Bible Discussion Thread

INTRODUCTION TO 1 PETER (Part 6):

So, there's going to be one theme, if you can catch the arrangement of the literature in the Jewish section. Remember in the book of Hebrews, it was to Hebrews who were enlightened to the truth, but because of persecution were going to turn back to the old religious system of Judaism.

In James, it was ministry to the poor saints, Jewish believers who were in the DIASPORA, and instructing them about the trying of their faith, that it's normal to suffer for the faith so you grow stronger.

This group of the DIASPORA was located just to the East of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. The Book of Revelation was written to these seven churches some 30 years after Peter wrote his letters.

IV. DATE OF WRITING:

Peter wrote his first letter around 63 A.D., right before his arrest in Rome. Peter wrote from Rome, but he used the cryptic name Babylon in his letter ( I Peter 5:13).

According to I Peter 5:12, Silvanus received the dictation of the letter.

Peter wrote his second letter right before 67 A.D. as he wrote it right before his death. Nero, the Roman Emperor, died around 68 A.D. Nero had Peter put to death, so obviously Peter had to die before 68 A.D.

Tradition tells us that Nero took Peter as the leader of the believers, spread wax on him, and was going to put him up on a pole because that was Nero's little hobby. He would round up the Christian leaders, wax them down, put them on a pole, and then light them on fire to light his garden at night.

And so, Nero came to Peter and said since you're the leader, I'll tell you what I'm going to do. Since your Savior was crucified, I'm going to crucify you instead. And it's recorded that Peter said I am not worthy to die like my Savior. If you're going to crucify me, crucify me upside down. So, tradition says that Peter was crucified upside down in Nero's Garden.