AUTHOR: The apostle Peter, according to [1Pe 1:1].

THEME: The theme of the First Epistle of Peter is suffering as a Christian. Throughout the Roman Empire Christians were being tortured and killed for their faith and the Church of Jerusalem was scattered. Peter knew persecution well. Beaten and imprisoned, he had been frequently threatened. He saw his fellow Christians die and the Church disperse. Yet he knew Christ, and nothing could shake his confidence in his Lord. So Peter writes to the Jews expelled from Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asia Minor, and to all Christians, encouraging them to stand firm in the face of the sufferings that come with being Christians. Why It Was Written This letter of Peter was written to provide encouragement to the scattered Church suffering for the faith, offering her comfort and hope, urging her to continued loyalty to Christ as do all other New Testament documents.

COMPILATION: Peter wrote from Babylon [1Pe 5:13]. Several identifications of the place have been suggested, among them, it may refer to a military post in Egypt, the city of Babylon in Mesopotamia or a figurative expression referring to Rome. Traditions support the latter alternative, before the outbreak of persecution ordered by Nero, when the apostle Peter suffered martyrdom, crucified upside down, which occurred no later than 68 AD. It consists of 5 chapters and 105 verses.