1 Peter

The First Letter of Peter, attributed to the apostle Peter and written around 64-68 AD from Rome—symbolically referred to as "Babylon"—is addressed to Christians scattered throughout the Roman provinces of Asia Minor. These communities of foreigners and "temporary residents" lived in a hostile environment and had to answer for their faith to the authorities and their neighbors.

The great theological richness of this letter lies in its meditation on baptism as a new birth and participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. Christians are «a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession» (1 Peter 2:9), expressions taken from Exodus to define the new identity of the baptized people.

Faced with suffering and persecution, Peter recalls the example of the suffering Christ who «did not revile when he was reviled, nor did he threaten when he suffered, but entrusted himself to him who judges justly» (1 Peter 2:23). The hope of future glory and the certainty of God’s presence underpin the irreproachable conduct that Peter asks of his followers in the midst of the world.