1 Peter Study Guide

Date:  Probably late first century, during local persecutions in Asia Minor but before a structured church hierarchy developed in the area (see the letters of Ignatius from early second-century Asia Minor).

Location:

• claims to be written to churches in several provinces in Asia Minor (1:1)
• claims to be written from Rome, called Babylon (5:12)
• actual provenance unknown but likely associated somehow with Asia Minor

The primary audience is comprised of people who exist on the margins of Roman society and probably do not have a high social status; nor do theyfeel completely at home in the Roman culture.  Moreover, he seems to be imbuing this social status with religious meaning.

• The author frequently refers to the audience as "aliens" or "exiles" living in the Roman Empire.

To the exiles of the Dispersion (literally diasporain Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia... (1:1)
If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, lie in reverent fear during the time of your exile. (1:17)
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.  (2:11)
• Exiles were a specific class of peoplein the Roman Empire.  These resident aliens had a specific legal standing, higher than slaves but lower than citizens (see Ehrman).  1 Peter seems to be talking to these types of people, since it uses the legal term for exilesóparoikos.
• 1 Peter implicitlycompares these exiles to the Israelites living in the diaspora during the period of the Babylonian exile (see 1:1 and 5:12)

The church leadership is not as structured or hierarchicalized as in the Pastorals.  The author refers to "elders" but not other church offices.
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge.... (5:1-2)

1 Peter presents a higher Christology, however:
He (Christ) was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.  (1:20)

Eschatology:  Although the author of 1 Peter expects Christians will be on earth long enough to experience suffering and maintain traditional social relationships, he  does believe that  the parousia is coming soon:
The end of all things is near...(4:7)

Like the author of Hebrews, the author of1 Peter thinks that Christianity is a superior fulfilment of Judaism's major elements:
...[L]ike living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (2:5)

The primary theological message gives salvific significance to the suffering experienced by the exiles.  1 Peter tells suffering and persecuted Christians that their suffering is redemptive; in suffering, they resemble Jesus Christ:
If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that?  But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval.  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.  (2:20-21)
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil.  For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God.  (3:17-18)
But rejoice, insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. (4:13)

Note that in 2:18-19, obedience to authorities, even the abusive authority of some slave owners, is placed in the context of the theological message of redemptive suffering.  Slaves who are beaten unjustly should remember that Christ also suffered unjustly; they should imitate Christ's example.
If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that?  But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval.  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.  (2:20-21)

! Peter also instructs its audience to obey all political authorities:
For the Lord's sake, accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish.  As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.  Honor everyone.  Love the family of believers.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor.  (2:13-17)

1 Peter delivers general admonishments to live ethically so that they do not incur further hostility.
Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.  (2:12)
 
 

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Bibliography
Ehrman, Bart D.  The New Testament:  A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. 2d ed.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 2000.
Duling, Dennis C., and Norman Perrin.  The New Testament:  Proclamation and Paranesis, Myth and History.  3rd ed.  Fort Worth:  Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1994.
Meeks, Wayne A., ed.  The HarperCollins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version.  New York:  HarperCollins, 1993.

Copyright 2001 by Caroline T. Schroeder