Thirty years had passed since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul had traveled across the Mediterranean, introducing the people to the Gospel. Many Gentiles (non-Jews) had abandoned the pagan religions of their ancestors, becoming Christians. But living out their faith was not easy. They faced tension with their families, they were outcasts from their communities, and they were persecuted by the Roman government. They wondered if they had made the right choice.
It is to believers such as these that Peter writes his first epistle, encouraging them to stand strong and instructing them on how to live out their faith, even in the midst of difficulty. It is his words that we will consider this spring as we study 1 Peter and glean its wisdom for us today.