I Peter 1:1-12
Dear RTB’ers,
Back to the New Testament, the first of Peter’s two epistles. It’ll be a long while before we see the second!
I have two general reflections on Peter writing these two letters. The first is that many scholars have argued that Mark’s gospel could well be called Peter’s gospel, that Mark’s gospel reflected Peter’s teachings, with Mark effectively serving as Peter’s scribe (https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/marks-relationship-with-peter-was-the-foundation-for-his-gospel/). Second, today’s first verse has Peter writing to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia… (v. 1b) Three of those locations (emboldened above) are mentioned by Luke as part of Peter’s audience in his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:9-11). So in today’s reading Peter is writing to many of those people to whom he preached on the day of Pentecost. Interesting.
I was taken by Peter’s words (as I applied them to myself): He has caused us to be born again to a living hope, … to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you… (vv. 3b-4) Imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept. If that inheritance is all these things, then that “living hope” should be the essence of our daily thoughts and activities. A future inheritance is a now promise. We should be living a “Heaven on Earth” life.
Blessings!
See also: