This letter was sent from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to his
brothers in Christ the chosen exiles. Than what does it mean to be the
exiles? What do we the Christians have to learn about exiles from this
letter?

The Chosen Exiles

The exiles here means the chosen people who were scattered to Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. We can tell that they were in
the trials and tribulations from their circumstances of being the
exiles. But the fact that they were chosen did not change even if they
were in this situation. We can find the similarity in their situation
and the story of Israel in wilderness. Except for the fact that the
chosen exiles continued to have hope in the promised glory and strived
for faith. Because when the people of Israel wandered in the
wilderness for 40 years, they rebelled against God and Moses. Even
though they rebelled, by the grace of God, He did not change the
promise that they were the chosen people.

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of
the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia..."
- 1 Peter 1:1

Exiles the Holy Nation

The commonality between the exiles in 1 Peter and the people of Israel
in the Old Testaments becomes more clear in 1 Peter chapter 2. In
chapter 2 verse 10, Peter described that the exiles were once not
God's people but by mercy they became God's people. And in chapter 2
verse 9, the phrase "you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for his own possession..." comes out which also can
be found in Exodus 19:6, where God promised Israel that they will be
His kingdom of priests and a holy nation if they keep His
commandments. From this passage we can say that the exiles that comes
out in 1 Peter is like Israel of the New Testament.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies
of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
- 1 Peter 2:9