To whom was Peter writing in 1 Peter?
Peter wrote to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia—Jewish believers of the dispersion, the elect according to foreknowledge, not Gentiles particularly. They were the believing remnant of Israel dispersed among those regions, addressed as the elect.
Les explains that 1 Peter 1:1 begins, “Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the stranger,” and Les emphasizes always realizing to whom a particular Scripture is addressed. He says Peter is not writing to Gentiles particularly but to Jews out in the dispersion—the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Verse 2 calls them the elect, the believing end of the Jews, elect not according to predestination but according to foreknowledge.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,