writing to had been driven out of their homes because of their faith in Jesus Christ. They had been forced out of their own country and were now living as refugees. The second meaning of the word “stranger” is a spiritual one and it applies to all Christians. It is a reminder that a follower of Christ does not give his true allegiance to this present world. Philippians 3:20 says, “For our citizenship is in heaven…” A ‘stranger’ in the sense that Peter uses the word, is a person who is living by faith. As an example, the book of Hebrews 11:13-16 says: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” In chapter two of his letter Peter also tells his readers that they are a “holy nation.” Though they are physically scattered throughout the world and sometimes may not even be able to call themselves citizens of any country, God views them as citizens of a spiritual country. All those who choose to follow Christ have a permanent heavenly home. Though they may be outcasts in this world, they have a place in God’s family.