1 Peter Jews
Most scholars believe that 1 Peter was not written by the Apostle Peter and that it was written to a Gentile audience. I am no scholar but I believe that they have it completely wrong. I Peter is a letter and a baptismal homily to the Jews. Peter was the apostle to the Jews just as Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Peter mentions Noah as a baptism by water. Then he begins weird statements about Jesus going down to hell and saving the prophets of old (Baptism by fire). These Jews to whom he is writing, just like the Israelites and prophets of old, are currently going through a baptism by fire. The epistle is addressed to "the exiles of the diaspora and the elect" (Jews) in Asia Minor. The audience is undergoing suffering both of a verbal and physical nature. This suffering is the persecution from the Romans as a result of the Jewish rebellion taking place in Jerusalem. Peter requests that they submit to the emperor. The audience is a chosen race, a royal priesthood, God’s own people. But the new house of God is no longer the temple in Jerusalem. The human body has become the temple in His earthly kingdom. Peter is writing as a priest of the Catholic Church in the new kingdom and as a personal witness of Christ.
I believe 1 peter was written a few years before or immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. It was addressed to the Jews in Asia Minor who were either slaves or freedmen who were either Christians or were converting to Christianity. The Jews began a revolt in 66 A.D. when the Roman procurator increased taxes. The Romans tried to militarily quell the revolt but initially failed. Vespasian and Titus were sent in to siege the city under orders of Nero and Jerusalem finally fell in 70 A.D. Many fled Jerusalem before the destruction. Titus wanted to preserve the temple, but his soldiers were so angry at the resilient Jews that they burned it. The remaining Jews were slaughtered or sold as slaves. Peter was in Rome as either a free man or a prisoner with Paul by 66 or 67 A.D. Peter writes, “The church here in Babylon, united with you by God’s election, sends you her greeting; so does my son, Mark.” 1 Peter was written to the fleeing Jews in the various towns of Asia Minor. I think many became Christian after the diaspora because they saw the destruction of Jerusalem as punishment for their sin. Peter was consoling them and inviting them to follow the Way, a new sect of Jews who believe in Christ. Peter and Paul were eventually martyred in Rome around 68 A.D., before Jerusalem finally fell to the Rome siege in 70 A.D. and before Nero committed suicide.
I believe 1 peter was written a few years before or immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. It was addressed to the Jews in Asia Minor who were either slaves or freedmen who were either Christians or were converting to Christianity. The Jews began a revolt in 66 A.D. when the Roman procurator increased taxes. The Romans tried to militarily quell the revolt but initially failed. Vespasian and Titus were sent in to siege the city under orders of Nero and Jerusalem finally fell in 70 A.D. Many fled Jerusalem before the destruction. Titus wanted to preserve the temple, but his soldiers were so angry at the resilient Jews that they burned it. The remaining Jews were slaughtered or sold as slaves. Peter was in Rome as either a free man or a prisoner with Paul by 66 or 67 A.D. Peter writes, “The church here in Babylon, united with you by God’s election, sends you her greeting; so does my son, Mark.” 1 Peter was written to the fleeing Jews in the various towns of Asia Minor. I think many became Christian after the diaspora because they saw the destruction of Jerusalem as punishment for their sin. Peter was consoling them and inviting them to follow the Way, a new sect of Jews who believe in Christ. Peter and Paul were eventually martyred in Rome around 68 A.D., before Jerusalem finally fell to the Rome siege in 70 A.D. and before Nero committed suicide.
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