Greetings (1 Peter 1:1-2)

GREETINGS (1Peter 1:1-2):

Peter identifies himself as the author and addresses the letter to the dispersed Elect. Peter is one of the closest of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. Peter was very eager and enthusiastic, quicker in words and actions prior to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Even after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Peter was discouraged and went back to fishing but by the encouragement of resurrected Christ and the guidance of Holy Spirit, Peter was preaching, teaching, and doing miracles as Christ did though there were certain hesitations from him to take a firm stand at times. And he had become one of the elders in the early church, leading many believers.

The letter is addressed to the Elect, Jewish believers who came into the knowledge of Christ committed their lives to Him under persecution and sought refuge in the unreached regions.  This letter is specific to the Elect who are dispersed in various parts of the ancient kingdom of Asia- Minor which is mentioned as Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. The dispersed Elect has chosen to be strangers in the land that is not their native.

Peter was not much scholarly by his education or training. He was a simple fisherman and learned so many things being the disciple of Jesus Christ. The Greetings that were expressed by Peter were very unusual and it is amazing to note that it has a lot of insights into it. He quotes the triune God in his greeting by explaining God's personalities and attributes in specific. Peter wishes grace and peace to be multiplied in the dispersed elects by helping to realize a few of the qualities of God.  He states ‘according to the foreknowledge of God the Father’ while mentioning God the Father, which means that God knew everything before the beginning of time to eternity by his sovereignty. He also states ‘in the sanctification of the Spirit’ while mentioning God the Holy Spirit which explains that the elect is cleansed and renewed by Holy Spirit. And then he states ‘for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood’ which means that Christ has become a sacrifice for the sins of mankind that whoever believes in him are saved and the elect people had committed their lives unto God by the obedience to the commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ and realizing that the shedding of the blood of Jesus on the cross can be a solution for the salvation of all.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection

1.      Who is the author(s) and the recipient (s)? What do you think about them?

2.      Why do you think that Peter writes 1 Peter to those recipients?

3.      What was the status of the recipients when Peter addressed his 1st letter to them?

4.      What is something special in the greeting that Peter quoted?

5.      What does foreknowledge of God mean in the Greeting?

6.      What does the Sanctification of the Spirit means in the Greeting?

7.      What does Sprinkling with Jesus blood mean in the Greeting?

8.      How does the Greeting that is quoted by Peter mean to you while you address other fellow believers?