Epistles of Peter
First Epistle of Peter
This description of the First of the Epistles of Peter is from Easton's Bible Dictionary.
Peter, First Epistle of: This epistle is addressed to "the strangers scattered abroad", i.e., to the Jews of the Dispersion (the Diaspora).
Its object is to confirm its readers in the doctrines they had been already taught. Peter has been called "the apostle of hope," because this epistle abounds with words of comfort and encouragement fitted to sustain a "lively hope." It contains about thirty-five references to the Old Testament.
It was written from Babylon, on the Euphrates, which was at this time one of the chief seats of Jewish learning, and a fitting centre for labour among the Jews. It has been noticed that in the beginning of his epistle Peter names the provinces of Asia Minor in the order in which they would naturally occur to one writing from Babylon. He counsels
- to steadfastness and perseverance under persecution (1 Peter 1.1-2:10);
- to the practical duties of a holy life (1 Peter 2:11-3:13);
- he adduces the example of Christ and other motives to patience and holiness (1 Peter 3:14-4:19); and
- concludes with counsels to pastors and people (1 Peter 5:1-14).
Second Epistle of Peter
This description of the Second of the Epistles of Peter is from Easton's Bible Dictionary.
Peter, Second Epistle of: The question of the authenticity of this epistle has been much discussed, but the weight of evidence is wholly in favour of its claim to be the production of the apostle whose name it bears. It appears to have been written shortly before the apostle's death (2 Peter 1:14). This epistle contains eleven references to the Old Testament. It also contains (2 Peter 3:15,16) a remarkable reference to Paul's epistles. Some think this reference is to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.
A few years ago, among other documents, a parchment fragment, called the "Gospel of Peter," was discovered in a Christian tomb at Akhmim in Upper Egypt. Origen (obiit A.D. 254), Eusebius (obiit 340), and Jerome (obiit 420) refer to such a work, and hence it has been concluded that it was probably written about the middle of the second century. It professes to give a history of our Lord's resurrection and ascension. While differing in not a few particulars from the canonical Gospels, the writer shows plainly that he was acquainted both with the synoptics and with the Gospel of John. Though apocryphal, it is of considerable value as showing that the main facts of the history of our Lord were then widely known.
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