From the early Church Fathers to now.
6 Patristic · 1 Medieval · 1 Orthodox
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect,”
“Undoubtedly, by not receiving Christ, the "fount of water of life," they have begun to have "worn-out tanks," that is, synagogues for the use of the "dispersions of the Gentiles," in which the Holy Spirit no longer lingers, as for the time past He was wont to tarry in the temple before the advent of Christ, who is the true temple of God.”
“Peter seems to have preached in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia and Asia to the Jews of the dispersion, and afterwards, having come to Rome, he was crucified head downwards, for he himself had asked to suffer so.”
“Why does Peter, an apostle to the Jews, write to those who are scattered in the dispersion, when most of them were still living in Judea at that time? To understand his meaning, we have to compare what he says with texts like "I am a pilgrim and stranger on earth, as were all my forefathers." The souls of all are like strangers who are joined to bodies for as long as they dwell in time. If these souls were thought to be the substance of the body, they would be natives on earth. But these souls are concealed in a covering of flesh and are in fact like strangers on earth. They feel the pains of the flesh because they are quite assimilated into natural bodies. This is why terrors are brought on the inhabitants of the earth, which affect both the things which are earthly in themselves and the souls which are covered in an earthly image.”
“This apostle was appointed to preach to those of the circumcision, but he deliberately did not limit his preaching to those who lived in Judea. Instead, by sending this circular letter, he sought to preach to Jews scattered all over the world, to the effect that they must hold onto the faith which they have received, for by keeping it they would inherit many great, good, eternal and heavenly things.”
“The dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, etc. All these provinces are of the Greeks in Asia. But there is also another Bithynia in Europe, from which it is said those in Asia are descended. However, the Bithynia in Asia is also called the greater Phrygia, which is separated from Galatia by the river Hiera.”
“This epistle is by somebody called Peter, but although its teaching is more sublime and perfect in both style and arrangement than James, it is very inferior to the exactness of the teachings of Peter as they are found in the Acts of the Apostles.”
“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.”
“Peter, Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace be multiplied. The series and order are now collected: Peter, Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The rest, however, will be placed by interjection: for they signify to whom the letter is written. However, that particle is used according to the foreknowledge of God, to signify that there is no prophet who is inferior in anything, except in time. That they were sent, says Isaiah: "He has sent me to announce good news to the poor." (Isa. 61:1) But although later times have brought this to pass, it is not, however, the foreknowledge of God; rather, in this, he shows himself equal to Jeremiah, who was known and sanctified before he was formed in the womb and designated as a prophet to the nations. And since the prophets, among other things, had foretold the coming of Christ (for this reason they were sent), he adds the necessity of his apostleship, saying: "I was sent in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ," signifying through what is proposed: "This is the manner of my apostleship, to be set apart." The name signifies through sanctification: as it is said, "And you shall be to me a peculiar people sanctified," (Deut. 14:2) that is, separated from other nations. Therefore, the manner of his apostleship was to separate through spiritual gifts obedient nations, sprinkled with the passion and blood of Christ, not with the ashes of a heifer, when it must be purified, taken from the pollution of the Gentiles: but with the blood received from the passion of Christ. At the same time, it also touches upon a certain prolog to martyrdom of blood for Christ suffered by those who believe in him: for he who follows the footsteps of the teacher through obedience, when it is absolutely necessary, will not refuse to shed his own blood for him who poured out his for the whole world. "Peter, Apostle of Jesus Christ." Here Peter writes to those who were of the circumcision, as does blessed James, but he indeed addresses all Jews who inhabited the world, wherever they were; however, this one specifically addresses the regions of Pontus in Galatia. He also added Pontus to Galatia. For there is another Galatia near the Celts which is also truly Galatia, from which those he is now discussing had migrated. Therefore, he directs his speech to these and other nations which are mentioned in the preface, using this letter universally or generally. The series of letters is therefore this, with the addition of those things that have been said through deficiency for the sake of manifestation, for this reason also he employs rearrangement and the alteration of figures to the word. Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ… receiving the end of your faith1, and what is that? Salvation of the soul: concerning which salvation even the prophets searched and inquired, "To the chosen sojourners." Sojourners, either because of dispersion he said, or also because all who live according to God are sojourners on earth, as David also says: "I am a sojourner with you and a pilgrim as all my fathers were." (Ps. 38:13) The name "sojourner" [παρεπίδηµος] signifies something different from a "newcomer" προσήλυτος. The former indicates someone who has come from elsewhere or from abroad, while the latter παρεπίδηµος denotes something more shameful. For just as a πάρεργον, that is, something incidental, is less valuable than an ἔργον, that is, a work, and a πάροδος, that is, a passage, is less than a ὁδός, that is, a way: Indeed, work and way are proper and are pursued with intention, while passage and what is done incidentally are like those things that intrude upon these. Thus, the term παρεπίδῃηµος, as it intrudes upon existence, seems indeed to signify more abjectly than ἔπίδημος. "grace to you and peace be multiplied." Grace, because you are saved freely, having contributed nothing to it, "And peace", for this is necessary for those who have offended their Lord and have become His enemies.”
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.