1 Peter, Hermeneia: A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible

470 Pages·1996·170.26 MB·English

by  Paul J. Achtemeier

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"With more than twenty volumes in print at this point, it is
evident that Hermeneia must be regarded as the premier
biblical commentary series in the English-speaking world
today. While some other biblical commentary series have
suffered from the uneven quality of the contributions,
the individual volumes of Hermeneia are notable for their
uniformly high caliber. The quality of scholarship throughout
is first-rate. The Hermeneia commentaries have set a
standard of excellence in biblical interpretation that future
series will be hard-pressed to meet."
-Michael L. Barre
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
"Hermeneia is offered to us just at the right moment,
just as scholarship has reached a summation of a whole
period of critical reflection. These commentaries, for the
foreseeable future, will be the benchmark and reference
point for all future work. I anticipate that the basic,
technical work in this research will become generative of
many other studies and commentaries that can build on
this scholarship as a completely reliable baseline. The
series offers the very best available. We are, moreover,
fortunate to have a press willing to undertake such a
formidable publishing project."
-Walter Brueggemann
Columbia Theological Seminary
"The Hermeneia Commentaries are an excellent series,
featuring many notable twentieth-century biblical scholars.
Taken together, Hermeneia represents some of the
best recent biblical scholarship. The Commentaries are a
pleasure to handle and easy to use. I have no hesitation
in recommending them for students."
-Professor M.D. Hooker
University of Cambridge, Faculty of Divinity
"The Hermeneia series has established itself among the
most useful tools available for biblical research, whether by
professionals or by laypersons. These commentaries
present solid scholarship, but the editors have not been
afraid to include some fresh, even venturesome interpreta
tions. Excellence in content is matched by handsome
design and production; the books are a pleasure to use."
-Wayne A. Meeks
Yale University
"Hermeneia has established itself as one of the leading
international technical commentary series. The depth and
breadth of the various authors' grasp both of historical
context and of contemporary literature makes the volumes
an unsurpassed resource for background, informed
critique, insightful exegesis, and often stimulating
exposition. Serious students of biblical texts will want to
consult Hermeneia and where possible to have the
relevant volumes close to hand."
-James D. G. Dunn
University of Durham
"The Hermeneia commentary series is a distinguished
contribution to New Testament scholarship. Some of
its earlier volumes-for example, M. Dibelius and H.
Greeven on James-represent classic positions that must
be taken into account by all other interpreters. The newer
volumes enrich the usefulness of the series for serious
scholars."
-Luke Timothy Johnson
Emory University

1 Peter
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Hermeneia
-A Critical
and Historical
Commentary
on the Bible
Old Testament Editorial Board
Frank Moore Cross, Harvard University, chairman
Klaus Baltzer, University of Munich
Paul D. Hanson, Harvard University
S. Dean McBride, Jr., Union Theological Seminary in Virginia
Peter Machinist, Harvard University
Susan iditch, Amherst College
Christopher R. Seitz, Yale University
Roland E. Murphy, 0. Carm., emeritus
New Testament Editorial Board
Helmut Koester, Harvard University, chairman
Harold W. Attridge, University of Notre Dame
Adela Yarbro Collins, University of Chicago
Eldon jay Epp, Case Western Reserve University
James M. Robinson, Claremont Graduate School
1 Peter
A Commentary on First Peter
by Paul]. Achtemeier
Edited by Eldon Jay Epp
Fortress
Press
Minneapolis
1 Peter
A Commentary on First Peter
Copyright@) 1996 Augsburg Fortress
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in
critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be
reproduced in any manner without prior written
permission from the publisher. Write to: Permissions,
Augsburg Fortress, 426 S. Fifth St., Box 1209,
Minneapolis, MN 55440.
Scripture quotations from the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, © 1971,
1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of Churches of Christ in the United
States of America are used by permission.
Cover and interior design: Kenneth Hiebert
Production management by Publisher's WorkGroup
Typesetting by Polebridge Press
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Achtemeier, Paul].
I Peter / by Paul J. Achtemeier : edited by Eldon
Jay Epp.
p. em. - (Hermeneia-a critical and
historical commentary on the Bible)
Includes bibliographical•·eferences and indexes.
ISBN 0-8006-6030-7 (alk. paper)
I. Bible. N.T. Peter, 1st-Criticism,
interpretation, etc.
I. Epp, Eldon jay. II. Title. Ill. Series.
BS2795.2.A24 1996 95-19564
CIP
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum
requirements of American National Standard
for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for
Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z329.48-1984.
Manufactured ih the U.S.A. AF 1-6030
00 99 98 97 96 4 5 6 8 9 10
FOR
RACHEL, SARAH, AND JOSHUA
MICHAEL AND ROBERT
AND THEIR PARENTS
The Author
Paul]. Achtemeier is the Herbert Worth and Annie H.
Jackson Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Union
Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia. Born in
Lincoln, Nebraska, he received his theological education
at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and has
done additional study at Princeton Theological Semi
nary, the University of Heidelberg, and the University
of Basel. He has taught New Testament at Elmhurst
College, his alma mater, at Lancaster Theological
Seminary, and, since 1973, at Union Theological
Seminary in Virginia. He has been a visiting professor at
several seminaries and universities in North America and
Europe, and has received a number of honors, including
five appointments as Staley Foundation Distinguished
Scholar.
Active in learned societies, he has served as Executive
Secretary and as President of the Society of Biblical
Literature, and is the first Protestant scholar to have
been elected President of the Catholic Biblical Society of
America. He is also an elected member of the American
Theological Society and the international Studiorum
Novi Testamenti Societas.
Professor Achtemeier has contributed to several major
aspects of New Testament scholarship in his thirteen
books and numerous scholarly articles as well as his
editing of scholarly journals and reference books. He is
General Editor of Harper's Bible Dictionary, new edition
(1985), and Consulting Editor for Harper's Bible Com
mentary (1985-88). Among his Fortress Press books are
The Quest for Unity in the New Testament Church (1987) and
Mark, second edition, Proclamation Commentaries
{1986).
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