DESTINATION
DESTINATION
The letter is addressed to "God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1 Pet. 1:1), where the names may be those of the ancient districts or of the provinces into which the Romans organized their empire. There is no evidence to decide the point. The places named are in the northern part of modern Turkey (unless Galatia includes the southern areas with that name). It is unlikely that the readers had been evangelized by Peter, for he speaks of "those who have preached the gospel to you” (1:12) rather than identifying himself with the evangelists.
In earlier days it was often thought that the recipients were Jewish Christians (in agreement with Peter’s commitment to work among Jews [Gal. 2:9]). But there is little indication of this in the letter itself, and it cannot be held that Peter never ministered to Gentiles. That Gentiles are addressed seems clear from 1 Pet. 1:18, which speaks of the readers as having been redeemed "from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers.” It is difficult to see this as a description of a way of life based on the teachings of the Old Testament. Literally translated, the addressees are described as "elect sojourners of the dispersion” (1:1): probably words characteristically used of the Jews as the people of God are transferred to Christians. The writer envisages heaven as the home of God’s people, so that while on earth they are no more than sojourners. It seems that the writer is concerned neither with Jews nor Gentiles as such, but with those who in Christ have become the people of God. We need not doubt that most who came from the provinces named were Gentiles, although there would have been some Jewish converts. 16 But the emphasis is on what they have become, not on what they were originally.
We should notice further that the destinations named mean that the letter was a circular letter from the beginning. This does not mean that it is not a genuine letter, sent to a specific audience. The references to the experiences of the recipients (e.g., 1 Pet. 1:6-9) show that Peter has definite people in mind, as do his use of "dear friends” (2:11; 4:12), his words to the elders (5:1-4), and the closing section with its greetings (5:13). 17 But he does not confine himself to the parochial concerns of a small community or communities. From the first, the letter was surely intended to be applicable to the needs of believers in many places. Peter surely knew that what he had to say was relevant to Christians generally. While his letter was originally addressed to Christians in specific places, it is so worded that it is useful for believers everywhere.