←1 Peter 1→BSB

• to God’s chosen people: Peter opens his letter to suffering Christians by reminding them of the status they enjoy because of God’s act on their behalf (1:2).
• living as foreigners (literally exiles of the dispersion): An exile had been uprooted from his or her homeland and taken to live in a foreign country. Peter uses the concept metaphorically to remind Christians that they are living in a world dominated by anti-Christian values and ways of life.
• Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia were Roman provinces in what is now Turkey. They might be listed in the order of the route that a messenger would have followed while carrying the letter to the various churches.

knew you and chose you: When God knows a person, it means that he chooses that person. He chose to enter into relationship with his people before they knew him (cp. Rom 8:29; 11:2).

born again: New birth is a way of describing Christian conversion (cp. John 3:1–13; Jas 1:18; 1 Jn 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). This Greek word, which occurs again in 1 Pet 1:23, brackets the message of 1:1–25.

The language of inheritance frequently refers to what God has promised his people. Originally applied to the land of Israel (see Deut 3:28), the inheritance came to mean the people of God and God’s presence with them (see Ps 33:12; Ezek 44:28). In the New Testament, the inheritance is the spiritual benefit and eternal salvation that God promises to his people (see Eph 1:11; Heb 9:15).

• until you receive this salvation: In the New Testament, salvation often refers to final rescue from sin and death at the time of Christ’s return. This hope encourages believers to persevere to the end (see also 1:9, 10; 2:2; 4:18).
• ready to be revealed: The future revealing of God’s salvation contrasts with the present hiddenness of God and his purposes (see also 1:7, 13).

• will show that your faith is genuine: Faith, like gold, is purified as it is tested.
• The NLT understands praise and glory and honor as being given by God to the faithful Christian. The phrase could also mean that a faithful Christian life brings praise and glory and honor to God.

salvation of your souls: The Greek word translated souls often refers to the whole person and not just to some part or aspect of the person (Matt 20:28; Mark 8:35). Salvation affects our whole person, not the inner person only.

• They wondered: Much was revealed about the future to the Old Testament prophets, but they did not know precisely when or how the salvation they predicted would come about.
• The Greek translated what time could also mean what person. The prophets knew that a Messiah would come and that he would suffer before he was glorified, but they did not know who that Messiah would be.

eagerly watching: The same Greek word is used of the disciples when they peered into Jesus’ empty tomb (Luke 24:12; John 20:5, 11).

prepare your minds for action (literally gird the loins of your mind): In Peter’s day, a man had to tuck the hem of his long robe into his belt before he could work or run.

Christians’ citizenship is in heaven (1:1; see Phil 3:20); they live in this world as “temporary residents” who are uncomfortable with its values and who long for their true home.

A ransom is paid for the release of a captive. Slaves could sometimes pay a ransom and be released from their master. Christ’s death is the price God paid to release people from captivity to sin (1:19).

the sinless, spotless Lamb of God: The Passover Lamb had to be without defect (Exod 12:5); Christ, who fulfills the meaning of the Passover, was without defect or sin (cp. Heb 4:14–16; 7:26–28).

With Christ’s coming, Old Testament promises of redemption are being fulfilled and the last days have begun.

must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters: Literally must have brotherly love. See study note on 5:9.