1 Peter (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

459 Pages·2016·19.7 MB·English

by  Peter H. Davids

THE NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMENTARY
ON THE
NEW TESTAMENT
General Editors
NED B. STONEHOUSE
(1946-1962)
F. F. BRUCE
(1962-1990)
GORDON D. FEE
(1990)
The First Epistle of
PETER
by
PETER H. DAVIDS
Professor of Biblical Studies and New Testament Canadian Theological
Seminary Regina, Saskatchewan Canada
To two men who each exemplify some of the pastoral concerns of 1 Peter
F. F. BRUCE
and
ERNST SCHRUPP

CONTENTS
Editor's Preface Viii
Author's Preface ix
Abbreviations xii
INTRODUCTION 1
1. THE IMPORTANCE OF 1 PETER 3
II. AUTHORSHIP 3
III. RECIPIENTS 7
IV. DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING 9
V. LITERARY GENRE, INCLUDING CATECHETICAL AND LITURGICAL
THEORIES 11
VI. THEOLOGY 14
A. Eschatological Focus 15
1. The Temporal Axis of Apocalyptic 15
2. The Spatial Axis ofApocalyptic 16
B. Holiness 17
1. Personal Holiness 17
2. Social Holiness 17
3. Communal Holiness 18
C. Hope 19
D. Soteriology 19
E. Community 20
F. Relationship to the World 21
G. Trinitarian Images in 1 Peter 22
H. Suffering in 1 Peter 23
VII. PETER AND HIS SOURCES 23
VII. PETER AND HIS SOURCES 23
VIII. OUTLINE 28
IX. TEXT AND TRANSLATION 29
Excursus: SUFFERING IN 1 PETER AND THE NEW TESTAMENT 30
A. Introduction 30
B. The Vocabulary of Suffering 30
C. The Old Testament 32
D. The New Testament 36
E. Church History 41
F. Conclusion 43
TEXT, EXPOSITION, AND NOTES 45
I. GREETING (1:1-2) 45
II. FOUNDATIONAL THEMES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (1:3-2:10) 50
A. Opening Thanksgiving (1:3-12) 50
B. Call to Holiness (1:13-25) 65
1. Obedient Children (1:13-16) 65
2. Costly Redemption (1:17-21) 69
3. Imperishable Seed (1:22-25) 76
4. Christian Identity (2:1-10) 79
III. RELATING TO SOCIETAL INSTITUTIONS (2:11-4:11) 94
A. Introduction: Exhortation to an Ethical Life-style (2:11-12) 94
B. Propriety vis-a-vis the State (2:13-17) 97
C. Propriety of Slaves vis-a-vis Masters (2:18-25) 105
D. Propriety of Spouses vis-a-vis an Unbelieving Spouse (3:1-7) 114
E. Summary Call to Virtue and Suffering (3:8-22) 123
1. General Introduction (3:8-12) 124
2. The Example of Jesus (3:13-22) 128
F. Exhortation to Firmness in the End Times (4:1-11) 147
IV. COMING TO GRIPS WITH CHRISTIAN SUFFERING (4:12-5:11) 163
A. Suffering as a Christian (4:12-19) 163
B. The Inner-Church Response to Suffering (5:1-5) 174
C. Final Exhortation on Standing Firm under Persecution (5:6-11) 185
V. CONCLUSION AND GREETINGS (5:12-14) 197
BIBLIOGRAPHY 207
INDEXES
INDEXES
1. SUBJECTS 243
II. NAMES 245
III. SCRIPTURES 248
IV. HEBREW AND GREEK WORDS DISCUSSED 266