Difference between revisions of "First Epistle of Peter"

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'''''The First Epistle of Peter''''' is a letter in nearly every New Testament canon among religions that identify as Christian. 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 First Epistle of Peter''''' is a letter in nearly every New Testament canon among religions that identify as Christian. 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.
  
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 giver several reasons:
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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.
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* 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 First Peter, 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 first, that many New Testament scholars don't even believe that the letters were written by the same person.
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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.
  
 
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."

Revision as of 10:38, 29 April 2016

The First Epistle of Peter is a letter in nearly every New Testament canon among religions that identify as Christian. 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.

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.
  • 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.

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.

Reviews

  • 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.
  • 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).

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