First and second letter of Peter

Good managers of the grace of God

The first letter of Peter is written from Rome (called «Babylon» like the great enemy nation that hurt the Hebrew people in the past: 1Pet 5,13), «Through Silvanus» (1Pet 5,12: he probably is «Silas», the Jerusalem apostles and Paul’s collaborator in his missionary journeys; see e.g. Acts 15,22.40). There is even a quote about «Mark, my son» (1Pet 5,13): he probably is one of the evangelists, according to the Tradition Apostle Peter’s secretary. The recipients are the Asia Minor Churches (see 1Pet 1,1), that suffer persecution by the people they live with, because of Christian religion. Apostle Peter, or, according to some scholars, one of his later disciples who was «presbyter» of the community (see 1Pet 5,1), exhorts them to persevere in the Faith and the purity they received through Gospel and Baptism (see 1Pet 1,22-25 e 3,21), enduring with joy every difficulty. «having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. Subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well. For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. [...] Now who is he who will harm you, if you become zealous of that which is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with humility and fear: having a good conscience; so that when they speak evil against you, they may be put to shame who slander your good manner of life in Christ. For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil» (1Pet 2,12-16; 3,13-17). «Above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. [...] As each has received a charisma, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen» (1Pet 4,8.10-11). In the letter there are mentions of Christ’s “descent into underworld”, happened «in the spirit» in the moments between His death and His resurrection, to preach the Gospel even «to the spirits in prison». Those ones may be the fallen angels, definitely defeated by Christ’s Easter (see 1Pet 3,22), the rebel mankind who died at Noah’s time (see 1Pet 3,20) or the upright persons who lived before Jesus’ come. «Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which he also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved by means of water» (1Pet 3,18-20). «[The Gentiles] will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For to this end the Gospel was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit» (1Pet 4,5-6).



The second letter of Peter is the work of a disciple. In addition to the noteworthy differences in style and vocabulary compared to the first one, there are clues that make scholars think about a late composition (end of the I century AD): the many similarities with the letter of Jude (it has a comparable dating), the third person mention of the apostolic preaching (2Pet 3,2) and the presence in the Church of a well-defined collection of Paul’s letters (see 2Pet 3,16). The main theme of the letter is the warning against «false teachers» who «will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction» (2Pet 2,1). According to what we can guess from the text, they were gnostic deviations: the protagonist in those doctrines is a superior spiritual knowledge, reserved to few elected ones; the body is deprecated (it can be object of every kind of unclean passion without compromising salvation); they deny the Lord’s second come. This one, which we already spoke about previously, in the New Testament Greek is called “parousía”: in the Hellenistic culture that word means the sovereign’s visit in one of his possessions, with feasts, gifts for the people or fiscal exemptions. In Christianity, it is the Resurrected Lord’s sudden return, for the final judgement of men and women and the creation of «new heavens and a new earth» where there is no more evil: «in the last days scoffers will come, mocking and walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” [...] The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be disclosed. [...] But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells» (2Pet 3,3-4.9-10.13). «Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble» (2Pet 1,10).
In the next post we will read the three letters of John.