The First Epistle of Peter in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE

LITERATURE Simon Peter was a native of Galilee. He was brought to the Saviour early in His ministry by his brother Andrew (Jn 1:40,41). His call to the office of apostle is recorded in Mt 10:1-4; Mk 3:13-16. He occupied a distinguished place among the Lord's disciples. In the four lists of the apostles found in the New Testament his name stands first (Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Acts 1:13). He is the chief figure in the first twelve chapters of the Acts. It is Peter that preaches the first Christian sermon (Acts 2), he that opens the door of the gospel to the Gentileworld in the house of the Roman soldier, Cornelius, and has the exquisite delight of witnessing scenes closely akin to those of Pentecost at Jerusalem (Acts 10:44-47). It was given him to pronounce the solemn sentence on the guilty pair, Ananias and Sapphira, and to rebuke in the power of the Spirit the profane Simon Magus (Acts 5:1-11; 8:18-23). In these and the like instances Peter exhibited the authority with which Christ had invested him (Mt 16:19)--an authority bestowed upon all the disciples (Jn 20:22,23)--the power to bind and to loose. Two Epistles are ascribed to Peter. Of the Second doubt and uncertainty have existed from the early ages to the present. The genuineness and authenticity of the First are above suspicion. I. Canonicity of 1 Peter. 1. External Evidence: The proof of its integrity and trustworthiness is ample and altogether satisfactory. It falls into parts: external and internal. The historical attestation to its authority as an apostolic document is abundant. Polycarp, disciple of the apostle John, martyed in 156 AD at 86 or more years of age, refers to the Epistle in unmistakable terms. Irenaeus, a man who may well be said to represent both the East and the West, who was a disciple of Polycarp, quotes it copiously, we are assured. Clement of Alexandria, born circa 150 AD, died circa 216 AD, cites it many times in his Stromata, one passage (1 Pet 4:8) being quoted five times by actual count. "The testimony of the early-church is summed up by Eusebius (Historia Ecclesiastica, III, xxiii, 3). He places it among those writings about which no question was ever raised, no doubt ever entertained by any portion of the catholic church" (Professor Lumby in Bible Comm.). 2. Internal Evidence: The internal evidence in favor of the Epistle is as conclusive as the external. The writer is well acquainted with our Lord's teaching, and he makes use of it to illustrate and enforce his own. The references he makes to that teaching are many, and they include the four Gospels. He is familiar...