Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as strangers in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter called his readers aliens (NIV strangers) to introduce this self-concept into their minds. In this letter he emphasized that Christians are really citizens of heaven and our sojourn here on earth is only temporary (1 Peter 2:11; cf. Genesis 32:4; Psalms 39:12). The Greek word perepidemos (alien) contains both the ideas of alien nationality and temporary residence (cf. 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13).