Section 1:1–2
Peter greeted his readers
In this section, Peter began his letter by greeting the believers to whom he was writing his letter.
Peter began this letter in the usual way that people wrote letters during the time that he lived. First, he wrote his name, “Peter.” Then he added a description of himself: “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Next, he identified the people to whom he was writing. He was writing to the Christians living in five areas of Asia Minor, and he included a description of these Christians in 1:2a–d. Finally, Peter gave them a Christian greeting or blessing in 1:2e.
In some languages it is more common for a writer to begin a letter by mentioning the people who will receive it before he mentions his own name. If it is not polite in your language to put the author’s name first, it may be necessary to reorder the information. For example:
To God’s elect from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: I write to you who are strangers….
-or-
This letter is for those who have been chosen by God and who are living as strangers in the world, who are scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. It is I, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, who am writing to you.
However, try to find a polite way in your language to maintain the original order, if possible.
Other possible headings for the section are:
Greetings from Peter (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Peter began his letter to scattered believers/Christians
Paragraph 1:1–2d
1:1a
Peter: The author began his letter by giving his name. In some languages it may be more natural to use a statement here, such as:
⌊I,⌋ Peter, ⌊am writing this letter⌋
an apostle of Jesus Christ: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostle is literally “sent one.” It refers to a person who is sent by someone to accomplish a purpose. An apostle has authority from the one who sent him. Jesus Christ chose apostles and gave them authority. After he returned to heaven, his apostles were the leaders for those who believed in him. Peter was one of those apostles.
If you have already translated the Gospels, you may want to use the same word for apostle as you used there. Some ways to translate an apostle of Jesus Christ are:
one whom Jesus Christ sent ⌊on a mission⌋
-or-
a person with authority from Jesus Christ ⌊to do his work⌋
-or-
a chief leader in Jesus Christ’s work
Christ: The word Christ is used in two ways in the New Testament:
• It is used as a name (that is, “Jesus Christ” or “Christ”).
• It is used as a title that means “the anointed one” (that is, “the Messiah” or “the Christ”).
In this letter, Peter used Christ as a name. Often it occurs with Jesus, as it does in this verse, Jesus Christ.
1:1b
the elect: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the elect means “God’s chosen ones,” that is, “(people) whom God chose.” God chose them and all other people who believe in Jesus to be his special people. Some possible ways to translate the elect are:
God’s chosen ⌊people⌋
-or-
⌊the people⌋ whom God has chosen ⌊to be his own special people⌋
In this context Peter was writing to the elect in certain provinces. He did not mean that those people were the only people whom God had chosen. The Greek text indicates this by connecting the ideas of being strangers and being scattered. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate it in the first clause. For example:
you ⌊who are among⌋ God’s chosen people
1:1c–d
exiles of the Dispersion: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as exiles refers to people who are living in a foreign country rather than in their own native country. This may be a simple geographic reference by which Peter is identifying the recipients of his letter. However, there could also be a sense here that the true home of believers in Jesus is heaven, not this world. Some translations bring out that sense.
Other ways to translate this are:
living as foreigners (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
temporary residents in the world (God’s Word)
1:1d
of the Dispersion: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as of the Dispersion is the noun form of the verb “disperse,” which means “cause to go in different directions” or “scatter.” In Peter’s time, Jewish people who did not live in their own land of Israel referred to themselves in this way. Peter is using the term to refer to Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, to identify them as living in or near the Jewish communities that were outside of Israel but perhaps also to suggest that they are not currently living in their true land, which is heaven.
. Some ways to translate this word include:
dispersed
-or-
living in ⌊various places⌋
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia: These were the names of different provinces or areas where the Christians to whom Peter was writing lived. They were all located in the western part of the modern country of Turkey.
chosen: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word chosen, which has the same meaning as “elect” in 1:1b. The Berean Standard Bible did this to show the connection between the ideas in verses 1 and 2. In Greek the ideas in 1:2a explain more about the “elect” in 1:1b. Be sure to make this connection clear in your language. Some ways to do this are:
• Mention the idea again in 1:2, as the New International Version does:
1b To God’s elect…2a who have been chosen
• Wait until 1:2 to mention the idea “chosen,” as the Revised Standard Version does:
1b To the exiles…2a chosen
• Reorder 1:1 (see the General Comment on 1:1b–d below):
…who are chosen by God
Use a natural connection in your language. In some languages it may also be more natural to express the idea as an active clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ chose you
General Comment on 1:1b–d
In some languages it may be more natural to reorder 1b–c. For example:
⌊I am writing⌋ to ⌊you people⌋ ⌊who are⌋ 1d located in ⌊the provinces of⌋ Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 1c ⌊and who are only⌋ temporary residents of this world. 1b God has chosen ⌊you⌋.
-or-
1c to those living as foreigners/sojourners 1d in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 1b who are chosen by God.
Such a reordering may also help you to make a natural connection with the next verse.
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