1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. KJV. Let’s break it down - First we will look at how Peter called them Strangers: This is a descriptive picture being painted in 1 Peter 1:1. Believers are only strangers (parepidēmois ) on earth. The English word "strangers" refers to anyone with whom we are not acquainted. But the Greek word means far more than that. It is parepidemois, made up of para, "alongside of," epi, "upon," and demos, used in Biblical Greek of the people of a heathen city. The word here describes the recipients of this letter as Christians who have settled down alongside of the unsaved. Peter uses the same word in 2:11.
He will not let us forget that we are living among the unsaved who are always carefully observing us. The Question here would be: What are they observing in your life?; Do they see Christ's love shining through you?; and If they were to follow your footsteps, would they find Christ as the center of your life?
When you think of strangers you also think of a person visiting a place for a while, but he is not a permanent resident. Believers are citizens of heaven; their home is in heaven with God, not on earth. This is significant! It means that where we live on this earth doesn’t matter. Whether we have a huge house or a small one; whether we live on the coast or in the desert. No matter where we live, it is not our permanent home. Our home is in heaven. We may suffer great hardship in this life, but the encouraging thing is, is that it is only for a brief time. Remember this is only temporary.
Philippians 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,"
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