In the Synoptic Gospels, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, poor Galilean
fishermen, are the first two disciples called by Jesus to follow him (Mark 1:16-17);
Peter becomes one of Jesus' closest disciples.
In John's Gospel, Jesus' first disciple is Andrew, who then brings his brother
Simon to Jesus (John 1:35-42).
When Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter
answers, "You are the Christ...," and Jesus in turn says, "Blessed
are you, Simon son of Jonah... you are Peter and on this rock I will build my
church... I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." (Matt
16:16-20; cf. John 6:66-69)
His original name is "Simon," while "Peter" is a Greek
nickname meaning "Rocky"; Paul often calls him "Cephas,"
an Aramaic name which also means "Rocky" (1 Cor 9:5; 15:5; Gal 1:18--2:14)
The NT does not mention the death of Peter, but later Christian tradition records
that he preached in Rome and was martyred there under Emperor Nero in 64 or 65 AD
He later comes to be regarded as the first "bishop" of Rome, based
partly on 1 Peter 5:1-2.
Associates of Peter:
James and John: these two "sons of Zebedee" are the "core
three" apostles during Jesus' public ministry; they sometimes accompany Jesus
alone, without the rest of "the twelve" (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 13:3; 14:33).
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Peter and John sometimes preach
and minister together (Acts 3:1-11; 4:1-23; 8:14-25).
Paul: although
Paul was not one of the first 12 apostles, he crossed paths with Peter several
times during his lifetime, in Jerusalem and Antioch (Acts 15; Gal 1:18--2:14),
possibly in Corinth (1 Cor 1:12; 3:22), and later probably also in Rome.
Silvanus:
the scribe or co-author of 1 Peter (5:12); a leader of the Jerusalem church
and missionary associate of Paul.
Mark: called
"my son" in 1 Peter 5:13; also from Jerusalem and associated with Paul.
The Authorship of 1 Peter and 2 Peter:
Many scholars think 1 Peter is pseudepigraphic, since "Babylon"
(5:13) is not used until after 70 AD, and since the Greek is much too good for
a simple Galilean fisherman.
Yet the good quality of this epistle's Greek could be due to Silvanus, Peter's
assistant and scribe who actually wrote it; so it could very well be authentic,
with only few later changes.
Most scholars agree that 2 Peter is pseudepigraphic, written long after Peter's
death, but still drawing upon his authority.
Much of 2 Peter quotes from the Letter of Jude, thus it must be written later
than Jude.
Important Themes of 1 Peter:
Christianity does not Threaten the Social Order of the Roman Empire:
Christianity was perceived by some as a dangerous, subversive, anti-Roman
religion:
as a "new" religion, it was suspect and/or despised by many
as monotheists, Christians refused to worship the emperor or other Greco-Roman
gods
Christian preaching of "freedom" for everyone might be misinterpreted
Christians are to be God's obedient children (1:14), a "chosen race,
royal priesthood, holy nation, God's own people" (2:9-10)
live holy lives, just as God is holy (1:15; 4:1-6)
love one another (i.e., other Christian believers) genuinely (1:22; 3:8;
4:8-11)
accept the authority of the emperor, governors, every human institution;
"honor" the emperor (2:13-17)
you are free, but do not misuse your freedom as a pretext for evil (2:16;
cf. Gal 5:13)
1 Peter also contains a Household
Code with instructions especially for slaves and wives (2:18--3:12);
it seems to presuppose mixed Christian/non-Christian families, esp. with non-Christian
masters/husbands
Gentiles who see the honorable lives of Christians might even become converts
(2:12; 3:1, 15-16)
Accept Innocent Suffering as Christians:
rejoice, even if you have to endure trials and testing (1:6-7; 4:12-13)
follow the example of Christ in suffering unjustly (1:11; 2:21-25; 3:18; 4:1;
5:9)
don't do anything to deserve punishment (2:20; 3:16-17; 4:15)
don't repay evil with evil, but by blessing and doing good to those who persecute
you (2:23; 3:9; 4:19)
but you are blessed if you are reviled or suffer "for the name of Christ"
or "as a Christian" (4:14, 16)
Eschatology: Maintain Hope for your Future Reward:
Jesus' resurrection gives us hope for an imperishable inheritance (1:3-4,
11), the salvation of our souls (1:5, 9)
judgment day, the "end of all things" is near, so be prepared (2:12;
4:5-7; 5:8)
focus is more on Theology than Christology: Jesus is the model
of obedient suffering, but God is the eschatological judge; the Christian community
is the "Household of God," rather than the "Body of Christ"
(as in Paul)
Use of Hebrew Scriptures:
1:16 quotes Lev 19:2 (cf. Matt 5:48; Luke 6:36)
1:24-25a quotes Isa 40:6-8
2:6-10 quotes Isa 28:16; Ps 118:22; Isa 8:14; Exod 19:6; Isa 43:20-21; Hos
1:6-9; 2:23
2:22-25 quotes Isa 53:4-9 (in different order)
3:10-12 quotes Ps 34:12-16
4:18 quotes Prov 11:31; and 5:5 quotes Prov 3:34
there are many other allusions to images and phrases from the Hebrew Bible
Use of Christian Traditions:
"love one another" (1:22; 3:8; 4:8) is a major theme of the Johannine
Jesus (cf. John 13:34-35; 15:12-17; 1John 3:11-14; Rom 12:10; etc.)
"you have been born anew of imperishable seed" (1:23) alludes to
John 1:13
"you are blessed if you are reviled for the name of Christ" (4:14)
alludes to the beatitudes of Jesus (Matt 5:11; Luke 6:22)
1:20-21 sounds like it may be an early Christian "confession" (a
brief profession of faith)
3:18-22 sounds like it may be a quotation of an early Christian hymn
Important Themes of 2 Peter:
Preserve the Apostolic Teachings, and Avoid False Teachers:
the whole letter is written in the form of a "Testament," as the
dying words of the apostle Peter (1:12-15; 3:1-2)
Peter was an eyewitness of Jesus, not someone who made up or passed on myths
(1:16-18)
but false prophets and false teachers will try to deceive the believers (2:1-3,
10-22; 3:3-4, 16)
Ethics: Live a Virtuous and Godly Life; Avoid Evil and Immorality:
build up your lives step-by-step: faith / goodness / knowledge
/ self-control / endurance / godliness / mutual affection / love (1:5-7)
the Lord will punish the unrighteous, but rescue the righteous (2:4-10)
avoid sinners and any kind of sin: slander, revelry, adultery, greed, etc.
(2:11-22)
live ethical holy lives as you wait for the coming of the Day of the Lord"
(1:3-4; 3:11-12)
Eschatology: Don't Be Deceived or Discouraged about the Delay of the Parousia:
some people ("scoffers") doubt that the Lord will come; the world
simply goes on (3:3-4)
time is irrelevant for God: "with the Lord one day is like a thousand
years, and a thousand years are like one day" (3:8)
God is not slow, but is patient, giving time for more people to repent (3:9)
the "day of the Lord" will come suddenly, unexpectedly, "like
a thief" (3:10a; cf. Matt 24:43-44; 1Thess 5:2)
the final destruction/purification of everything will occur with "fire"
(3:7, 10, 12)
finally, there will be "new heavens and a new earth" (3:13; cf.
Rev 21:1)
Use of Scriptures (Hebrew and Christian):
2:22a quotes the Hebrew Bible (Prov 26:11), while 2:22b quotes a non-biblical
proverb
several other passages (1:20-21; 2:4-10; 3:11-13; etc.) mention the "prophets"
or allude to other OT texts
1:17-18 reflects Peter's experience as an eyewitness to the Transfiguration
of Jesus (cf. Matt 17:1-8)
3:1-2 presupposes knowledge of the First Letter of Peter
3:15-16 indicates that the letters of Paul were revered as "scripture"
(since compared with the "other scriptures"); but they are also difficult
to understand, and thus misinterpreted by some people
much of 2 Peter 2-3 is closely based on the Letter of Jude:
Jude
4
5a
6-7
8-9
11
12
16
17-18
2 Peter
2:1-2
1:12
2:4, 6
2:10-11
2:15-16
2:13, 17
2:18
3:2-3
Questions for Review and Discussion:
What does 1 Peter say about how and why Christians might suffer?
What are several different connections between 1 Peter and the city of Rome?
What does 1 Peter teach us about how Christians should interact with civil/political
structures and authorities?
What does 2 Peter say about eschatology, about the coming "the Day of the
Lord"?
What are some indications that 2 Peter was written very late (in the late first
century or early second century)?
How do 1 Peter and 2 Peter treat the Hebrew Scriptures? How do they treat other
early Christian writings?
For Further Reading and Study:
Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York:
Doubleday, 1997. - "First Letter of Peter" (pp. 705-724), and "Second
Epistle (Letter) of Peter" (761-772).
Achtemeier, Paul J. 1 Peter. Hermeneia Commentary. Minneapolis:
Fortress, 1996.
Elliott, John H. A Home for the Homeless: A Social-Scientific Criticism
of 1 Peter. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990.
Bauckham, Richard J. 2 Peter and Jude. Word Bible Commentary. Waco/Dallas:
Word, 1983.
Neyrey, Jerome H. 2 Peter, Jude. Anchor Bible Commentary 37C. New
York: Doubleday, 1993.
![Statue of St. Peter holding a key and a scroll [in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome; by Giuseppe de Fabris, 1860]](../Images/Vat_St_Peter.jpg)
Introduction
to the Two NT Epistles attributed to Peter: