To Scattered Believers in a Perishing World

By Jake Hanson

Click here for the Study Sheet: "To Scattered Believers in a Perishing World"

The book of 1 Peter begins with these words which will be the basis of this section:

As you see from the map (modern day Turkey), the names listed go in a clockwise direction around Asia Minor, starting in the top right corner. This is a big area with many different people groups. It is important to know that Peter is writing to a particular audience in particular cultural circumstances, because he ends the letter, “Greet one another with a holy kiss”—perhaps the only thing from 1 Peter I don’t recommend we literally do today!

But right before the last verse, 1 Peter 5:13, we have these words:

Scholars and interpreters and preachers debate what Peter exactly means in saying that he is sending greetings from Babylon. Is it a literal place? or a metaphorical place? There were several ancient cities named Babylon, including the Mesopatamian city in modern-day Iraq where the People of God were 'scattered' and exiled to in the 6th century B.C. as recorded in the Old Testament, which we will discuss below. Even though it could be one of these ancient cities, it seems more likely that Peter is using 'Babylon' in a figurative reference to Rome—the city where Peter was eventually martyred. This would make perfect thematic sense with the whole tenor of the letter.

I want to take a moment to talk about scattering, since Peter is picking up on a theme from the Old Testament and shifting it to apply in the New Testament. I want us to see some of the similarities, and some of the differences between Old Testament scattering (I have called it Jewish scattering on the sheet. By that I simply mean the Jews in the Hebrew Scriptures, and not modern Jews).

We must see that Peter is playing on this Old Testament theme of scattering, in order that he might make a significant point.

Old Testament Scattering

The Promise or Warning

Look with me at “The Promise” of Old Testament scattering from Deuteronomy 4:27, 30 (also see Leviticus 26:33). Perhaps it should be called, “The Warning.”

This warning was given to the Hebrews before they entered into the Promised Land. They were told that God would demonstrate His power to the nations by opening the land for them, but He could also demonstrate His power by taking it away.

The Fulfillment

This promise is fulfilled as Israel and Judah become increasingly disobedient. In 722 BC, the Northern Kingdom, Israel, is destroyed by the Assyrian Empire because it has worshipped other gods. The Southern Kingdom, Judah, is scattered in Babylon in exile in 586 BC for several generations as a result of its disobedience. This is the event which the great prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah predicted, and which Jeremiah, Ezekiel [which we just read a moment ago] and Daniel endured. This is where Daniel was in the lion’s den because of his faith. The exile ended with the joyous return of the faithful remnant under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah in the 5th Century BC.  This event comes to the forefront of the Jewish people up through the time of Jesus, almost bearing as much significance as the Exodus itself.

The Purpose

The purpose of this, though, is important. The Lord disciplined, and still does discipline, the people of God in order to restore them to Himself.  But the Lord also does this in order to demonstrate His power and glory to the nations, that they might believe as well. This is why the Lord uses the small, and insignificant people of the Hebrews to show that it is He who is working, and not the people. It is He who is worthy of our faith and our trust.

New Testament Scattering

But when we come to the New Testament, there is an enormous shift taking place. Rather than the people of God being scattered and persecuted for their disobedience, Christians are scattered and often persecuted for their obedience.

The Promise

Jesus’ Great Commission to His Disciples is the beginning of this, though it is foretold in the Old Testament as well.

And this is reiterated in the book of Acts by Jesus,

The Fulfillment

The shift from being scattered in disobedience to being scattered in obedience pivots around Pentecost, the day when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit.  You will remember that people were gathered there from all over the world—including three of the regions 1 Peter mentions: Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia.

At Pentecost, the people of the world are being drawn together in the name of Christ. Language barriers which had been established at Babel were being broken down. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile.

This ingathering of peoples at Pentecost is like a springboard of the Christian faith out into the world.  As you can see from this sheet, The beginning of the fulfillment of the promise was at Pentecost when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit. The yearly Jewish Feast of Pentecost, celebrated the barley harvest which happened in late Spring. The Feast celebrated the Lord’s provisions, but is also helped the people anticipate the great Feast of Ingathering after the final harvest. So too, the Feast of Pentecost had “fully come” in a spiritual sense with Christ as the first-fruit, or the first harvest; the Apostles and early believers are the Spring harvest, and then we are in the age of the preparation for the great harvest of souls in the Fall. We look forward to—and we work toward—this great harvest of souls where we will all be gathered together at the end of the age.

The Purpose

The purpose of Christian scattering is similar to the purpose of the Old Testament scattering. This is said in many ways and in many passages, but Paul quotes from Isaiah and says,

God desires that His glory be made known all over the earth that all people, everywhere be saved.

The reason we are scattered…the purpose of this scattering is that at the end of the age, peoples from every tongue and tribe and nation will be gathered around the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ as we forever “declare and sing the excellencies and praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

See also my sermon on this passage: "Scattered for a Purpose"

Part 3: What We Declare: The Gospel of Jesus Christ