Strangers. Foreigners. Homeless. These are the very words Peter uses to describe the Christians of his day. He might have meant those terms literally. The early Christians were mainly from the lower classes. They could have been guest workers, foreigners, and resident aliens in another land.

Can Christians relate to being strangers, foreigners, and homeless today? Aren't we quite at home in our communities? Christians lead in government. We own our own businesses. We have Christian schools and colleges. We are doctors, lawyers, scientists, and professional athletes. We are rarely looked upon as strange. We're not forced into ghettos or refused the right to vote. Even now in most places in America, being a Christian of some sort will help you, not hurt you, in the community.

Do you ever feel that the world is not your home? If so, the letters of Peter are for you. Do you feel too much at home in this world? You, too, can benefit from Peter. Written both for Bible class settings and personal study, Exiles in Their Own Land looks at 1-2 Peter in detail, and shows how these biblical books give us insight into our identity as Christians. They tell us who we really are.

"Drawing on a distinguished career of teaching and preaching the Scriptures, Gary Holloway helps us recover the apostolic teaching in the two New Testament letters that preserve Peter's voice. Holloway's exposition highlights the key themes and terms of these letters, invites readers to engage their teaching in depth, and challenges us to put what we have learned into practice-a valuable guide for those who seek to live as "aliens and exiles" today!
-Jeff Peterson, Ph.D, Yale University; Professor of New Testament, Harding School of Theology