1 Peter

In Northern Asia Minor

Gentile and Jewish

Recipients Historical Background

There was persecution (sporadic) but it had not become the official Roman Government position yet

After Nero’s burning of Rome in 64 AD Christianity would become illegal.

Peter

Peter’s death occurred in Rome after Nero’s persecution broke out.

Peter’s death would have occurred after 64 AD but by 67 AD

Place of Writing

It appears this letter was written from Rome.

In 5:13 Peter writes, “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings.”

Babylon was the head of the Babylonian and Persian empires. Alexander the Great, who was the head of the Greek Empire conquerored Babylon, died there. The Roman Empire replaced the Greeks and is the fourth of the beast predicted by Daniel.

Babylon is also a figure of immorality, the anti-god attitude and materialism.

The evidence not read “Babylon” as figurative speech for Rome are:

a) Babylon did exist on the Euphrates at this time as a small town.

b) Babylon is not used as figurative of Rome in other places

c) The writing of 5:13 is not in a figurative sense.

Author

Peter has been accepted as the author of this letter since the early days of the church.

It wasn’t until the corrupt biblical criticism of the 1800’s became popular that anyone even mentioned that Peter wasn’t the author.

In 2 Peter 3:1 Peter refers to his former letter (1 Peter).

Clement refers to First Peter in 95 AD

Polycarp (John’s disciple) uses First Peter in his letter to the Philippians

Eusiebius, the church historian from the 300’s, gives First Peter universal acceptance.

Irenaeus (140-203), Tertullian (150-222), Clement of Alexandria (155-215) and Origen (185-253) all credit Peter with the authorship of this letter.

Some critics have said the style of Greek in this letter are beyond Peter’s ability since he was a Galilean fisherman. But, Peter would have spoken Greek and been very familiar with it. Also, according to First Peter 5:12 Silas was the scribe who wrote the book down for Peter:

“With the help (“through” or “by means of”) of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this it’s the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.”

Date of Writing

This book would have been written in between 63-65 AD

Peter appears to have been familiar with Paul’s letters written from prison around 61-62.
Peter was martyred by Nero between 65-67 AD

Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia were Roman provinces in Asia minor.

NAS

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

1:1

“apostle” (apostoloV) – an official representative who was appointed and authorized by the one doing the sending.

“elect” (eklektoV) – elect, from the verb form that means to pick out, to select. This word was used in the papyri to mean “select” or “choice”

Deuteronomy 14:2

“strangers” (parepidhmoV) – one who lives alongside of. A sojourner. A person living temporarily as a foreigner, staying for a while in a strange place.

See 2:11

“scattered” (diaspora) – means “dispersion, scattering, diaspora” It is a word used of the Jewish ciaspora that came from deportation and movement into foreign lands. Here Peter uses a term normally used for Israel and places the meaning on the believers in the church age.

1:2

“foreknowledge” (prognwsiV) – knowing beforehand, foreknowledge.

Compound Greek word:

a) “pro” meaning “before” and

b)“gnosis” meaning “knowedge

A term used of Israel in the OT as being God’s client nation to reveal himself to the world with.