2/17/21

Introduction to First Peter by Charles Hess

 

https://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Hess/Charles/Albert/1929/Comments/12Peter/intro1.html

Introduction to First Peter
Copyright ©2003, Charles Hess, Ridgefield, Washington

THE WRITER

The writer of 1 Peter[ 1 ] claims to be "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ" (1Pe 1:1). He further asserts he was a "fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ" (1Pe 5:1). Apparently, he used an amanuensis[ 2 ] by the name of Silvanus (1Pe 5:12). He calls John Mark "Mark my son"[ 3 ] (1Pe 5:13). To deny these statements is to impugn the honesty of the writer without any reason to do so.

Peter and his wife[ 4 ] moved into a large house in Capernaum.[ 5 ] Their home was a very short walk from the beautiful Sea of Galilee. His father was named John,[ 6 ] with whom he worked as a fisherman along with his brother Andrew. Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus. Peter was the first apostle chosen and is always named first[ 7 ] in the lists (see Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lu 6:14-16; Ac 1:13, 14). He was also one of the inner circle of three (see Mk 5:37; 17:1; Mk 9:2; Lu 8:51; 9:28).

Peter was a bold, impulsive, energetic, tender-hearted leader of men. He was first to confess his faith at Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16:16). He was quick to rebuke Christ after He foretold His crucifixion (Mt 16:22). He insisted he was willing to go to prison and death for his Lord (Lu 22:34). He spoke for the twelve apostles during the teaching on the Bread of Life (Joh 6:66-69). He cut off the ear of Malchus (Joh 18:10). The same night he denied His Lord. Nevertheless, he was restored and allowed to preached a sermon on Pentecost (Ac 2:14-40). Later, he raised Dorcas from the dead (see Ac 9:36-41) and subsequently to the Gentile household of Cornelius (Ac 10, 11). Although he had moments of vacillation,[ 8 ] he had an absolute trust in Christ.[ 9 ] He had faults to overcome but he was sharp, perceptive and quick to yield in obedience to the Lord's will.

The NT gives very little history of him after about 50 AD. Luke's last mention of him is in Acts 15. In that reference, we see him at Jerusalem as he stands up to recount the first conversion of Gentiles, contending that the yoke of the law should not be placed upon their necks (Ac 15:10). After the close of the book of Acts, Peter is mentioned in Scripture, sometimes as Cephas, in 1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5; Galatians 1:18; 2:9 and 1, 2 Peter.

Chart
PERSECUTION (A)
(1 Peter)
  1. Distressed by various trials (1Pe 1:6).
  2. Called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you (1Pe 2:21).
  3. If you should suffer for the sake of righteousness (1Pe 3:14).
  4. It is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right (1Pe 3:17).
  5. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you (1Pe 4:12).

Chart
PERSECUTION (B)
(1 Peter)
  1. You share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing (1Pe 4:13).
  2. If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed (1Pe 4:16).
  3. Let those who suffer . . . entrust souls to a faithful Creator (1Pe 4:19).
  4. After you have suffered for a little while (1Pe 5:10).

According to tradition, after the Jerusalem meeting mentioned above, Peter worked and preached among "the Dispersion" and that his wife accompanied him (see notes on 1Co 9:5; 1Pe 1:1). When he wrote 1 Peter, he was apparently in "Babylon"[ 10 ] (1Pe 5:13). Is Babylon is the same as Rome?[ 11 ]

If it is, it is arresting that in Paul's prison epistles, there is no mention of them being imprisoned together as the Catholics claim! Is it possible that the figurative appellation "Babylon" for Rome was taken up at the very onset of the Neronian persecution (see footnote; charts PERSECUTION A and B; WAVES OF PERSECUTION)?
Chart
WAVES OF PERSECUTION
(1 Peter)
  1. During the reign of Nero (AD 64-68).
  2. During the reign of Domitian (AD 81-96).
  3. During the reign of Trajan (AD 98-117).

    4. (S. J. Case, "Peter, Epistles of")


CATHOLIC EPISTLES

The word "catholic"[ 12 ] is often used as a tag for the six short epistles of Peter, John and Jude. However, the application of these letters is no more general than some of the other inspired Scriptures. Although Peter's work was primarily among Jews (Ga 2:7), "catholic" does describe the universal scope of his letters. There is no doubt that they are inspired. Their acceptance was widespread from the very first.

Chart
ALLUSIONS BY EARLY WRITERS
  1. Polycarp's Epistle to Philippians (about 125 AD).
  2. Epistle of Barnabas (about 80-135 AD).
  3. Justin Martyr (about 150 AD).
  4. Early writers, beginning with Irenaeus (about 170 AD) accept it as being from Peter.

    5. (Zondervan 642)


GENUINENESS

Several early writers allude to or quote from 1 Peter (see chart ALLUSIONS BY EARLY WRITERS). There is a fair amount of external evidence that the writer was the apostle Peter. Irenaeus[ 13 ] quotes from 1 Peter and attributes the letter to

the apostle Peter. Tertullian[ 14 ] and Clement of Alexandria[ 15 ] attribute it to him as well. The Shepherd of Hermas[ 16 ] and the writings of Clement of Rome[ 17 ] allude to statements of Peter. Polycarp,[ 18 ] Papais[ 19 ] and Justin Martyr[ 20 ] either quote or allude to Peter's writings. Eusebius claims that Papias "used witnesses from the first epistle of John and similarly from Peter"[ 21 ] The apostle calls what is known to us as 2 Peter "the second letter" (2Pe 3:1). The relationship that letter sustains to 1 Peter demonstrates that Peter also wrote the first one.

WHEN WRITTEN

There is no known proof that Peter founded a church of Christ in Rome. Certainly the Scriptures do not so state. On the other hand, I cannot prove he did not visit, preach or was imprisoned in that city. Catholics insist it is all true. Roman persecution began in earnest about AD 64. The trials Peter mentioned in his first letter may be those. It is estimated that they began two or three years before his death. It is likely that he wrote the letter between AD 64-67.

TO WHOM WRITTEN

The people to whom Peter wrote were mostly Gentiles.[ 22 ] Their ways were once conformed to lusts in ignorance (1Pe 1:14) which, in some cases, included malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking (see 1Pe 2:1). They had been redeemed from "aimless conduct" or a "futile way of life" inherited from their forefathers (1Pe 1:18). Before their conversion to Christ, they "were not a people" (1Pe 2:10). They lived among Gentiles (1Pe 2:12). They lived like them:

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles-- when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries (1Pe 4:3).

As Christians (1Pe 4:16), they lived as aliens in five Roman provinces in Asia that lay east of the Aegean Sea, south of the Black Sea and north of the Mediterranean Sea in what we now call northern Turkey (see notes on 1Pe 1:1). They were "elect" or "chosen" (1Pe 1:2). They were no longer lost sinners, but had been born again unto a living hope (1Pe 1:2). These believers loved Jesus Christ (1Pe 1:7-9, 21) and each other (1Pe 1:22). In spite of the fact that they were "like sheep going astray" (1Pe 2:25), they were of "the house of God" (1Pe 4:17). At the time Peter wrote to them, they were undergoing a "fiery trial" of persecution (1Pe 4:12). At least some of the churches had elders (1Pe 5:1).

CHARACTERISTICS

There is a correspondence between Peter's sermon on Pentecost and the book of 1 Peter (see charts ACTS AND 1 PETER A and B).

Chart
ACTS AND 1 PETER (A)
  1. Holy Spirit sent upon apostles (Ac 2:2-4; 1Pe 1:12).
  2. Christ foreknown (Ac 2:23; 1Pe 1:20).
  3. God raised Christ and gave Him glory (Ac 2:32, 33; 1Pe 1:21).
  4. Baptism and salvation (Ac 2:38; 10:48; 1Pe 3:21).