The Elect in Peter’s Epistles Are Jewish
- The Election of Priests, Kings, and Disciples
- The Election of Messiah and Angels
- The Election of Jerusalem
- The Election of False Gods and Foolish Things
- The Election of Israel
- The “Few Chosen” Are Israelites
- The Elect in the Tribulation
- The Elect in Peter’s Epistles Are Jewish
- Elect but Not Saved
- The Elect in Romans Are Israelites
- Election of Grace
- Foreknowledge
- The Remaining Verses of Election
- Conclusion
- Basic Theology: Election Part 01 Video
- Basic Theology: Election Part 02 Video
Peter likewise uses the term elect to describe the Jews.
1 Peter 1:1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…”
The word “dispersion” (Greek diaspora διασπορά) was used to describe the scattering among the nations that God had promised to the Jews (Israel) if they would not follow Him (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 4:27; Nehemiah 1:8, etc.; the LXX uses the same Greek word as the NT).
James, in his epistle, could not be any clearer that the diaspora is Israel when he says in James 1:1, “To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad [en te diaspora εν τη διασπορα]: Greetings.”
The twelve tribes are of course Israel (the Jews) and they are in the diaspora, the same group to which Peter was addressing his letter.
Lastly, we must acknowledge two important points.
- Peter was the apostle to the Jews. In Galatians 2:7-9 Paul states that he “was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised just as Peter was to the circumcised”.
- Babylon was the third largest Jewish center in the ancient world. When the Jews were given leave under Cyrus to return to Israel in 536 BC, only a small remnant returned while many thousand stayed in Babylon. The writing of the Babylonian Talmud gives concrete proof to the fact that Babylon was a major center of Jewish life and culture. Since Peter was the apostle specifically appointed to take the Gospel to the Jews, then finding him in Babylon (not Rome!) in the company of Jews is simple enough to grasp.
Peter is writing from Babylon, in the company of other Jews (the chosen) to fellow chosen ones who were also in the diaspora (that is, not living in Israel). Realizing that Peter is the apostle to the (elect) Jews and is writing from Babylon to other (elect) Jews facilitates the interpretation of the two epistles.
In 1 Peter chapter two Peter writes concerning his Jewish (believing) brethren,
1 Peter 2:5 & 9, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen generation [note: the Greek word is genos (race) not genea(generation)], a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”
These same words were used repeatedly in the Old Testament to describe the Jewish people:
Exodus 19:5-6, Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:6, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:2, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Psalms 135:4, For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure.
1 Peter 2:10, “You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The passage is taken from Hosea where God, speaking to Israel,
Hosea 1:9, “Then the LORD said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God.”
Peter is demonstrating that their previous condition has been undone in Jesus Christ. This truth is given by God through Hosea.
Hosea 1:10 & 2:23, “However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are children of the living God!”
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