Martin Luther apparently described this short New Testament letter written by Jesus’ friend and apostle Peter as “one of the noblest books in the New Testament” and a “paragon of excellence”. Written to believers spread across Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) in light of the persecution they were facing for having converted to Christ, it contains rich teaching that is food for the still-persecuted church today.

Old Testament Scriptures and truths are applied to the church in astonishing ways (eg. concepts such as “inheritance” in 1:4-5, and the temple/priesthood in 2:4-10), there are precious descriptions of what our Lord Jesus has done for and made us (eg. 2:9-10, 2:21-25 and 3:18), and there is much ethical instruction. This practical instruction says that although believers are “foreigners and exiles” who are to abstain from the sinful desires of the world (2:11, 4:2), the primary way they are to do this is not by removing themselves from the world but by witnessing through their submission to earthly authorities, through their willingness to suffer despite having done nothing wrong and through their counter-cultural love for one another.

At the heart of the letter is the truth that we can “stand fast” in the light of suffering (5:12) because we have a living hope in a saviour who is not dead but resurrected (1:3). To God’s chosen children who endure suffering as Jesus did (2:21) we can be sure that our Lord will bring us to glory (5:10).Click here to write your article