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...
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