Difference between revisions of "First Epistle of Peter"

From TheAlmightyGuru
Jump to: navigation, search
(9 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''''The First Epistle of Peter''''', often named simply, '''''I Peter''''', is a letter in nearly every New Testament canon among religions that identify as Christian.
+
'''The First Epistle of Peter''', often named simply, '''I Peter''' is the twenty-first book of the [[New Testament]]. It is a letter written in ancient Greek around 80-90 CE to early Christians. The author identifies himself as Peter, but most historians don't believe Peter wrote this letter. The letter explains how the followers of this religion should expect unfair mistreatment and suffering which is good because it brings them closer to Jesus, and extols the importance of blind obedience.
  
==Authorship==
+
==Authorship and Dating==
The author identifies himself as Peter the Apostle speaking to various churches in the region now known as Turkey. In general it talks about the expectation of suffering unfairly due to faith in this new religion and how that suffering brings you closer to Jesus who also suffered unfairly.
+
The author identifies himself as "Peter an Apostle of Jesus Christ." While church tradition holds that the author is Peter, one of Jesus' 12 disciples, the majority of New Testament scholars are in agreement that Peter did not write the letter. They give several reasons:
 
 
While church tradition holds that the author is Peter, one of Jesus' 12 disciples, the majority of New Testament scholars are in agreement that Peter did not write the letter. They give several reasons:
 
  
 
* Peter is described as an uneducated fisherman in the bible meaning he was most likely illiterate, but the letter is expertly written.
 
* Peter is described as an uneducated fisherman in the bible meaning he was most likely illiterate, but the letter is expertly written.
 
* Peter, being from Galilee, most likely spoke Aramaic or Hebrew, but the letter is written in scholarly Greek.
 
* Peter, being from Galilee, most likely spoke Aramaic or Hebrew, but the letter is written in scholarly Greek.
 +
* When quoting the [[Tanakh]], Peter would probably use the source he was familiar with (a Hebrew manuscript), instead, all quotes of the Tanakh come from the Greek [[Septuagint]], which he probably couldn't read.
 +
* In the Gospels, Peter is described as having been a close friend of Jesus, but this author doesn't mention a single shared event or anecdote from their travels.
 
* Historians date Peter's death to 64 or 67 CE, but they date the letter as having been written around 80-90 CE.
 
* Historians date Peter's death to 64 or 67 CE, but they date the letter as having been written around 80-90 CE.
  
In addition to Peter not being the author or this epistle, he also probably wasn't the author of the [[Second Epistle of Peter]], and, in fact, the letter carries such a different message and style than the second, that many New Testament scholars don't even believe that the two letters were written by the same person.
+
In addition to Peter not being the author of this epistle, historians don't believe he authored the [[Second Epistle of Peter]] either, and, in fact, the letter carries such a different message and style than the second, that many New Testament scholars don't believe the two letters were written by the same person.
  
 
==Content==
 
==Content==
 
There is a very popular verse among Christian apologists, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (I Peter 3:15), which is usually interpreted to mean that the believer should be able to argue in defense of God. However, they often forget the remainder of the verse, "But do this with gentleness and respect."
 
There is a very popular verse among Christian apologists, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (I Peter 3:15), which is usually interpreted to mean that the believer should be able to argue in defense of God. However, they often forget the remainder of the verse, "But do this with gentleness and respect."
  
Another interesting verse is (3:18-20) which describes Jesus, after dying, going to a prison for spirits and preaching to them. Some forms of Christianity use this and other verses to claim that after Jesus dies, he was briefly in Hell prior to his resurrection.
+
Another interesting verse is (3:18-20) which describes Jesus, after dying, going to a prison for spirits and preaching to them. Some forms of Christianity use this and other verses to claim that after Jesus dies, he was [[Harrowing of Hell|briefly in Hell]] prior to his resurrection.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
I have several translations of this book from various bibles, and have read it.
+
I have several translations of this book from various bibles, and have read the NIV translation.
  
 
==Reviews==
 
==Reviews==
Line 25: Line 25:
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* Over all, I found the letter to be pretty masochistic. While I admire the honor in suffering for what you believe to be true, it is tainted with all the sexism and bigotry in the letter.
+
* Over all, I found the letter to be pretty masochistic. While I admire the honor in suffering for what you believe to be true, it is tainted with sexism and bigotry.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
Line 36: Line 36:
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_of_Peter en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_of_Peter] - Wikipedia.
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_of_Peter en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_of_Peter] - Wikipedia.
 +
* [https://librivox.org/group/360 librivox.org/group/360] - LibriVox - King James Version.
 +
* [https://librivox.org/group/220 librivox.org/group/220] - LibriVox - American Standard Version.
 +
* [https://librivox.org/group/383 librivox.org/group/383] - LibriVox - World English Translation.
 +
* [https://librivox.org/group/364 librivox.org/group/364] - LibriVox - Weymouth New Testament.
  
  
Line 41: Line 45:
 
[[Category: Ancient Writing|Peter, First Epistle of]]
 
[[Category: Ancient Writing|Peter, First Epistle of]]
 
[[Category: Religion|Peter, First Epistle of]]
 
[[Category: Religion|Peter, First Epistle of]]
 +
[[Category: Christianity|Peter, First Epistle of]]
 
[[Category: Books I've Read|Peter, First Epistle of]]
 
[[Category: Books I've Read|Peter, First Epistle of]]

Revision as of 16:44, 18 December 2018

The First Epistle of Peter, often named simply, I Peter is the twenty-first book of the New Testament. It is a letter written in ancient Greek around 80-90 CE to early Christians. The author identifies himself as Peter, but most historians don't believe Peter wrote this letter. The letter explains how the followers of this religion should expect unfair mistreatment and suffering which is good because it brings them closer to Jesus, and extols the importance of blind obedience.

Authorship and Dating

The author identifies himself as "Peter an Apostle of Jesus Christ." While church tradition holds that the author is Peter, one of Jesus' 12 disciples, the majority of New Testament scholars are in agreement that Peter did not write the letter. They give several reasons:

  • Peter is described as an uneducated fisherman in the bible meaning he was most likely illiterate, but the letter is expertly written.
  • Peter, being from Galilee, most likely spoke Aramaic or Hebrew, but the letter is written in scholarly Greek.
  • When quoting the Tanakh, Peter would probably use the source he was familiar with (a Hebrew manuscript), instead, all quotes of the Tanakh come from the Greek Septuagint, which he probably couldn't read.
  • In the Gospels, Peter is described as having been a close friend of Jesus, but this author doesn't mention a single shared event or anecdote from their travels.
  • Historians date Peter's death to 64 or 67 CE, but they date the letter as having been written around 80-90 CE.

In addition to Peter not being the author of this epistle, historians don't believe he authored the Second Epistle of Peter either, and, in fact, the letter carries such a different message and style than the second, that many New Testament scholars don't believe the two letters were written by the same person.

Content

There is a very popular verse among Christian apologists, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (I Peter 3:15), which is usually interpreted to mean that the believer should be able to argue in defense of God. However, they often forget the remainder of the verse, "But do this with gentleness and respect."

Another interesting verse is (3:18-20) which describes Jesus, after dying, going to a prison for spirits and preaching to them. Some forms of Christianity use this and other verses to claim that after Jesus dies, he was briefly in Hell prior to his resurrection.

Status

I have several translations of this book from various bibles, and have read the NIV translation.

Reviews

Good

  • Nothing.

Bad

  • Over all, I found the letter to be pretty masochistic. While I admire the honor in suffering for what you believe to be true, it is tainted with sexism and bigotry.

Ugly

  • The letter praises people for blindly believing in things without evidence (1:7-9).
  • The author demands people submit themselves to all forms of worldly authority (2:13-14)!
  • The author tells slaves to submit themselves to their masters, even if they are cruel, because it will make you more godly (2:18)!
  • The author tells wives to submit to their husbands every desire, and that beauty doesn't come from braided hair, but from being quiet which is what God desires. He also says they they are the weaker partner (3:1-7).
  • The flood that killed everyone on earth except 8 people is described as being a saving baptism (3:20-21).

Links