Petrine Epistles Key Facts Author Peter the apostle

Petrine Epistles

Key Facts • Author: Peter the apostle • Date: early to mid 60 s • Provenance: Rome • Destinations: Northern Asia Minor

Key Facts • • Occasion: • 1 Peter: persecution of the church • 2 Peter: false teaching in the church Purpose: • 1 Peter: Encourage Christians to stay on course • 2 Peter: Combat false teaching

1 Peter • Authorship - generally no major issue, except: i. Does Peter know greek well enough? ii. Is there persecution during Peter’s lifetime? by the state or other forms of persecution that is localised? iii. Could reference to “Babylon” 5: 13 and “elder” in 5: 1 post-70?

1 Peter • Authorship - generally no major issue, except: iv. Is Peter dependent on Paul, especially Romans and Ephesians? v. What about the destination in Asia Minor where it could not be evangelised till later? - See Acts 2, Edict of Claudius, Paul’s missionary journeys makes Asia Minor possible

1 Peter: Destination • Northern Asia Minor (Turkey) • Jews? diaspora in 1: 1. • Possibly Jews and Gentiles - see 1: 18; 4: 3 (unlikely for Peter to refer to Judaism this way)

1 Peter: Occasion • Persecution: • 1: 16 - various trials • 2: 19 - unjust suffering • 3: 16; 4: 4 - slandered/accused • 4: 12 - fiery ordeal • 4: 13 - sufferings of the Messiah • 4: 19 - suffering according to God’s will

1 Peter: Themes 1)Christian suffering and the end time • suffering and eternal destiny (1: 1; 1: 3; 1: 13, 2021) • Christ serves as example (2: 21 -25; 4: 1 -2)

1 Peter: Themes 2. Identity of the people of God 1. reminiscent of OT Israel --> continuity of Church and OT people of God (2: 9) 1. Isa 43: 20; Deut 7: 6; 10: 15 - Chosen race 2. Ex 19: 6; 23: 22 - Royal priesthood, holy nation, a people for his possession 3. Isa 42: 12; 43: 21 - to proclaim his praises 4. Hos 1: 10; 2: 23 - once not a people, now God’s people

1 Peter: Themes 2. Identity of the people of God 2. believers are pilgrims --> diaspora (1: 1 -2); aliens and temporary residents (1: 17; 2: 11)

1 Peter: Themes 3. Submission to Authorities • 2: 13 -3: 7

2 Peter • Authorship seriously challenged • Close parallel to Jude • Stylistic differences between 1 Peter and 2 Peter

2 Peter • Date: most likely towards the end of Peter’s life (1: 14 -15)

2 Peter • Provenance: no mention in the letter, but likely Rome

2 Peter • Destination: not mentioned. • 2 Pet 3: 1 - clues it could be same destination as 1 Peter

2 Peter: Themes • Christian virtues (1: 3 -21)

2 Peter: Themes • 2 Peter 1: Remember, remember • 2 Peter 2: Beware, beware • 2 Peter 3: Behold, behold

Johannine Epistles

1 John • Author: John, son of Zebedee • Uses simple vocabulary - vocabulary of 303 words in all 3 Johannine letters

1 -3 John • Date: after Gospel of John, 80 s-90 s

1 -3 John • 1 John - letter to various groups • 2 & 3 John - letters to individual

1 John • Occasion • recent departure of false teachers (2: 19), and the churches are in need of instruction

1 John • False teachers: • 1 John 2: 22 -23; 30 -31 - denial that Jesus is the Messiah • Do not know God • Do not conduct themselves ethically (not loving one another) • Reject apostolic witness (1: 1 -5)

1 John • 1: 1 -4 - prologue • 1: 5 -2: 27 - True Believers • 2: 28 -3: 24 - Ethics • 4: 1 -5: 12 - Doctrine • 5: 13 -21 - Epilogue

2 John • the elect lady and her children • a woman and her offspring? • figurative reference to a church? - more likely (see vv. 5; 7 -11)

2 John • Occasion: return of delegation sent by the church to the apostle

3 John • my dear friend Gaius • letter of recommendation for Demetrius (vv. 11 -12) and warning against Diotrephes (vv 910).