This letter was written as an encouragement to Gentile Christians facing persecution. Peter assures these faithful believers that they are chosen by God and that their persecution is actually a gift, offering them a chance to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus.

Jesus is our hope in the midst of our suffering. And suffering is an opportunity to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus, which is fueled by the hope of his return.

Exile is one of the core, yet often overlooked, themes underlying the entire biblical storyline. In this video, we'll see how Israel's exile to Babylon is a picture of all humanity's exile from Eden. We are all exiles longing for home, and Jesus is the one to open the way back to our true home and the fullness of relationship with God.

Jesus of Nazareth, who lived under brutal Roman oppression during the first century C.E., taught neither violent resistance nor timid conformity. Instead, he embraced a way of life similar to his ancestors who experienced exile under the oppression of other power-hungry empires.

The exile of all humanity. This is part two of our discussion on the theme of exile in the Bible.