Any presentation of a New Testament document that does not address practical behavior misses by wide margin the intent and content of the book. This point is easily seen in the shorter books like James and Peter’s letters.
Peter is the best known of the twelve apostles and the most often mentioned in the New Testament. But while much is written about him, we have only a little written by him – just two letters comprising a total of eight chapters. Both letters were written near the end of his life. Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome about 68 AD.
First Peter was written to Christians in Asia Minor who were undergoing great persecution. If you look up “suffer” in all its forms in a concordance, you will find the terms mentioned twice as often as any other book in both Old and New Testaments. Peter reminds his brethren that Christ also suffered at the hands of unjust men and therefore, they are simply following in Jesus’ footsteps. Peter reminds his readers who they are:
* God’s elect, chosen according to God’s eternal plan to be obedient to Him.
* Called to be holy, because God is Holy.
* Royalty and priests entrusted with the task of declaring the praises of God.
Considering their high calling, Peter reminds his readers they should act accordingly, and tells them precisely what is expected of them. Peter does not tell his readers that their troubles will soon be over, or that God will deliver them in this life. Instead, he reminds them that deliverance will be found in the life to come.