This coming Sunday (weather permitting), we will begin a study in the Epistle of 1 Peter. This rich letter has often been overshadowed by the Pauline Epistles. This, despite the fact that many saints from previous eras have marveled at the riches found in this short letter. Martin Luther said that it was comparable in value to Romans. While I know some of our small groups have recently or are currently studying this letter, I hope that all of us will be encouraged and challenged by its message, which is as relevant today as it was when originally written.
So here is a brief introduction to the letter.
Who wrote the letter?
This seems like a no brainer given the very first verse says it is from the Apostle Peter. Yet, in recent years, some have proposed that it is a pseudonymous letter, written by someone else but ascribed to Peter and most likely long after Peter was dead. But none of the arguments for this proposal are ironclad and most are based on subjective claims rather than historical or textual evidence. There are persuasive reasons to hold that the letter is written by Peter. It is also difficult to think that the church would have accepted a pseudonymous letter, given the general attitude to such things in the early church was to view them as deceptive.
When was the letter written?
Dating the letter is often tied up with the question of authorship. Given Peter’s authorship and that he likely wrote the letter from Rome (1 Peter 5:13 - “Babylon” is code for Rome), a likely date is early 60s AD, just prior to the persecution instituted by Nero.
Who were the original recipients of this letter?
Because of the Jewish imagery and OT quotations in the letter, some have thought the original recipients were Jewish Christians. But given the geographical indicators in the opening verses, most scholars are convinced that the recipients were Gentile Christians. The places mentioned are not places where Paul planted churches (he was expressly forbidden by the Holy Spirit from going to Bithynia - Acts 16:7) nor are there indications of missionary efforts in this area by others. Most likely, these Christians were converted in Rome and then sent to the area as Roman colonizers. This was a standard practice of Roman emperors in order to propagate Roman rule and culture as well as exercise control over their vast empire. Some colonists were people looking for a better life but some were forced by the empire to go because they were viewed as troublemakers or dissidents. Thus, they were exiled from Rome, which leads to Peter’s reference in 1:1.
What is the theme of the letter?
From the ESV Study Bible: Those who persevere in faith while suffering persecution should be full of hope, for they will certainly enjoy end-time salvation since they are already enjoying God’s saving promises here and now through the death and resurrection of Christ.
I pray that the Lord will bless our time together each Sunday in this letter. Pray that the Spirit would give us eyes to see and ears to hear. And pray that God would use His word to prepare us for life as strangers in a strange land.
