WORD

BIBLICAL

COMMENTARY

VOLUME 49

1 Peter

J. RAMSEY MICHAELS

General Editors

Bruce M. Metzger

David A. Hubbard†

Glenn W. Barker†

Old Testament Editor

John D. W. Watts

New Testament Editor

Ralph P. Martin

WORD BOOKS, PUBLISHER • DALLAS, TEXAS

Word Biblical Commentary

1 Peter

Copyright © 1988 by Word, Incorporated

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Main entry under title:

Word biblical commentary

Includes bibliographies.

I. Bible—Commentaries Collected Works.

BS491.2.W67 220.7´7 81-71768

ISBN 0-8499-0248-7 (vol. 49) AACR2

The author’s own translation of the Scripture text appears in italic type under the heading Translation.

In memory of Donald Fullerton

who instructed me years ago

in the facts of my redemption

(1 Peter 1:18, 19)

Table of Contents

Editorial Preface

Author’s Preface

Abbreviations

Main Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

Historical Attestation

Structure and Integrity

Sources and Literary Affinities

Scripture

Gospel Tradition

Rhetorical and Hymnic Forms

Literary Affinities

Audience: Gentile Christians

Genre: An Apocalyptic Diaspora Letter to “Israel”

Implications of Audience and Genre: The Jewishness of 1 Peter

Are They Proselytes?

Are They Priests?

Are they God-fearers?

Are They Noachians?

What About The Real Jews?

Authorship and Date

Peter in the New Testament

The Death of Peter

Peter and 1 Peter

Is Peter the Author?

Theological Contributions

God in 1 Peter

Christ in 1 Peter

Revelation

Salvation

Ethics and Salvation

The Spirit in 1 Peter

1 PETER: TEXT AND COMMENTARY

Greeting (1:1–2)

Reborn to Hope (1:3–5)

Rejoicing and Faith (1:6–9)

The Witnesses of Salvation (1:10–12)

Hope and Holiness (1:13–21)

Eternal Love (1:22–25)

Spiritual Milk (2:1–3)

The New Building (2:4–10)

Good Conduct among the Gentiles (2:11–12)

The Civil Obligation (2:13–17)

Servants (2:18–25)

Wives and Husbands (3:1–7)

Love of Enemies (3:8–12)

A Promise of Vindication (3:13–17)

The Journey to Heaven (3:18–22)

Freedom from Sin (4:1–6)

Mutuality in the Congregations (4:7–11)

The Fiery Trial (4:12–19)

Appeal to Elders (5:1–5)

Humility and Exaltation (5:6–11)

Conclusion and Final Greetings (5:12–14)

Indexes

Editorial Preface

The launching of the Word Biblical Commentary brings to fulfillment an enterprise of several years’ planning. The publishers and the members of the editorial board met in 1977 to explore the possibility of a new commentary on the books of the Bible that would incorporate several distinctive features. Prospective readers of these volumes are entitled to know what such features were intended to be; whether the aims of the commentary have been fully achieved time alone will tell.

First, we have tried to cast a wide net to include as contributors a number of scholars from around the world who not only share our aims, but are in the main engaged in the ministry of teaching in university, college, and seminary. They represent ...