THE WRITER OF THE EPISTLE 1. The scholars and the fathers of the Church have unanimously agreed that St. Peter was the writer. 2. St. Ireneaus was the first to use excerpts from the epistle mentioning St. Peter’s name. However, we find similar excerpts in the writings of many fathers that followed St. Ireneaus: the epistle of St. Barnabas0, the writings of St. Clement of Rome2, the book of the Shepherd by Hermas3, and the writings of St. Polycarp the Martyr. 3. St. Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Eusebius of Caesarea have mentioned that the epistle of St. Peter is widely accepted by the church. 3. St. Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Eusebius of Caesarea have mentioned that the epistle of St. Peter is widely accepted by the church. 0 Compare the epistle of Barnabas 1: 5 with 1 Pet. 1: 9 – 4:12 with 1: 17 –5: 1 with 1:2 – 5: 6 with 1: 11-16: 10 with 2: 5. 2 Compare the epistle of Clement, bishop of Rome (1968 ed.) with 7: 4 with 1 Pet. 1:19, 9: 4 with 3: 2-36: 2 with 2: 9-30:2 with 5: 5-49: 50 with 4: 8. 3 Refer to the book of “The Shepherd” by Hermas 3: 5, 4: 3,4 (under print) 3 4. The epistle is in harmony with the style of St. Peter’s sermons as mentioned in the book of Acts, for example: First: He referred to God as Judge, who judges with no partiality (Chapter 1:7 compared with Acts 10:34). Second: He emphasized the Father who raised Jesus Christ from the dead. (Chapter 1:21 compared with Acts 2:32 & 3:15, 10:40). Third: His declaration that the Lord Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. (Chapter 2:7 compared with Acts 4:11) 5. St. Peter did not know the Greek language; however, St. Mark and St. Selvanus were fluent, and they were very close to St. Peter. TO WHOM WAS IT WRITTEN? 1. It was written to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia in Asia Minor. (ch.1:1) 2. Some believe that it was not St. Peter’s intention to organize the regions by their official geographical locations, for example: Pontus was in the district of Galatia until the year 63 A.D and Phrygia, which occupies a large area in Asia Minor, was not mentioned. However, the carrier of the epistle could not have passed from Cappadocia to Asia without passing through Phrygia. Thus, it would have been impossible not to enter the region of Phrygia to reach the many intended readers of this epistle (Acts 18:23). Therefore, these names meant all of Asia Minor4. 3. On the Day of Pentecost, there were some from Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia. (Acts 2:9) 4. Pontus is located by “Bohrof El-Karm, which is the origin of Aquila. Since St. Peter started addressing his epistle to this district, Tertullian, St. Cyprian the Martyr, and St. Jerome called this epistle “the epistle to Pontus.” 4 Studies in First Epistle of St. Peter by Dr. Moris Tawadros. 4 5. Asia: the district of Asia under Asia Minor. This was the place where Aquila was born. (Acts 18:2) 6. Bithynia: which ,from Constantinople, was near Pontus. TIME AND PLACE OF ITS WRITING: 1. It was written between the years 63 and 67 A.D during the persecution of Nero. (54-68 A.D.) 2. It was written from Babylon (ch. 5:13). There were different opinions regarding the city of Babylon. All agreed that it was not the Babylon on the Euphrates River, for it had been destroyed by that time. Tradition does not mention that St. Peter had went there, and it is very unlikely that St. Mark and Silas had gone there in their travels. 3. Catholics claim that Babylon refers to Rome, relying on the fact that Babel mentioned in the Revelation refers to Rome. However, there is nothing that either supports or refutes this opinion: First: Why did not St. Peter mention the name “Rome”? Second: Historically, St. Peter did not arrive in Rome early enough before his martyrdom to allow him to write two epistles. Third: Arranging the provinces as mentioned in the epistle from East to West supports the idea that the epistle was written somewhere in the East. 4. The most likely option is that “Babylon” is Old Cairo, which was inhabited by a Jewish community and was a station for Roman soldiers. Historical traditions , which state that St. Mark came to Egypt in year 61 A.D. or 62 A.D, support this opinion. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EPISTLE: 1. It is very similar to some of St. Paul’s epistles especially Ephesians5, Romans6, Galatians7 and Titus8. We also find 5 1 Pet. 1: 1-3 & Eph. 1: 1-3, 1:20 & 1:4, 2:9 & 1:14, 3:22 & 1:21, 2:5 & 2:21,22, 3:1-6 &5:22-24 5 many similarities between this epistle and St. Paul’s to the Hebrews9. 2. Because he is the apostle to the Jews, the apostle of circumcision, St. Peter took many excerpts from the Old Testament. 3. St. Peter often refers to the words of the Lord Jesus because he was an eyewitness to what the Lord Jesus said and did. PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE: 1. To encourage the believers to accept suffering. This epistle is considered to be an excellent source of comfort, and every chapter is filled with a comforting message. 2. To reveal the practical, holy mutual relationships in the family, society, and the Church through faith in the Crucified Lord Jesus. OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE: 1. Salvation and sufferingsCh. 1 2. Our relation with Christ our RockCh. 2 3. Our social relations in the Lord Jesus Ch. 2 4. Our family relations in the Lord Jesus Ch. 3 5. Our relations with those suffering in the Lord JesusCh. 3 6. Tribulations and the life of holinessCh. 4 7. Our church relations in the Lord JesusCh. 5 6 1 Pet. 1:21 &Rom. 4:24, 4:1 &6:6,7, 2:24 &6:11, 5:1&8:18, 3:22&8:34, 2:5 &12:1, 1:14 & 12:2, 4:10,11 &12:3-8, 1:21&12:9,10, 3:8-12 &Rom. 1214-19, 3:13,14 & 13:1-4, 2:6,7&9:33. 7 1Pet.1:4 & Gal. 3:23, 2:16 &5:13 8 Compare 1Pet.1:1&Tit.1:4, 2:9&2:14, 1:3 &3:5, 1:8 &2:14 9 Studies in First Epistle of St. Peter by Dr. Moris Tawadros.
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