Introduction

This first letter written by the apostle Peter has the purpose of explaining “the doctrines of Christianity more fully to these newly converted Jews,” to “instruct and persuade them to lead holy lives by faithfully fulfilling all duties to themselves and others, by which they will maintain their own peace and effectively refute the slander and criticism of their enemies,” and “to prepare them for suffering.”

1 Peter 1:1-7

v1-2: In election, God decrees “to save some and to bring them, through Christ... to eternal life.” For this to happen, every person who is elect “must be sanctified by the Spirit and justified by the blood of Christ.” Though election is “attributed to the Father,” reconciliation to the Son, and “sanctification to the Holy Spirit,” yet “in each of these one person is not so entirely involved as to exclude the other two.”

v3-5: “The new birth produces a living hope of eternal life,” and this is a hope that keeps us alive, gives us life, supports us, and leads us to heaven. It is a hope that “invigorates the soul” and encourage us “to action, patience, courage, and perseverance to the end.” We can be certain of this hope because of Christ’s resurrection which “demonstrates that the Father accepts his death in full payment” for our sins, “and that he is victorious over death, the grave, and all our spiritual enemies,” as well as assuring us “of our own resurrection.” We will be kept and preserved from anything that “would prevent [our] safe arrival at eternal life.”

v6-7: The troubles we face are designed to test our faith to see if it is genuine. God’s afflicts his people, “not to destroy them” and bring them to ruin, but to “refine them.” When faith is tested and found to be genuine, we not only receive “encouragement and strength”; God also is glorified and “others may benefit” from our example.