First Peter - Lorin

But when someone like the Apostle Peter announces the end is near, we need to take a serious look at
what he is saying. Through divine inspiration he has insights that we don’t have. So there’s much to profit from
examining his words to understand the idea of the end of the world.
I. Context and Background 1
Background issues do play an important role in interpreting these verses, both the historical and the literary.
a. Historical
External History. In the UBS 4th rev. edition of the Greek New Testament no text variant readings are
listed. This indicates that in the minds of the editorial committee of this printed Greek text none of the variations
of readings were considered important enough to impact the translation of these verses. In the Nestle-Aland
27th rev. edition of the Greek text eight variations of readings are listed, reflecting mostly stylistic changes to
make the text more contemporary and easier to understand.
These include the following. In verse seven εἰς προσευχάς (‘for prayers’) is changed to εἰς τὰς προσευχάς
(‘for prayers’), but this doesn’t change the meaning. In verse eight, πρὸ πάντων (‘above all’) is changed to πρὸ
δὲ πάντων (‘but above all’). Also εἰς ἑαυτοὺς (‘for one another’) is changed to εἰς αὐτοὺς (‘for them’). Additionally,
καλύπτει (‘covers’) is switched to καλύψει (‘will cover’). In verse nine, γογγυσμοῦ (‘complaining’) is changed to
γογγυσμῶν (‘complaints’). In verse eleven, ἧς χορηγεῖ ὁ θεός (‘which God supplies’) is re-written ὡς χορηγεῖ ὁ
θεός (‘as God supplies’). Also δοξάζηται ὁ θεὸς (‘God may be praised’) becomes ὁ θεὸς δοξάζηται, without chang-
ing the meaning. Finally, ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος (‘glory and power’) is
re-written by dropping one or the other nouns. As is clear from the
above these are minor changes that do not alter the meaning of
the text, and these changes were made several centuries after the
original writing of the text.
Thus we can interpret the text in the confidence that it reflects
the original writing by Silas from Peter’s dictation.
Internal History. The paraenetical nature of these verses
does not stress directly any spatial / time issue. Indirectly the opening
declaration that “the end of everything is near” raises a temporal issue
and possibly a spatial issue. But the primary thrust of this statement
is more theological than purely temporal or spatial. So we will treat
it in detail under the exegesis section below.
b. Literary
Literary Form (Genre). The literary genre of vv. 7-11 is multilayered.
The text begins with a theological declaration (v. 7a) and
then uses a series of admonitions (vv. 7b-11) to draw implications
from the declaration (οὖν). 2 Thus the dominant pattern is paraenesis
as found in vv. 7b-11, but the form here doesn’t develop into any
recognizable sub-genre form. The ideas expressed are common to
ancient Christian exhortation, but Peter has shaped these into his
Outline of Contents
in First Peter:
Praescriptio: 1:1-2
• Superscriptio, 1:1a
• Adscriptio, 1:1b-2a
• Salutatio, 1:2b
Proem: 1:3-12
• Core, 1:3a
• Expansion, 1:3b-12
Body: 1:13-5:11
• Holy living 1:13-2:10
• Ideals 1:13-25
• Privileges 2:1-10
• Obligations 2:11-3:12
• Civic 2:11-17
• Haustafeln 2:18-3:7
• Social 3:8-12
• Persecution 3:13-5:11
• Encouragement 3:13-4:11
• Explanation 4:12-19
• Proper Conduct 5:1-11
Conclusio: 5:12-14
• Sender Verification, 5:12
• Greetings, 5:13-14a
• Benedictio, 5:14b
1Serious study of the Bible requires careful analysis of the background and setting of the scripture passage. Failure to do this
leads to interpretive garbage and possibly to heresy. Detailed study of the background doesn’t always answer all the questions, but it
certainly gets us further along toward correct understanding of both the historical and contemporary meanings of a text. This serious
examination of both the historical and literary background of every passage will be presented in summary form with each of the
studies.
2 “The form (a series of staccato-like injunctions) and content of these verses suggest reliance on a broad stream of early
Christian hortatory tradition (Goppelt 1993, 293–94), which, however, is structured and theologically grounded in a fashion unique
to 1 Peter. The connection and unity of these injunctions are created by means of an internal series of link-words (pantōn/pantōn
[vv 7a/b]; agapē/philoxenoi [vv 8/9]; eis autous/eis allēlous/eis autous [vv 8/9/10]; diakonountes/diakonei [vv 10/11]; theou/theou/
theos/theos [vv 10c/11a/11b/11c]; doxazetai/doxa [vv 11b/c]) as well as by the symmetry of vv 11a and 11b. A comprehensive stress
on “all” (vv 7, 8, 11) frames the unit as a whole, and a final doxology marks a minor conclusion to this part of the letter.” [John H.
Elliott, 1 Peter: A New Translation With Introduction and Commentary (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 743-
44.]
Bible Study: Page 214