The First Letter of Peter : A Commentary on the Greek Text

The New Testament book known as The First Letter of Peter describes how Christians should relate to the world. Specifically, it suggests how Christians should define themselves against a powerful and sometimes hostile culture. Written to first-century Christians in Asia Minor who were suffering from religious persecution, this letter brings Biblical and extra-Biblical traditions together to forge an original and unique pastoral strategy. At the same time, in its depiction of practical piety, the letter is an impressive display of early Christian theology. Here, one of the world s authorities on Peter provides a verse by verse interpretation of First Peter that is both highly readable and deeply informed. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 12 Part I. Introduction......Page 24 §1 The "Fiery Ordeal" (1 Peter 4:12) The Situation of Suffering......Page 25 §2 The "Foreigners" (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11) The Theological Interpretation of the Situation......Page 36 §3 "In Order to Encourage and to Testify" (1 Peter 5:12) The Arrangement of the Letter......Page 40 §4 "Rebirth" and "People of God" The Crossing of the Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions of Soteriology......Page 46 §5 "For It Is Written" (1 Peter 1:16) 1 Peter and Tradition......Page 48 Unity......Page 51 Form......Page 53 Author......Page 55 Date of Composition......Page 62 Place of Composition......Page 63 Addressees......Page 65 §7 The Influence of First Peter......Page 66 Part II. Exegesis......Page 70 I. Prescript: The Addressees as Foreigners and People of God 1:1-2......Page 71 A. Rebirth 1:3-2:3......Page 83 (i) Praise over God's Salvific Action 1:3-5......Page 84 (ii) Rejoicing and Trial 1:6-7......Page 102 (iii) Faith without Sight 1:8-9......Page 108 (iv) The Prophets 1:10-12......Page 115 (v) Summary 1 Peter 1:3-12......Page 118 2. Rebirth and the New Way of Life 1:13-2:3......Page 119 (i) "Obligating Hope" 1:13......Page 122 (ii) Obedience as a Counterpart to God's Holiness 1:14-16......Page 124 (iii) God, the Father and Savior 1:17-21......Page 130 (iv) Love as the Proof of New Life 1:22-25......Page 143 (v) New Birth and New Beginning 2:1-3......Page 147 B. The Regenerate as God's People 2:4-10......Page 154 1. The Building Up into a Spiritual House 2:4-8......Page 156 2. The Foreigners as God's People 2:9-10......Page 162 3. Summary 1:3-2:10......Page 166 III. Freedom and Obedience: Foreigners in the Society 2:11-5:11......Page 167 1. Living as Foreigners 2:11-12......Page 168 2. New Way of Life within the Society 2:13-4:6......Page 173 (i) Subordination under Authority as Witness 2:13-3:12......Page 174 (a) Subordination under the Government 2:13-17......Page 180 (b) Subordination and the dignity of the Slaves 2:18-25......Page 188 (c) The Exhortation to Wives and Husbands 3:1-7......Page 200 (d) Closing Exhortation to All 3:8-12......Page 207 (e) Summary 1 Peter 2:11-3:12......Page 210 (ii) Hostility of the Environment as Challenge 3:13-4:6......Page 214 (a) The Blessing of Those Who Suffer 3:13-17......Page 215 (b) The Christological Reason 3:18-22......Page 220 (c) Being Different as Scandal 4:1-6......Page 233 3. Exhortation to Love One Another 4:7-11......Page 239 1. Suffering as Fellowship with Christ 4:12-19......Page 244 2. Leadership and Service within the Community 5:1-5......Page 253 (i) The Closing Exhortation 5:6-9......Page 266 (ii) Encouragement and Closing Doxology 5:10-11......Page 274 IV. Letter Closing 5:12-14......Page 275 Bibliography......Page 282 Scripture Index......Page 318 Introduction -- The Fiery Ordeal (1 Peter 4:12) : The Situation Of Suffering -- The Foreigners (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11) : The Theological Interpretation Of The Situation -- In Order To Encourage And To Testify (1 Peter 5:12) : The Arrangement Of The Letter -- Rebirth And People Of God : The Crossing Of The Vertical And Horizontal Dimensions Of Soteriology -- For It Is Written (1 Peter 1:16) : 1 Peter And Tradition -- Peter, Apostle Of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:1) : Questions Of Introduction -- The Influence Of First Peter -- Exegesis -- Prescript : The Addressees As Foreigners And People Of God 1:1-2 -- The Reason For The Foreignness : Rebirth And The People Of God 1:3-2:10 -- Rebirth 1:3-2:3 -- Introductory Eulogy : Rebirth And Joy In Suffering 1:3-12 -- Rebirth And The New Way Of Life 1:13-2:3 -- The Regenerate As God's People 2:4-10 -- The Building Up Into A Spiritual House 2:4-8 -- The Foreigners As God's People 2:9-10 -- Summary 1:3-2:10 -- Freedom And Obedience : Foreigners In The Society 2:11-5:11 -- Exhortation And Comfort 2:11-4:11 -- Living As Foreigners 2:11-12 -- New Way Of Life Within The Society 2:13-4:6 -- Exhortation To Love One Another 4:7-11 -- Comfort And Exhortation 4:12-5:11 -- Suffering As Fellowship With Christ 4:12-19 -- Leadership And Service Within The Community 5:1-5 -- Final Exhortation And Comfort 5:6-11 -- Letter Closing 5:12-14 -- Excursus 1: Hope -- Excursus 2: Imperishable, Undefiled, Unfading : The Reception And Transfomation Of Metaphysical Attributes Of God In 1 Peter -- Excursus 3: Temptation/[peripasmos] -- Excursus 4: The Soul And Salvation Of The Soul In 1 Peter -- Excursus 5: The Desires -- Excursus 6: God As Judge -- Excursus 7: Rebirth -- Excursus 8: The Context Of The Exhortation To Subordination -- Excursus 9: Subject And Responsible Citizen -- Excursus 10: Humility/[tapeinofrosunh] -- Excursus 11: Devil/satan. Reinhard Feldmeier ; Translated From The German By Peter H. Davids. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 259-293) And Indexes. The New Testament book known as The First Letter of Peter describes how Christians should relate to the world. Specifically, it suggests how Christians should define themselves against a powerful and sometimes hostile culture. Written to first-century Christians in Asia Minor who were suffering from religious persecution, this letter brings Biblical and extra-Biblical traditions together to forge an original and unique pastoral strategy. At the same time, in its depiction of practical piety, the letter is an impressive display of early Christian theology. Here, one of the world's authorities on Peter provides a verse by verse interpretation of First Peter that is both highly readable and deeply informed. -- "Expository Times" The New Testament book known as “The First Letter of Peter” describes how Christians should relate to the world. Specifically, it suggests how Christians should define themselves against a powerful and sometimes hostile culture. This volume provides a verse by verse interpretation of First Peter that is both highly readable and deeply informed.