Like peeling an onion, when we delve into this difficult passage, we find layers and layers of possible meanings. Lets have some fun and at least think about all the issues this passage lays before the Bible student. Many of the insights into possible meanings of this passage were derived from a commentary by Karen H. Jobes on 1 Peter.
As an overview, Peter is addressing folks, chosen aliens, who are scattered locatively, but are united covenantly, with his salutation, May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.
Peter uses covenant language, pointing to Mount Sinai and Exodus 24, but clarifies that the covenant in view is the New Covenant in the blood of Christ. Peter is Christ’s apostle and refers to himself with the name given him by Jesus.
Just as the Old Testament 12 tribes were scattered locatively and thus not citizens of the places they resided, Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God and are therefore aliens because they have been chosen, hence “chosen aliens” refers to those chosen by God.
Next we encounter phrases, which modify or describe how his audience became chosen aliens. First it was according to the foreknowledge of God – God’s redemption plan was to choose believers for His own possession. Second they became chosen aliens by the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Here “sanctifying work” refers to God setting the person apart – within Christ's spiritual body – rather than the process of sanctification that occurs once a person is placed spiritually in Christ. And third, we have the phrase “to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.
This third phrase is where we might go in several directions: were we chosen for the purpose of obedience and sprinkling, or is it an allusion to an Old Covenant illustration? By looking further into 1 Peter, we see that Peter is making the case that we should obey Christ. Rather than leap to the conclusion that obedience is one purpose and sprinkling is a second purpose, lets consider a third possibility, obedience and sprinkling are two words expressing the same idea, as illustrated in the Old Testament.
Lets assume this phrase is alluding to the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant as described in Exodus 24:3-8. There the refugees pledge their obedience (verses 3-7) and then are sprinkled verse 8. Hence the blood of the Covenant is applied to them. Christians are called to pledge their obedience and then the blood of the Covenant is applied to them by the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Thus we are chosen to have the blood of the Covenant applied to us through God’s recognition of our obedience to the call of Christ.
In summary, the encouragement provided by Peter’s first letter is based on the readers understanding that they are aliens suffering difficulty in the world because they were chosen out of the world and made citizens of the kingdom through the New Covenant in His blood.
God Bless
1 Peter 1:1-2 "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to chosen expatriates (scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia) according to the foreknown redemption plan of God, by being set apart by the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”
As an overview, Peter is addressing folks, chosen aliens, who are scattered locatively, but are united covenantly, with his salutation, May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.
Peter uses covenant language, pointing to Mount Sinai and Exodus 24, but clarifies that the covenant in view is the New Covenant in the blood of Christ. Peter is Christ’s apostle and refers to himself with the name given him by Jesus.
Just as the Old Testament 12 tribes were scattered locatively and thus not citizens of the places they resided, Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God and are therefore aliens because they have been chosen, hence “chosen aliens” refers to those chosen by God.
Next we encounter phrases, which modify or describe how his audience became chosen aliens. First it was according to the foreknowledge of God – God’s redemption plan was to choose believers for His own possession. Second they became chosen aliens by the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Here “sanctifying work” refers to God setting the person apart – within Christ's spiritual body – rather than the process of sanctification that occurs once a person is placed spiritually in Christ. And third, we have the phrase “to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.
This third phrase is where we might go in several directions: were we chosen for the purpose of obedience and sprinkling, or is it an allusion to an Old Covenant illustration? By looking further into 1 Peter, we see that Peter is making the case that we should obey Christ. Rather than leap to the conclusion that obedience is one purpose and sprinkling is a second purpose, lets consider a third possibility, obedience and sprinkling are two words expressing the same idea, as illustrated in the Old Testament.
Lets assume this phrase is alluding to the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant as described in Exodus 24:3-8. There the refugees pledge their obedience (verses 3-7) and then are sprinkled verse 8. Hence the blood of the Covenant is applied to them. Christians are called to pledge their obedience and then the blood of the Covenant is applied to them by the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Thus we are chosen to have the blood of the Covenant applied to us through God’s recognition of our obedience to the call of Christ.
In summary, the encouragement provided by Peter’s first letter is based on the readers understanding that they are aliens suffering difficulty in the world because they were chosen out of the world and made citizens of the kingdom through the New Covenant in His blood.
God Bless
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