The First Epistle
of

PETER

Peter H. Davids

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Copyright © 1990 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Davids, Peter H.

The first epistle of Peter / by Peter H. Davids.

p. cm.

(The New international commentary on the New Testament)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-8028-2347-5

1. Bible. N.T. Peter, 1st—Commentaries.

I. Title. II. Series.

BS2795.3.D32 1990

227´.9207—dc20 90–32557

CIP

To two men who each exemplify
some of the pastoral concerns of 1 Peter

F. F. BRUCE
and
ERNST SCHRUPP

CONTENTS

Title Page

Contents

Editor’s Preface

Author’s Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

i. The Importance of 1 Peter

ii. Authorship

iii. Recipients

iv. Date and Place of Writing

v. Literary Genre, Including Catechetical and Liturgical Theories

vi. Theology

A. Eschatological Focus

1. The Temporal Axis of Apocalyptic

2. The Spatial Axis of Apocalyptic

B. Holiness

1. Personal Holiness

2. Social Holiness

3. Communal Holiness

C. Hope

D. Soteriology

E. Community

F. Relationship to the World

G. Trinitarian Images in 1 Peter

H. Suffering in 1 Peter

vii. Peter and His Sources

viii. Outline

ix. Text and Translation

Excursus: Suffering in 1 Peter and the New Testament

A. Introduction

B. The Vocabulary of Suffering

C. The Old Testament

D. The New Testament

E. Church History

F. Conclusion

TEXT, EXPOSITION, AND NOTES

i. Greeting (1:1–2)

ii. Foundational Themes of the Christian Life (1:3–2:10)

A. Opening Thanksgiving (1:3–12)

B. Call to Holiness (1:13–25)

1. Obedient Children (1:13–16)

2. Costly Redemption (1:17–21)

3. Imperishable Seed (1:22–25)

4. Christian Identity (2:1–10)

iii. Relating to Societal Institutions (2:11–4:11)

A. Introduction: Exhortation to an Ethical lifestyle (2:11–12)

B. Propriety Vis-À-Vis the State (2:13–17)

C. Propriety of Slaves Vis-À-Vis Masters (2:18–25)

D. Propriety of Spouses Vis-À-Vis an Unbelieving Spouse (3:1–7)

E. Summary Call to Virtue and Suffering (3:8–22)

1. General Instruction (3:8–12)

2. The Example of Jesus (3:13–22)

F. Exhortation to Firmness in the End Times (4:1–11)

iv. Coming to Grips with Christian Suffering (4:12–5:11)

A. Suffering as a Christian (4:12–19)

B. The Inner-Church Response to Suffering (5:1–5)

C. Final Exhortation on Standing Firm under Persecution (5:6–11)

v. Conclusion and Greetings (5:12–14)

Bibliography

INDEXES

i. Subjects

ii. Names

iii. Scriptures

iv. Hebrew and Greek Words Discussed

Editor’s Preface

It was part of the original plan of the New International Commentary on the New Testament that one volume should be devoted to the two Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude. The authorship of this volume had been assigned to a well-known scholar by Dr. N. B. Stonehouse before his death in 1962.

Unforeseen hindrances prevented the work from being completed as planned. At last, in 1981, Dr. Peter H. Davids accepted ...