Theophylact of Ohrid, on 1Pet 1:1

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect,”

“He said "sojourners" either because they were scattered, or because all who live according to God are called sojourners on earth, as, for example, David says: "for I am a stranger with You and a sojourner, as all my fathers were" (Ps. 39:12). The name "sojourner" is not the same as the name "pilgrim." The latter signifies one who has come from a foreign country, and even something more imperfect. For just as a secondary matter (πάρεργον) is lower than the main work (τοῦ ἔργου), so also a pilgrim (παρεπίδημος) is lower than a resident alien (ἐπιδήμου). This inscription should be read with a rearrangement of words, namely thus: Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ. The remaining words should be placed after this, for in them are indicated those to whom the epistle is written. "According to the foreknowledge of God." By these words the apostle wishes to show that he, apart from the matter of time, is in no way inferior to the prophets, who themselves also were sent—and that the prophets too were sent, Isaiah speaks of this: "to preach good tidings to the poor, He has sent Me" (Isa. 61:1). But if he is inferior in time, he is not inferior according to the foreknowledge of God. In this respect he declares himself equal to Jeremiah, who, before being formed in the womb, was known and sanctified and appointed "a prophet to the nations" (Jer. 1:5). And since the prophets, along with everything else, foretold the coming of Christ (for they were sent for this purpose), he explains the ministry of apostleship, and says: I, through sanctification of the Spirit, have been sent unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ. He explains that the work of his apostleship consists in setting apart. For this is what the word "sanctification" means, as for example in the words: "for you are a holy people to the Lord your God" (Deut. 14:2), that is, set apart from the other nations. Thus, the work of his apostleship is, through spiritual gifts, to set apart the nations obedient to the cross and sufferings of Jesus Christ, sprinkled not with the ashes of a heifer when it was necessary to cleanse the defilement from association with pagans, but with the Blood from the sufferings of Jesus Christ. By the word "Blood" he simultaneously foretells the martyrdom for Christ of those who believe in Him. For whoever with obedience follows in the footsteps of the Teacher will, without doubt, not himself refuse to shed his own blood for the One Who shed His for the whole world.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.