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Peter Place Written: Babylon Completed: c. 62-64 C.E. As the early Christians declared abroad the excellencies of God, the Kingdom work prospered and increased throughout the Roman Empire. However, some misunderstandings arose concerning this zealous group. For one thing, their religion had originated from Jerusalem and from amoung the Jews, and some confused them with the politically minded Jewish zealots who chafed under the Roman yoke and were a constant source of trouble to local governors. Moreover, the Christians were different in that they refused to sacrifice to the emperor or to mix in with the pagan religious ceremonies of the day. They were spoken against and had to undergo many trials on account of the faith. At the right time, and with forethought denoting divine inspiration, Peter wrote his first letter encouraging the Christians to stand firm and counseling them on how to conduct themselves under Nero, the Caesar of that time. The first letter proved to be most timely in view of the storm of persecution that broke out almost immediately thereafter. Peter's writership is established by the opening words. Moreover, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Tertullian all quote the first letter, naming Peter as writer.* The authenticity of First Peter is as well attested as any of the inspired letters. Eusebius tells us that the elders of the church made free use of the letter; there was no question as to its authenticity in his time (c. 260-342 C.E.) Ignatius, Hermas and Barnabas, of the early second century, all make reference to it** First Peter is completely in harmony with the rest of the inspired Scriptures and sets out a powerful message for the Jewish and non-Jewish Christians residing as "temporary residents scattered about in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" - regions of Asia Minor (1Peter 1:1) When was the letter written? Its tone indicates that the Christians were experiencing trials, either from the pagans or from unconverted Jews but that Nero's campaign of persecution, launched in 64 C.E., had not yet begun. It is evident that Peter wrote the letter just prior to this, probably between 62 and 64 C.E. Mark's still being with Peter strengthens this conclusion. During Paul's first imprisonment at Rome (c. 59-61 C.E.), Mark was with Paul but was due to travel to Asia Minor; and at the time of Paul's second imprisonment (c. 65 C.E. ), Mark was about to join Paul again in Rome. (1Pet 5:13; Col 4:10; 2Tim 4:11) In the interval he would have had the opportunity to be with Peter in Babylon. Where was First Peter written? Whereas Bible commentators agree on the authenticity, canonicity, writership, and approximate date of writing, they differ as to the place of writing. According to Peter's own testimony, he wrote his first letter while at Babylon (1Pet 5:13) but some claim that he wrote from Rome, saying that "Babylon" was a cryptic name for Rome. The evidence, however, does not support such a view. Nowhere does the Bible indicate that Babylon specifically refers to Rome. Since Peter addressed his letter to those in literal Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, it logically follows that his reference to Babylon was to the literal place of that name. There was good reason for Peter to be in Babylon. He was entrusted with 'the good news for those who are circumcised,' and there was a large Jewish population in Babylon. (Gal 2:Seven-9) The Encyclopaedia Judaica, when discussing the production of the Babylinian Talmud, refers to Judaism's "great academies of Babylon" during the Common Era# The inspired Scriptures, including the two letters written by Peter, make no mention of his going to Rome. Paul speaks of being in Rome but never refers to Peter's being there. Although Paul mentions 35 names in his letter to the Romans and sends greeting by name to 26, why does he fail to mention Peter? Simply because Peter was not there at the time! (Rom 16:3-15) The "Babylon" from which Peter wrote his first letter was evidently the literal Babylon on the banks of the Euphrates River in Mesopotamia. When Peter composed his second letter, he realized he was to face death soon. He anxiously desired to remind his fellow Christians of the importance of accurate knowledge to help them to maintain steadfastness in their ministry. Would there be any reason to doubt that the apostle Peter was the writer of the second letter bearing his name? The letter itself erases any doubts that may have arisen as to writership. The writer says he is "Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ." (2Pet 1:1) He refers to this as "the second letter I am writing you" (2Pet 3:1) He speaks of himself as an eyewitness to the transfiguration of Jesus Christ, a privilege that Peter shared with James and John, and he writes of this with all the feeling of an eyewitness. (2Pet 1:16-21) He mentions that Jesus had foretold his death. (2Pet 1:14; John 21:18+19) However, some critics have pointed to the difference in style of the two letters as a reason for discounting the second letter as the work of Peter, but this should pose no real problem, for the subject and the purpose in writing were different. In addition, Peter wrote his first letter "through Silvanus, a faithful brother," and if Silvanus were given some latitude in formulating the sentences, this could account for the difference of style in the two letters, since Silvanus apparently did not have a part in writing the second letter. (1Pet 5:12) Its canonicity has also been disputed on the grounds that it "is poorly attested in the Fathers." However, as may be observed from the chart "Outstanding Early Catalogs of the Christian Greek Scriptures," Second Peter was regarded as part of the Bible catalogue by a number of authorities prior to the Third Council of Carthage. When was Peter's second letter written? It is most probable that it was written about 64 C.E. from Babylon or its vicinity, shortly after the first letter, but there is no direct evidence, particularly as to the place. At the time of writing, most of Paul's letters were circulating amoung the congregations and were known to Peter, who regarded them as inspired of God and classed them with "the rest of the scriptures." Peter's second letter is addressed "to those who have obtained a faith, held in equal privilege with ours," and it includes those to whom the first letter was addressed and other to whom Peter had preached. Just as the first letter had circulated in many areas, so the second letter also took on a general character. (2Pet 3:15+16; 1:1; 3:1;1Pet 1:1) *McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia, 1981 reprint, Vol. VIII, p 15. ** New Bible Dictionary, second edition, 1986, edited by J>D> Douglas, p 918. #Jerusalem, 1971, Vol. 15, col. 755 |
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