The Epistles of Peter in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
FIRST EPISTLE. Genuineness. Attested by 2 Peter 3:1. Polycarp (in
Eusebius 4:14); who in writing to the Philippians (Philippians 2)
quotes 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 1:21; 1 Peter 3:9; in Philippians 5; 1
Peter 2:11. Eusebius (H. E. 3:39) says of Papins that he too quotes 1
Peter. Irenaeus (Haer. 4:9, section 2) expressly mentions it; in
4:16, section 5, 1 Peter 2:16. Clemens Alex. (Strom. 1:3, 544) quotes
1 Peter 2:11-12; 1 Peter 2:15-16; and p. 562, 1 Peter 1:21-22; and in
4:584, 1 Peter 3:14-17; and p. 585, 1 Peter 4:12-14. Origen (in
Eusebius H. E. 6:25) mentions it; in Homily 7 on Joshua (vol. 2:63),
both epistles; and in Commentary on Psalms and John 1 Peter 3:18-21.
Tertullian (Scorp. 12) quotes 1 Peter 2:20-21; and in 14 1 Peter
2:13; 1 Peter 2:17. Eusebius calls 1 Peter one of "the universally
acknowledged epistles.
The Peshito Syriac has it. Muratori's Fragm. of Canon omits
it. The Paulicians alone rejected it. The internal evidence for it is
strong. The author calls himself the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:1), "a
witness of Christ's sufferings," and "an elder" (1 Peter 5:1). The
energetic style accords with Peter's character. Erasmus remarks this
epistle is full of apostolical dignity and authority, worthy of the
leader among the apostles.
PERSONS ADDRESSED. 1 Peter 1:1; "to the elect strangers
(pilgrims spiritually) of the dispersion," namely, Jewish Christians
primarily. 1 Peter 1:14. 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 Peter 4:3, prove that
Gentile Christians, as grafted into the Christian Jewish stock and so
becoming of the true Israel, are secondarily addressed. Thus the
apostle of the circumcision seconded the apostle of the
uncircumcision in uniting Jew and Gentile in the one Christ. Peter
enumerates the provinces in the order from N.E, to S. and W. Pontus
was the country of the Christian Jew Aquila.
Paul twice visited Galatia, founding and confirming churches.
Crescens, his companion, went there just before Paul's last
imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:10). Men of Cappadocia, as well as of
"Pontus" and "Asia" (including Mysia, Lydia, Curia, Phrygia, Pisidia,
and Lycaonia), were among Peter's hearers on Pentecost; these brought
home to their native lands the first tidings of the gospel. In
Lycaonia were the churches of Iconium, founded by Paul and Barnabas;
of Lystra, Timothy's birthplace, where Paul was stoned; and of Derbe,
the birthplace of Gains or Caius. In Pisidia was Antioch, where Paul
preached (Acts 13) so effectively, but from which he was driven out
by the Jews. In Caria was Miletus, where Paul convened the Ephesian
elders.
In Phrygia Paul preached when visiting twice the neighbouring
Galatia. The churches of Laodicea were Hierapolis and Colesse (having
as members Philemon and Onesimus, and leaders Archippus and
Epaphras). In Lydia was the Philadelphian church favorably noticed
Revelation 3:7; that of Sardis the capital; Thyatira; and Ephesus,
founded by Paul, laboured in by Aquila, Priscilla, Apollos, and Paul
for three years, censured for leaving its first love (Revelation
2:4). Smyrna received unqualified praise. In Mysia was Pergamos.
Troas was the scene of Paul's preaching, raising Eutychus, and
staying with Carpus long subsequently...
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