Brief Introduction to the First Epistle of Peter

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER:

AUTHOR:

Peter identifies himself as the author of the book in 1 Peter 1:1. The Characteristics and the contents of the letter supports his authorship. For instance, some part of the preaching of Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14- 41) is referred in 1 Peter 1:12. 1 Peter is recognized as authoritative as Peter mentions 2Peter as his second letter (2Peter 3:1), though there are differences in the style of the Greek language used. Historically, 1 Peter was acquainted with 1Clement (A.D.95), Polycarp (disciple of apostle John) makes use of 1Peter in his letter to the Philippians, the author of Gospel of Truth (A.D. 140-150) seems to have acquaintance with 1Peter and Eusebius (4^th Century) indicated that it is universally received. Also, 1Peter was ascribed to Peter by few church fathers namely, Irenaeus (A.D. 140-203), Tertullian (A.D. 150-222), Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 155-215) and Origen (A.D. 185-253) whose testimonies appear in the attestation of so many genuine New Testament writings.

The style of the Greek used to doubt the authorship of Peter as It is mentioned in Acts 4:13 that Peter and John were realized by the people to be courageous men who were with Jesus, they were unschooled and ordinary men. There is another thought that during the time of peter’s ministry Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek were used in Jerusalem, and Peter could have probably been exposed to it and became familiar with it over the decades of his ministry. Also, it is thought that Peter could have written 1Peter with the help of Silas as it is mentioned in 1Peter 5:12. Silas seems to be well qualified for the work as he is one of the carriers of the letter that was resolved at the Council of Jerusalem as it is mentioned in Acts 15:22, 27.

DATE:

The date of 1Peter could be satisfactorily Early 60’s, probably during the reign of Nero (A.D. 54-68). Some verses in 1Peter especially in the Salutation/Greetings, Instructions to wives and Instructions to slaves coincides with few verses from Colossians and Ephesians, Paul’s prison letters. So, it is considered that Peter was familiar with those letters of Paul, thereby 1Peter was normally dated in the early 60s as those letters are written before that. Also, Peter was martyred during Nero’s reign which is not later than A.D. 67/68, so 1Peter could not be placed after that. 

PLACE:

Peter writes, “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you sends greetings” in 1 Peter 5:13. So, most probably the place of writing would be Babylon. There are different interpretations of that. One interpretation is Babylon may be mentioned straight forward which maybe Egyptian Babylon or Mesopotamian Babylon, and there is a possibility of the existence of Babylon in the first century as a small town in the Euphrates. And there is another thought that Babylon would have been symbolically mentioning Jerusalem or Rome and this thought is not much valid as it doesn’t have any contextual or historical support, though Peter had spent the later part of his life in Rome and earlier part in Jerusalem.

RECIPIENT(S):

1 Peter is written to the people who are God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood (1 Peter 1:1,2).

PURPOSE:

Ø  To make the scattered believers know that God has given Living Hope in the midst of sufferings and trials, for those who glorify and praise Him.

Ø  To encourage the scattered believers to be holy.

Ø  To help the scattered believers know that they are chosen people and need to live good lives.

Ø  To make the scattered believers know that they need to submit to the Rulers and Masters as God’s people.

Ø  To instruct the Wives and husbands in their self-conduct and with each other.

Ø  To instruct the scattered believers to stand for right and be patient even though there is suffering for what is right.

Ø  To remind the scattered believers about their ungodly life in the past and to encourage them to Live useful to God with Godly characteristics and gifts.

Ø  To enable the scattered believers who suffer according to God’s will, to commit themselves to the faithful creator and continue to do well. 

Ø  To instruct the Elders and Young men for their Godly attitude and actions.

OUTLINE:

1^st Chapter- Salutation, Living hope in Suffering and Trial, Being Holy

2^nd Chapter- God’s Chosen People, Submission to the authorities,

3^rd Chapter- Instructions to Husbands and Wives, Bearing the suffering for doing Good    

4^th Chapter- Reminder of ungodly life in the past, Upholding Godly characteristics and execution of Gifts, Suffering according to God’s will and continuing to do Good.

5^th Chapter- Instructions to the Elders and Young men, Final Greetings.

LEARNINGS:

Ø  We shall rejoice always as God is a living hope in the midst of suffering and trials.

Ø  We shall prepare our minds to be holy as God is there to support us.

Ø  We shall know that as Chosen people we need to live good lives among the unbelievers.

Ø  We need to submit ourselves to the authorities as God’s people and Christ’s followers though there can be insults and retaliation.

Ø  If married and living as families, we need to realize our roles as wives/husbands and act in the Godly the manner and watch the conduct with one another.

Ø  We shall stand for what is right and need to be patient in the midst of suffering even for doing good.

Ø  We should realize that we had spent much time in an ungodly way in the past and we need to hold on the Godly characteristics and execute our God-given Gifts.

Ø  We should commit ourselves to the faithful Creator and continue to do good while suffering according to God’s will.

Ø  We need to be examples as Elders or we need to be humble as young men, being God’s flocks.