(1 Peter 1)1NIV New International Version Translations – “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
The New Testament was written with a specific purpose: to offer encouragement and guidance to early Christians who faced persecution. Questions remained about Jesus, his life, his death, and his resurrection. This was the Christian world when Peter wrote his letter.
The letter, also known as the Epistle of First Peter, explicitly identifies its author as “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1). Some scholars have questioned the authorship due to the sophisticated Greek style of the letter, which they argue might be too refined for a simple Galilean fisherman. They propose that Peter may have used a scribe, such as Silvanus mentioned in 1 Peter 5:12, who would have helped compose the letter in his name or polished its Greek. Others argue that Peter, as an influential leader, could have acquired sufficient Greek proficiency over decades of ministry.
Peter’s first letter, likely penned between A.D. 62 and 64 during Emperor Nero’s reign, carries profound significance. When Peter mentions writing from “Babylon” (1 Peter 5:13), he is widely understood to be symbolically referring to Rome. This context is crucial because the letter emerged just before Nero unleashed his brutal campaign against Christians. Nearly three decades had passed since the crucifixion of Jesus and the birth of the Church, a time of growing faith and turmoil. Within just a few years, between A.D. 64 and 68, Nero would decree Peter’s crucifixion. Yet, in a powerful display of humility and devotion, Peter, feeling unworthy to die as Christ did, requested to be hanged upside down—a testament to his unwavering faith and sacrifice.
Peter addressed his letter to “elect resident aliens“—Christians scattered across Roman provinces in Asia Minor, including Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1). It’s clear Peter was writing primarily to Gentile Christians (1 Peter 1:18; 4:3). By using Old Testament descriptions for the church, like “royal priesthood” and “holy nation,” Peter was emphasizing that these Gentile believers were now considered God’s new chosen people.
The Apostle Peter’s letter was intended to convey a powerful message of hope and perseverance to early Christians. They were undergoing difficult times because they had placed their identity and conduct in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In this letter is a Greek word, used only once in our Bible. It is the Greek word “aneklalētos” (1 Peter 1:8). The word Peter used describes something called inexpressible, glorious joy. He is writing to believers who are undergoing trials and persecution, yet he says they “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory“. “Aneklalētos” emphasizes that the joy they experience is so profound and overwhelming that it defies human language to express it adequately. It’s a joy that transcends words, a joy that comes from their love for Christ and their belief in Him, even though they haven’t seen Him.
How is it that we can love someone we have never met or personally known? The Christian faith directs its love and belief towards someone they haven’t physically encountered. This means that the joy isn’t based on a tangible, sensory experience, but on a spiritual reality and a relationship with the resurrected Christ. How do you fully explain the joy of loving and trusting someone you’ve never seen, yet know profoundly? It transcends a rational human description. How could this be?
The context of 1 Peter is one of persecution and trials. Peter is writing to Christians who are “grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6). Yet, amid this suffering, they can “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible.” This is not a superficial happiness that disappears when difficulties arise. It’s a deep, abiding joy that runs beneath and even through hardship. Such a paradox of joy in suffering is difficult, if not impossible, to articulate fully. It speaks to supernatural strength and peace.
The strength Peter points to is rooted in a glorious future. This inexpressible joy is “filled with glory“. It is directly connected to “obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9). Joy is a taste of the ultimate glory and salvation that awaits believers. It’s an anticipation of eternity with God, an inheritance that is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). How can one fully explain the joy of knowing eternal perfection and complete redemption are guaranteed? The sheer magnitude of this eternal future defies words.
Christian joy is consistently presented in the New Testament as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It’s not something believers generate on their own through sheer willpower or positive thinking. It’s a supernatural gift, an internal overflow that defies human explanation because its origin is divine, from God Himself. The inexpressible joy is a response to God’s “great mercy” (1 Peter 1:3) and the incredible salvation provided through Jesus Christ. When one truly grasps the depth of God’s love, mercy, and the sacrifice of Christ, the resulting gratitude and adoration are so immense that they cannot be fully articulated. It’s an “awe” that leaves one speechless.
“I believe it all. If I seem not to, it is only that my joy is too great to let my belief settle itself.” ~ C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle
Conclusion
The “inexpressible joy” of a Christian life is not a joy that can’t be felt or experienced. Still, one that is so profound, so deeply rooted in the spiritual realities of God’s grace, Christ’s redemption, and the hope of eternal glory, that human language falls short in describing its fullness. It’s a joy that must be experienced to be truly understood. Imagine what your first second of heaven will feel like? Can you describe it?
Even though we will face social hostility, slander, and persecution for our faith, Peter assures us that our suffering will not be in vain. Instead, we are encouraged to view it as a gift, an opportunity to demonstrate our faith and the love of Jesus.
The Apostle Peter reminds us of the importance of hope, resilience, and the enduring suffering of Christ, as well as our spiritual inheritance in the resurrection of Jesus. We are called “God’s own people” (1 Peter 2:9) and are called to live holy lives that give no cause for accusation from our non-Christian neighbors. Peter addresses practical aspects of Christian conduct in homes and society, urging us to respond to evil with goodness and to love one another.
Contemplations
- Peter wrote to encourage and guide early Christians facing persecution. How does his message resonate with believers facing different kinds of challenges today?
- Idea to explore: Compare the forms of “persecution” early Christians faced (e.g., physical harm, social ostracization, legal penalties) with challenges believers might experience today (e.g., social hostility, misrepresentation, cultural pressure). How does Peter’s message of hope and perseverance apply to these varying contexts?
- Scholarly debate questions the authorship of 1 Peter, specifically concerning Peter’s potential use of a scribe like Silvanus due to the sophisticated Greek. How does the question of authorship (whether Peter wrote it directly or with a scribe’s help) impact your understanding or appreciation of the letter’s authority and message?
- Idea to explore: The historical and cultural practice of using scribes in ancient times. What about the use of Internet search today, or even AI? Does using either a scribe or technology negate the value of the final message?
- Peter addresses his letter to “elect resident aliens” and emphasizes that Gentile believers are now considered “God’s new chosen people.” How does this concept of being “resident aliens” and “God’s own people” influence a Christian’s identity and their relationship with the surrounding culture?
- Idea to explore: Think about the tension inherent in being “in the world but not of the world.” In what ways can Christians live as “resident aliens” – maintaining a distinct identity and values – while also actively engaging with and loving their “non-Christian neighbors” as encouraged by Peter?
- The study highlights the Greek word “aneklalētos” (inexpressible, glorious joy), which Peter uses to describe the joy of believers even amid trials. How can one cultivate or experience this “inexpressible joy” when facing personal suffering or difficult circumstances, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in fostering such joy?
- Idea to explore: Reflect on personal experiences or examples from Christian history where individuals demonstrated profound joy amid extreme adversity. Think about the pleasure from the hope of the resurrection, eternal hope, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, rather than merely a product of positive thinking.
- 1NIV New International Version Translations