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Introduction
to 1 Peter
This summary of the book of 1 Peter provides information about the
title
author(s)
date of writing
chronology
theme
theology
outline
a
brief overview
and the chapters of the Book of 1 Peter.
The author identifies himself as the apostle Peter (1:1)
and the contents and character of the letter support his authorship (see notes
on 1:12; 4:13; 5:1-2
5
13). Moreover
the letter reflects the
history and terminology of the Gospels and Acts (notably Peter's speeches). Its
themes and concepts reflect Peter's experiences and his associations in the
period of our Lord's earthly ministry and in the apostolic age. That he was
acquainted
e.g.
with Paul and his letters is made clear in 2Pe 3:15-16 (see notes there); Gal 1:18; 2:1-21 and elsewhere. Coincidences in thought
and expression with Paul's writings are therefore not surprising.
From the beginning
1 Peter was recognized as authoritative and as
the work of the apostle Peter. The earliest reference to it may be 2Pe
3:1 (see note there)
where Peter himself refers to a former letter
he had written. 1 Clement (a.d. 95) seems to indicate acquaintance with 1
Peter. Polycarp
a disciple of the apostle John
makes use of 1 Peter in his
letter to the Philippians. The author of the Gospel of Truth (140-150) was
acquainted with 1 Peter. Eusebius (fourth century) indicated that it was
universally received.
The letter was explicitly ascribed to Peter by that group of
church fathers whose testimonies appear in the attestation of so many of the
genuine NT writings
namely
Irenaeus (a.d. 140-203)
Tertullian (150-222)
Clement of Alexandria (155-215) and Origen (185-253). It is thus clear that
Peter's authorship of the book has early and strong support.
Nevertheless some claim that the idiomatic Greek of this letter is
beyond Peter's competence. But in his time Aramaic
Hebrew and Greek were used
in the Holy Land
and he may well have been acquainted with more than one
language. That he was not a professionally trained scribe (Ac
4:13) does not mean that he was unacquainted with Greek; in fact
as
a Galilean fisherman he in all likelihood did use it. Even if he had not known
it in the earliest days of the church
he may have acquired it as an important
aid to his apostolic ministry in the decades that intervened between then and
the writing of 1 Peter.
It is true
however
that the Greek of 1 Peter is good literary
Greek
and even though Peter could no doubt speak Greek
as so many in the
Mediterranean world could
it is unlikely that he would write such polished
Greek. But it is at this point that Peter's remark in 5:12 (see note there) concerning Silas may be significant.
Here the apostle claims that he wrote "with the help of" (more lit.
"through" or "by means of") Silas. This phrase cannot refer
merely to Silas as a letter carrier. Thus Silas was the intermediate agent in
writing. Some have claimed that Silas's qualifications for recording Peter's
letter in literary Greek are found in Ac 15:22-29. It is known that a secretary in
those days often composed documents in good Greek for those who did not have
the language facility to do so. Thus in 1 Peter Silas's Greek may be seen
while in 2 Peter it may be Peter's rough Greek that appears.
Some also maintain that the book reflects a situation that did not
exist until after Peter's death
suggesting that the persecution referred to in
4:14-16; 5:8-9 is descriptive of Domitian's reign (a.d.
81-96). However
the situation that was developing in Nero's time (54-68) is
just as adequately described by those verses.
The book can be satisfactorily dated in the early 60s. It cannot
be placed earlier than 60 since it shows familiarity with Paul's Prison Letters
(e.g.
Colossians and Ephesians
which are to be dated no earlier than 60):
Compare 1:1-3 with Eph 1:1-3; 2:18 with Col 3:22; 3:1-6 with Eph 5:22-24. Furthermore
it cannot be dated
later than 67/68
since Peter was martyred during Nero's reign.
In 5:13 Peter indicates that he was "in
Babylon" when he wrote 1 Peter. Among the interpretations that have been
suggested are that he was writing from (1) Egyptian Babylon
which was a
military post
(2) Mesopotamian Babylon
(3) Jerusalem and (4) Rome. Peter may
well be using the name Babylon symbolically
as it seems to be used in the book
of Revelation (see Rev 14:8; 17:9-10 and notes). Tradition connects him in
the latter part of his life with Rome
and certain early writers held that 1
Peter was written there. On the other hand
it is pointed out by some that (1)
Babylon is known to have existed in the first century as a small town on the
Euphrates; (2) there is no evidence that the term Babylon was used figuratively
to refer to Rome until Revelation was written (c. a.d. 95); (3) the context of 5:13 does not appear to be figurative or cryptic.
Although 1 Peter is a short letter
it touches on various
doctrines and has much to say about Christian life and duties. It is not
surprising that different readers have found it to have different principal
themes. For example
it has been characterized as a letter of separation
of
suffering and persecution
of suffering and glory
of hope
of pilgrimage
of
courage
and as a letter dealing with the true grace of God. Peter says that he
has written "encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of
God" (5:12). This is a definitive general description
of the letter
but it does not exclude the recognition of numerous subordinate
and contributory themes. The letter includes a series of exhortations
(imperatives) that run from 1:13 to 5:11.
I.
Greetings (1:1-2)
C.
Submission to Authority (2:13;3:7)
D.
Duties of All (3:8-17)
IV.
The Purpose of the Letter (5:12)
──《New
International Version》
Introduction to 1 Peter
The same great doctrines
as in St. Paul's
epistles
are here applied to same practical purposes. And this epistle is
remarkable for the sweetness
gentleness
and humble love
with which it is
written. It gives a short
and yet a very clear summary
both of the
consolations and the instructions needful for the encouragement and direction
of a Christian in his journey to heaven
raising his thoughts and desires to
that happiness
and strengthening him against all opposition in the way
both
from corruption within
and temptations and afflictions without.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Peter》
1 Peter General Review
AUTHOR
The apostle Peter
as stated in the salutation (1:1). Internal evidencesupports Peter as the author
for it was written by one who was "awitness of the sufferings of Christ" (5:1). Early sources in churchhistory that attribute this letter to Peter include Irenaeus (185 A .D.)
Clement of Alexandria 200 A .D.)
Tertullian (200 A .D.)
and Eusebius(300 A .D.). Peter was assisted by Silvanus
also known as Silas (5:12)
a well-known prophet and missionary in the early church (cf. Ac 15:32-34 40; 16:19-25; 17:14) who also joined with Paul in writing some of
his epistles (cf. 1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 1:1). RECIPIENTS
Peter refers to the recipients of his letter as "pilgrims of theDispersion" (1:1). The term "Dispersion" is found in Jn 7:35 and wasused to describe Israelites who had been "scattered" following theAssyrian and Babylonian captivities (ca. 700-500 B.C.). This leads manyto suppose that the epistle was written to Jewish Christians
as was thecase of James' epistle (cf. Ja 1:1). However
there is indication someof his readers were Gentile converts who had come to believe in Godthrough Jesus (cf. 1:21)
and that Peter applies the term "dispersion"to Christians in general
just as he applied other designations to thechurch that were formerly applied to the nation of Israel Peter's initial audience were Christian "pilgrims" (cf. 2:11) who wereliving in Pontus
Galatia
Cappadocia
Asia
and Bithynia what is now Turkey areas (Bithynia been given much opportunity to spread throughout the region. TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING
It is generally accepted that Peter died during the reign of Nero.Since Nero committed suicide in 68 A .D.
the epistle must be datedbefore then. A common view is the epistle was written on the eve of theNeronian persecution (perhaps alluded to in 4:12-19)
placing itscomposition around 63-64 A .D. Peter indicates he wrote from "Babylon whether he refers to literal Babylon word for Rome or perhaps even Jerusalem (Jaimeson
Faussett
Brown) argue that literal Babylon (such as Kistemaker) point out that Mark (cf. 5:13) had been in Rome with Paul during his first (Co 4:10) and second (2 Ti 4:11)imprisonment
and that Peter is linked to Rome (125 A .D.) and Irenaeus (185 A .D.). While possibly Rome