1 Peter Lecture

Background

• When was it written? - right before the Neronian Persecution

• Written in - Rome (Babylon - euphemism for Rome)

• Written to the exiles of the dispersion - Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia

• Sylvanus - delivering Peter’s letter; a representative with Paul

• Mark - 1 Peter 5:13; Relative of Barnabas and traveled with Peter for a time

• Baptismal Sermon - general information about what it means to be a believer/follower of Jesus

• Purpose - encourage believers during a time of trials to face them with integrity and strong Christian ethics

Critical Issues

• Authorship - The language and style of 1 Peter is eloquent and polished Greek (not common among fishermen)

• Jesus descends into Hell? - 1 Peter 3:19; early tradition of Jesus preaching to the condemned during His three days of death

Themes: Suffering

• “fiery ordeal” - maybe because many of them were slaves

• Exiles - ostracized for their faith

• Practical Advice - 1 Peter 4:12 Jesus predicted suffering, 1 Peter 3:17 God allows suffering to take place because of the Devil and wicked world, suffering is good at growing qualities, THEN the good guys win and are blessed

Themes: New Israel

• Supersessionism - Christians have replaced the Jews as the New Israel

• Role of Gentiles - part of the diaspora

Themes: Submission

• The Problem

  • Institutions - 1 Peter 2:13 always honor the emperor, but what if they are wicked and evil?

  • Slaves - 1 Peter 2:18 always respect masters, even if they are abusive

  • Wives - 1 Peter 3:1 submit to your husband so that he may be won over by your purity

  • Weaker Sex - 1 Peter 3:7 calls women the weaker sex

• Complementarianism - should be interpreted literally; a social order ordained by God

• Egalitarianism - coming from a particular world view (Feudalistic world); descriptive not prescriptive