Analysis of Selected Verses of 1 Peter Chapter 1&2 - Who was it written to?

1Pe 1:1  Kepha, an apostle of Yahushua the Messiah, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

 These strangers are called "elect". This is Israel in exile. Judah wasn't fully dispersed until 20 years later.

A literal translation (See Green's Interlinear) of verse 1 would be "Peter, an Apostle of Yahshua HaMoshiach, to the elect sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, ...". These are all places where Israel was scattered. These provinces are south of the Black Sea. This is also the area that many who were in Jerusalem for Pentecost,  when the Holy Spirit fell, came from. They were Hebrews from the ten tribes that had been carried away into Assyria in 721 B.C.

1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of YHWH the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Yahushua the Messiah: Favour unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

This is addressed to the "elect" sojourner of the "diaspora" or dispersion. They are Israelites in exile. Strongs # 1290 "diaspora" says it is a converted Israelite resident in a gentile country. Interestingly, the root of diaspora, speir (speiro, Strong’s #4687), relates to “Jezreel.” It means, “to sow or scatter seed.”

In saying this, Peter was letting the recipients of the letter along with all believers know that they were all part of Israel, as only the twelve tribes of Israel were sprinkled by the blood at Mount Sinai.

Exo 24:7  And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that YHWH hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exo 24:8  And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which YHWH hath made with you concerning all these words.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the El and Father of our Master Yahushua the Messiah, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahushua the Messiah from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

That need not mean we have to go there to get it; it is just kept in a place where no earthly ills can affect it,
Nothing in Scripture says any human being will be in Heaven forever--only that we can be with Yahweh forever. Earth will be our habitation.

“the heavens are Yahweh’s, but the earth He has given to the sons of men." (Psa 115:16)

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of YHWH through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Salvation is a process, not a one time event. The Renewed Covenant is not yet totally in effect. It will be ratified when Yahshua returns and drinks the last cup of redemption of the Passover ceremony with us at the wedding supper of the lamb in the Millennial kingdom. Then we will have the Torah written upon our hearts and need no man teach us, for we shall all know Him from the least to the greatest.

CHAPTER 2


1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

 This was spoken of YHWH in Isa 8:14.


Isa 8:14      And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


This was the pre-incarnate Yahshua, who we are told in John 1 created the world and everything in it. He is not YHWH the Father, but is YHWH the Son. This can be proven by looking at the passage in Zechariah 12:10. There are also many other scriptures that prove this too. There are just too many to recount at this time in this message.

Zec 12:10      And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of favour and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and she will be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

YHWH the Father could not be pierced. He is a spirit.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:


Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Now let's find out who these gentiles are that Peter is writing to.

This was a promise made to Israel in Exo 19:6 that if they would obey YHWH's voice and keep His "Covenant", they would be a special treasure to Him above all the people of the earth, a kingdom of priests and a set apart nation. Peter is equating these returning gentiles with Israel.

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of YHWH: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Where have we heard this before?  This is the Lo-Ami (not a people) and Lo-ruhamah(no mercy) of Hosea 1:7 and 9.

This was spoken to the prophet Hosea by Yahweh concerning Ephraim (Israel). Peter is equating the returning gentiles to the lost tribes or lost sheep of the House of Israel. Paul did the same thing in Romans 9:25-26 . See also Zech 10:6.

1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

These are the other sheep not of this fold spoken of by Yahshua in John 10:16; Mat 10:6; and Mat 15:24. They are the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Returned is "Epistrepho" in Greek and means returning. Not coming for the first time, they were returning to Yahweh. See also Acts 15:19 and 1 Th 1:9.

This letter written by Peter was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel who were scattered into all the world. This letter was sent to those in various provinces in Asia Minor where some of them were known to have been scattered. James also wrote a letter to the "dispersed" as we read from James 1:1

Jam 1:1  James, a servant of YHWH and of the Master Yahushua the Messiah, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

The third place this word is used in the New Testament is in John 7:35.


Joh 7:35      Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?


More information can be found in my free download of my book called "Study of the Two House Restoration of Israel". It is on my website Emetyahshua.com which you can reach from this blog.



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Beware of False Prophets

These verses uttered by Yahshua are very important for us to understand, so let's dig into them. Once understood, these false prophets become apparent to us.

Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

They come to us in sheep's clothing, meaning they will appear to be fellow sheep. But inwardly, they are ravening wolves (subsisting on prey, devouring). Their source of income is wrested from the sheep by coercion, false doctrine and any other means to separate the sheep from their money. They subsist totally on the sheep.
These false prophets are not ones who incorrectly foretell the future, although they might do that too.  A prophet is one who speaks for the one who he represents. So these prophets who profess to speak for YHWH and preach or teach against Torah are the ones in view here.They say they represent Yahshua or the kingdom of heaven, but do it falsely with a false gospel. They not only add commandments, but many Christian denominations have taken away ALL of the Torah claiming it has been abolished.

Matt 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles.

Matt 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Matt 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Matt 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

Matt 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The false prophet or teacher teaches that the law was abolished, that we are no longer obligated to follow it. Their fruit is false doctrine, lawlessness or Torah-less-ness. In Matt 3:10, Yahshua spoke of the Pharisees and Sadducees in this context. We know by other scriptures that they had added to the commandments of YHWH and developed their own traditions which they had elevated above Torah and often conflicted with it.

Malachi in Mal 3:5-7 said in the day of YHWH, he will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, those that oppress the widows and orphans, that cheat the hired hands of his wages using false weights and measures, the false prophet that turns those away from the truth, etc. 

Matt 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 This is a very sobering passage of scripture and not many understand it.  They always think it is talking about someone else. What is the will of our Father in heaven? His will is that we KEEP His commandments, His statutes and judgments, His Law (Torah).

 At the beginning of his sermon (Mat 5:17-20), Yahshua had given three examples to make a point about the Torah still being in effect.

He did not come to do away with the Torah (law).

This included the tiniest part (jot and tittle) of the Torah

Those who taught otherwise would be "least in the kingdom".

Matt 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Many is not a few. Immediately prior to these verses, he had just said to "enter in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. and many go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it."

On the day of judgment, they will tell him they had built crystal cathedrals and did all kinds of wonderful works in his name. They had even cast out devils in his name.

But for the bad news......

Matt 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Iniquity sounds pretty bad, doesn't it. What is iniquity as used here? The Greek word translated "iniquity" is anomia. Anomia is Strong's # 458 and means "without the law". Now what law is in sight here? The only law that matters is YHWH's law. It is the Torah. We can verify that the Greek word "nomos" means the Torah by comparing direct quotes from the Tanakh (Old Testament).

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHWH; I will put my LAWS (nomos) into their minds and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohim, and they shall be to me a people.

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days , saith YHWH, I will put my LAW (Torah) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim and they shall be my people.

The words translated "law" in the above scriptures can be verified using a concordance.   So what Yahshua is saying is that the workers of iniquity (Anomia - condition of without the Torah) are those that he never knew.  These are Christian pastors, prophets and teachers that teach that the law  (Torah) was nailed to the cross and we no longer are bound to obey it. How many of them keep the Sabbath or observe YHWH's Feasts that He said are to be observed forever?  How many teach the clean food laws or that you can eat anything you want? Do they eat meat with the blood still in it? These are vital parts of the Torah which are completely ignored by most Christians today because their Pastors are teaching them lies?

These workers of iniquity are those who ignore and exclude Torah. They are the false shepherds that Yahshua warned against. Their fruits are false doctrine.

The word "Anomia" is used many more times in the writings of Paul and others. The Mystery of Iniquity is another place the word anomia is used. It is the mystery of Torahlessness.

These false prophets are called "chaff" in Jer 23:28. They are the ones:

Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Ba'al.

BDB Definition - Baal = "Lord".

Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in they name......?

Hidden Meanings in Genesis 1:1

Gen 1:1 In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.

Gen 1:1 Bereshith bara Elohim et HaShamayim v'et HaArets. (Heb.)

The first letter in the first word "Bereshith" is an enlarged Bet. When you see an enlarged letter in Torah, it is telling you to pay special attention to it as there is something of significance here.

"Bet" (equiv. to our letter B) prefixed to a word means "in, by, with, or while." In the case above, it means "in". However, the letter "Bet" is spelled Bet yod tav.  In the ancient Hebrew pictographic alef-bet (alphabet), the "bet" means house, tent, abode or dwelling. The "yod" denotes work or a deed and the "tav" is the sign of the covenant. I think it is telling us why the earth was created. It was created as the house of the covenant or for YHWH's chosen people, Israel.

The "bet" also represents the number 2. There were 2 present at creation, the Father and the Son. A "bet" is made up of 3 "vav's". The "vav" represents a "nail" and in turn, the "pierced Messiah". The enlarged Bet is placed before the word "Reshith (beginning)." The "pierced one" was "before" the beginning of creation. This shows that Yahshua, the Messiah pre-existed in the beginning.

Other Hebrew roots in "reshith" is Resh-Alef-Sin which means to begin, animate, beginning motion, being first, create, become visible, animate, grow and develop, to move violently with fire. Sounds like a fiery creation.

The second word "bara" is Bet-resh-alef which means to "fatten" or "fill".  The earth was not created out of nothing. The word 'create' is an abstract thought and is not common to Hebrew.
 In this verse, bara would be translated "he created or he filled" and the subject of the verb would be Elohim.

The root of the word "bara" is 'bar' or corn, kernel - the seed of beginning. Adding an 'alef' (A) to the end makes it "bara". Ancient Hebrew word pictures show that it means "beginning of the family." Alef, the Father is the strong one of the house (bet). Father in Hebrew is Ab (alef bet). He is the one who started a family and created a place for them to live.
Bar in Pictographich Hebrew is Bet-resh, a pictograph of a tent floor plan (bet) and a mans head (resh). The meaning is the house or family of heads. This is also the word for "grain or barley", a head with a family of seeds.

The combined letters Bet and Resh form the word "bar" or "ben" when used in the possessive, meaning "son". Thus the word "bara" in the pictographic Hebrew shows that it was the "Son of Alef" who did the creating. This agrees with John 1:1. A suggested breakdown of the roots of the word Bereshith follows:

BAR (Son)
BARA (Make)
RESH (Head)
RESHITH (Beginning)

The next word we will look at in Gen. 1:1 is "ELOHIM". It is a generic term that means "mighty ones" or powers. It is plural while all the verbs following are singular. I believe this is because the Father and the Son are so completely a compound unity (Echad) that they are viewed as one. We are told in scripture that Yahshua was the creator in John 1:1-3. The Father was the architect or designer and the Son did the actual work of the creation.

The 4th and 6th words in Gen. 1:1 are "ET" or Alef-Tav. The alef tav is a pointer in Hebrew that points to the direct object of the verb. It is not translated into English. We know from other scripture that Yahshua is the Alef Tav. He is the one given by the Father (Alef) as a covenant (Tav) for the people (Isa. 42:6-7; Isa 49:8).

The 2nd Alef Tav has a "vav" preceding  it. Remember, the "vav' represents the "nail'. This alef tav represents the pierced Messiah that is between "heaven and earth" and joins them together in Gen 1:1. The alef Tav means complete perfection. He created the earth from A to Z (Alef to  Tav)or from beginning to end. YWHW did not create the earth a chaos (Isa 45:18).

The deeper meaning by the Rabbis of the 4th and 6th words ( Alef Tav) is that there would be two comings of the Messiah, one at 4,000 years and the other at 6,000 years from creation. After coming at 4,000 years, he ascended to heaven. We see the word right after the 1st Alef Tav is "heaven." The word after the 2nd Alef Tav is "earth." In the year 6,000 from creation, he will return to the earth. "Earth" is the 7th word in Genesis. The 7th 1,000 year period is the millennium when he will set up his righteous kingdom on the earth ruling upon the throne of David.

The Ancient Hebrew word picture of Alef Tav means "Strong one of the covenant". Yahshua is the mediator of the covenant between YHWH and man. The word for "sign or mark" is the Hebrew word "oth". It is spelled Alef Vav Tav. Notice again, the vav is between the Alef Tav. The Vav represents Yahshua. He is the mediator of the renewed covenant between YHWH and man.

There are 6 Alef's in Gen 1:1 representing the 6 days of creation. There are 7 words signifying that the creation was perfect when it was created.

Next we have HaShamayim, "the heavens. " It may be from the root of Shem - name,breath,wind,character.

And the last word is Ha'arets "the earth" The root of arets is "rats" - Resh Tzaddi which means an ostracon (broken piece of pottery) fragments. The earth may have been made of many pieces of cosmic rock and dust. The Pictographic Hebrew suggests it wasn't created out of nothing, but out of pieces.

Arets is the origin of the word "earth" and backwards you can see how the word Terra originated. It means region, ground, soil.

There is much more in Genesis 1:1, and I left out a lot to conserve space. Not everything above is original with me, but much of it is.

It is raining here, so I need to get off the computer...til next time.

Blessings in the name of YHWH,

Brick