1. 1 Peter 1:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did Peter call his readers "elect exiles"?

1 Peter 1:1 (ESV)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

The term elect does not describe where his readers were exiled from; instead, it describes where his readers were exiled for. From the sum total of the human population, they have been chosen for a new homeland, in the same way as Abraham “was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance” (Hebrews 11:8). As Peter will explain in coming verses, their new homeland is in heaven (). God’s action of electing them triggered their being strangers in their community.