Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
Verse

1 Peter 1:1

ESV Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
NIV Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
NASB Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
CSB Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
NLT This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
KJV Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

What does 1 Peter 1:1 mean?

Peter begins according to the custom of the time, identifying who the letter is from and to whom it is written. Peter states his name (given to him by Jesus) and his title. As one personally commissioned by Jesus, an apostle had the authority to speak on Christ's behalf. Peter claims that authority here.

Peter writes to a very specific group. His intended audience is made up of people who are "exiles" (forced away from their homes), who are "scattered" (dispersed). These people are described as "elect," also translated as "chosen." Verse 2 will reveal what it means to be one of these elect.

Though Peter's Christian readers may have been scattered, in part, by religious persecution, his use of the word "exile" points to one of the main ideas of this letter: that believers no longer call this time and place home. Our citizenship is in heaven; we represent our true king and country while living as aliens and strangers in a foreign culture.

The particular scattered group of exiles Peter mentions now reside in five Roman providences of Asia Minor, an area currently found in northern Turkey. The letter was intended to be passed among the churches in the region, likely to be read aloud to each group of believers.
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