I Peter 1:1-25
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia… (v. 1) Peter is writing to these “Dispersion” groups in these five regions. Three of these groups are mentioned in Acts 2 (Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia) when the Holy Spirit appeared as “tongues of fire” to those who were gathered “in one place” and they began speaking in other tongues, languages which their audience could understand as their native languages. It was to these listeners that Peter delivered his Pentecost speech (Acts 2:14-36). Herein I see evidence of Peter’s authorship of I Peter, an item which scholars debate. The other apostles and disciples certainly mingled further with the crowd (some 3,000 souls were added that day), explaining more deeply the words that Peter has spoken. But no doubt Peter connected with some of those new believers in his own special way, very possibly with that (modern-day central Turkey) central Asia crowd to whom he is writing this letter.
The Trinity: …according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood… (v. 2)
Verses 3 (…He has caused us to be born again…) and 23 (…since you have been born again…) I remember noticing “born again” the very first time I read 1 Peter, since this was a new Protestant phrase unfamiliar to my Catholic upbringing. (It is now much more common in the Catholic Church.) So today I looked online and found that the only other occasion where we see the phrase “born again” is in John 3 where Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus. Paul never uses that phrase, nor any of the other Gospel writers, nor any other New Testament authors – only Peter and only here! So if you are among those who claim to be “born again”, you can thank John (Jesus!) and Peter for that phrase!
See also: October 17 / I Peter 1:1-9; October 18 / I Peter 1:10-16; October 19 / I Peter 1:17-25