Professor Peter’s 1st Contemporary History
Introduction:
A contemporary historian of Jesus by the name of Professor Peter, writes a Letter to some of Jesus’ Kingdom that are in various Roman provinces (Pontus, north Galatia, Cappodocia, east Asia, and Bithynia) he has: evangelized, established, trained, and organized. They are presently under duress because of their commitment and submission to Jesus and His new Way. Professor Peter is addressing: the hope, salvation, and motivations for continuing in ‘the Faith’ of those in Jesus’ Kingdom. In some places this Letter is known as 1st Peter.
The particular geographical area to which he is addressing this Letter is a group of Roman provinces. There, he has spent time evangelizing the Good News of Jesus. They had responded well to the Message, were now well organized, but presently, it seems, were being persecuted for their subjection and dedication to Jesus Christ. After Prof. Peter had traveled to Corinth for a time, he took Silas back through the provinces and then on to Babylon, where Silas assisted Prof. Peter in writing what the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter for encouragement and exhortation for these saints that were suffering duress because of their faith in Jesus. There should be no decrease in their practices of obedience to His new Way (If they are genuine christians that are certain of their desire and need to be like Jesus: To talk, act, think, and be motivated by His character and expectations.), due to suffering at the hands of erring and evil men. All such suffering is exactly what Jesus had done Himself, but He allowed it to happen to Him, as He knew what would result because of their abuse to Him-in the Plan of Salvation. Yes, even for those that abused Him. Prof. Peter, several times in this Letter, mentions that these brethren are like Jesus in this suffering. God will use it to move folks toward Jesus and His Good News.
Historically, we have a couple of persecutions that the Romans did and allowed toward christians, close to the time of this Letter, in these provinces, which confirm these congregations of Jesus’ Kingdom were under serious duress. Yet, they seem to rejoice in the atrocities, as mentioned in those Roman letters. Their expectations of eternal reward from the living God, their confidence is His promises concerning Jesus’ Kingdom, and the fact that their lives in this “strange land” (evil controls it) would be used to God’s glory, honor, and praise (even in death for His Cause), more than sustained them all. Prof. Peter details, explains, and says to expect such vial abuse, but hold fast to ‘the Faith’.
This Letter allows us to see Prof. Peter making a return trip through these provinces after his short visit to Corinth, seemingly, after or close to Dr. Paul’s leaving for Ephesus. He picked up Silas, who leaves Dr. Paul after the Corinthian work, which seems to coincide with Prof. Peter’s quick stay there.
Dr. Paul mentions Prof. Peter in his 2nd (called 1st Corinthians by some) Letter to the Corinthian congregation a few times, indicating some knew him while there and had strong feeling about his kind of leadership. Dr. Paul in the first few thoughts in his 2nd Letter quells such nonsense, in that, there is zero difference in his ‘Apostleship’ of Jesus and Peter’s (mentioned, also, in his 4th Letter-2nd Corinthians to some- in the 7th Thought).
All this indicates that this Letter with Silas’ help from Babylon, where Prof. Peter is an elder in the congregation, was written after that trip home from Corinth and these provinces. He likely witnessed the abuses being suffered in the provinces (he was likely assigned these provinces by the Holy Spirit to evangelize, train, develop, and organize Gentile/Jewish leadership in each city in accord with Jesus’ Plan for ‘unity’. That New Covenant Plan used the Apostles as Jesus’ authorities among men for His new Way [‘the Faith’]). He must have already established ‘elders’ in each congregation, since he mentions them in this Letter (Silas would have been a great help and source for doing so and maturing them, as he had spent much time with Dr. Paul and done the same thing in many congregations of Jesus’ Kingdom in other provinces.) Writing from Babylon, where a congregation existed, in which Prof. Peter was an elder like them (mentions he has one son there), indicates that this city must have been his new base of operation (as Dr. Paul had done several times). The suggestion that he was in Rome has no contemporary history validity and is just speculation from cultic minded developers of erring religious ideas (They oppose the New Covenant sealed in Jesus’ blood, written and preserved by the Holy Spirit, and proclaims that It is the living God’s only authority upon Earth until He returns and stops time.) Too, It was completed in the 1st century AD by Holy Spirit’s guided writers. It proclaims that God has given all things concerning ‘living and godliness’ in It, several times by various writers. Many rebuke, deny, and ridicule It, but no one has ever provided one proof of an error in It, with any contemporary history! They have only uninspired idealist through the centuries that lust to have their ideas held to be accurate without 1st century contemporary validation. Thus, 1000s of denominations and cults have developed, all opposing Jesus’ new Way-the New Covenant- ‘the Faith’, etc. The only “WAY” is HIS, which is explained clearly, accurately, correctly, and completely in His “Word”. By the way, Jesus confirms all this in His prayer, which validates His view of what constitutes “unity”, deliver by Him prior to His crucifixion to the 11 soon to be Apostles in John’s 17th Thought of his inspired presentation (showing Jesus was and is the ‘Son of God’) and he, also, reveals, as a contemporary historian of Jesus, that Jesus declared to the crowd and Pharisees/Sadducees in His last public lesson before His crucifixion, that, “…His Message will ‘judge’ everyone on the last Day…”, in his 14th Thought of the same inspired contemporary history. Thus, It (His New Covenant) imperatively has to be complete, accurate and God’s only authority to achieve His ‘unity’ (which was always a part of God’s Plan developed in eternity prior to any creating).
Note: When you see [ ] or { } in the Text, they are references for your information, but are not part of the Text of Prof. Peter. ( ), though, are a part of the translation of his koine Greek Text into English, except around numbers-(1), (2), etc..
Date: A.D. 56ish
Letter:
(1st) Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to chosen exiles of [the] dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to Father God’s predetermined purpose: in holiness of spirit, unto obedience, and [the] sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace to you all, and It [from God], may peace be increased. {1:2}
(2nd) Extol [unceasing greatest praise for] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His plentiful mercy has begotten us again to a living Hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ out of death, into an imperishable and unstained and never-fading inheritance, reserved in heaven unto you all. {1:4}
You are protected by God’s power through faith unto ‘salvation’! Ready to be revealed at the last time! In it you ought to be rejoicing, though for a little while now, as need be, you have been troubled by various trials. Such that, ‘the Faith’ of you all (which is more precious than gold which perishes, when being proved by fire), is being tested that it might be found unto praise and glory and honor at the Disclosure of Jesus Christ. You love Him, Whom you have not seen; you are persuaded unto Him, Whom you are not yet seeing; and you rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, receiving [pres., mid.] the goal of ‘the Faith’, the ‘salvation’ of your souls! {1:9}
The prophets, who prophesied of the Grace that is yours, sought and searched carefully concerning that ‘salvation’. Searching what kind or manner of time the Spirit of Christ, Who was in them, was pointing to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in the things which are now being announced to you through the ones who evangelized the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; into which things the angels desired to gain a clear look. {1:12}
(3rd) Therefore, prepare your mind, be alert, and you must hope completely in the Grace being brought to you at the Disclosure of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not let your lives be shaped by the desires of your former ignorance; but more so, as He Who called you is holy, you yourselves must be holy in all your manner of life, for it is written, “You will be holy, because I am holy.” [Lv.19:2] {1:16}
If you call Him Father, the One Who impartially judges the work of each one, then, reverently you must live the time of your sojourning, while here in a strange land. You all know [the Greek word, meaning: facts evaluated accurately] that you were redeemed [point where their deep grief moved them to reform to the living God], not by perishable things (as silver or gold), from your worthless manner of life inherited from your forefathers, but more so, by the precious blood of Christ, as of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
There is no doubt! He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed [in flesh] in [the] ‘last of the times’ for your sake. Through Him, you of belief unto God, Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, by ‘the Faith’ of you all and Hope, are [continually] to be unto God. {1:21}
Since you have kept purified your souls by obedience of the Truth, you must love one another fervently from a pure heart in sincere affection. You have been born again [still are], not of perishable seed, but more so, of imperishable, through the living and enduring Message of God, because, “All flesh is as grass, and all of its glory is as the flower of the grass: the grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Lord’s Message remains forever.” [Is.40:6-8] This is the Message of the Good News which was evangelized to you all. {1:25}
(4th) Therefore, you yourselves renouncing all: malice and deceit and pretenses and envies and slanders, must crave pure spiritual [reasonable, relates to your mind] milk, as newborn babies, that by it you may grow to ‘salvation’, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. {2:3}
You are coming to [face to face-pros] Him, Who is a living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but He was God’s chosen and precious One. You yourselves, as living stones, are built into a spiritual house as a dedicated priesthood [Is.61:6], to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore, it says in Scripture, “Behold! I lay in Zion a Stone, a Keystone, chosen and precious, and he who believes on Him will not be put to shame {Is.28:16}.” The preciousness, therefore, is to you who believe; but to those who do not believe, “The Stone which the builders rejected became the Keystone {Ps.118:22},” and “a stumbling stone and a rock that causes a fall {Is.8:14}.” They stumble at the Message, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. But you: [a] a chosen generation, [b] a royal priesthood, [c] a dedicated nation, [d] a people unto possession [His]; that you might declare the excellencies of Him, Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. At one time you were not a people, but [e] now you are God’s people; you had received no mercy, but now you have received mercy. {2:10}
(5th) Beloved, I beg you, as strangers and exiles, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul! Have your manner of life honorable among the Gentiles, so that, when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good deeds and praise God in the Day of Visitation. {2:11}
For the Lord’s sake, you all must be subject to every human authority: whether to a king as supreme, or governors, as being sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. God’s Will is that by doing good you might muzzle the foolishness of ignorant men; as free, and not using freedom as a cover for evil, but more so, as God’s slaves. You must honor all men, must love the brotherhood, must revere God, must honor the king. {2:17}
[A] Slaves, be subject with all respect to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but more so, also to the harsh. This is being gracious, if because of conscience toward God, someone bears up under pain, suffering unjustly. What sort of credit is it if you patiently take punishment after doing wrong? But more so, this is being gracious before God, if, when you do good, and suffer for it, you endure patiently. You were called for this, because Christ also suffered for your sake, leaving an example that you should follow His steps. [1] “He committed no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth”. [Is. 53:9] [2] When He was cursed, He did not reply with a curse. [3] When He suffered, He did not threaten; instead, He committed Himself to the One Who judges righteously [Is.53:7]. He Himself brought our sins in His body to the cross, so that [a] we might live in righteousness, [b] having been freed from sins; [c] by His wounds you were healed [Is.53:5-6,10-12]. [d] You were as sheep going astray, but more so, now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. {2:25}
[B] Likewise, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if some do not obey the Message, they will be gained without the Message through the manner of life of the wives, as they respectfully observe your pure manner of life. You must not let your adornment [perception of you] be outward: of hair-braiding, of gold jewelry, or of clothes; but more so, it ought to be the hidden person of the heart, of the imperishable adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which before God is of surpassing value. In this manner, in previous times, dedicated women, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him master [Gen 18:12], whose children you have become, as you courageously do good. {3:6}
[C] Likewise, husbands, live understandingly with your wives, as with those who are more delicate; and bestow honor on them, as being fellow heirs of the Grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. {3:7}
[D] Finally, all of you, [be] of one mind [Jesus’]: [a] sympathetic, [b] deep affection as brothers, [c] tender-hearted, [d] humble-minded, [e] not returning evil for evil, or [f] insult for insult; but [g] on the contrary, blessing. You were called to this [one mind], that you may inherit a blessing. Therefore, “He who wants to love life and see good days, he must keep his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no deceit. [a] He must turn away from evil and [b] he must do good. [c] He must seek peace and [d] must pursue it; as the Lord’s eyes are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but the Lord’s face is against evildoers.” {Ps.34:12-16} Who will mistreat you if you are enthusiastic for that which is good? But more so, even if you suffer because of righteousness, you have happiness! You yourselves should be courageous and undisturbed [both aor.]. You must set apart Christ the Lord in your hearts, always being ready with a reply to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope which is in you. But more so, do it gently and respectfully, having a clear conscience, in order that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good manner of life in Christ may be ashamed. {3:16}
It is better, if it is God’s Will, to suffer for doing what is right than for doing wrong, because Christ also died once for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might lead you to God. He was indeed put to death in flesh, but brought to life in spirit, in for whom, also, He went and proclaimed to spirits in prison. At one time they were disobedient, when God’s patience waited in Noah’s days, while the ark was being built (Gen 6-7}, in which a few (that is, eight souls) were brought safely through water. This is a figure, which now saves us, immersion! Not the removal of dirt from the body, but more so, the earnest appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand, having angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. {3:22}
(6th) Since Christ suffered in the flesh, you all must equip yourselves with the same insight, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he should not live his remaining time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the Will of God. Enough time has passed to have accomplished the desire of the Gentiles, who have walked in sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, revelry, drinking orgies, and wanton deeds of idolatries. They blaspheme and are surprised that you do not run with them into the same overflow of debauchery. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. This is why the Good News has been evangelized to these who are dead, such that they, indeed: may be judged according to mankind’s way in the flesh or live according to God in [the] spirit. {4:6}
The end of all things is near. [A] Therefore, [1] you must be sensible and must [2] exercise self-control to help you pray. [3] Above all things, you must be fervent unto your love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins. [4] [Must] Extend hospitality one to another without complaining. As each has received a gift, [Must] distribute it among yourselves, as good stewards of the varied Grace of God. {4:10}
[6] If anyone speaks, [he must speak] as God’s Oracles. [7] If anyone serves, [he must serve] by the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ, to Whom [s., dat.] is [>, eimi] the Glory and the Power, forever and ever, amen. {4:11}
Beloved, you must not be astonished at the fiery ordeal among you, which has come to test you, as though a strange thing were happening to you; but more so, as you share in Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the Disclosure of His splendor, you may overflow in joy. If you are reviled for Christ’s Name, you are divinely happy, because God’s glorious Spirit rests upon you. None of you ought to suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a busybody; but if as a christian, he must not be ashamed, and he ought to praise God in this Name. It is time for judgment to begin from God’s house; and if first from us, what will be the end of those who do not obey God’s Good News? “If the righteous is saved with difficulty, what will become of the godless and the sinner [Pv.11:31-LXX]?” So, also, those who are suffering according to God’s Will, must entrust their souls to a dependable Creator by doing good. {4:19}
(7th) I, therefore, a fellow elder, and witness of Christ’s sufferings, and sharer of the coming Splendor, entreat the elders among you: You must shepherd God’s flock which is among you. You must not oversee by compulsion, but more so, willingly; not greedily, but more so, eagerly; not as being masters over those under your care, but more so, being examples to the flock. When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. {5:4}
Likewise, you who are younger, you must submit to the elders. Yes, all of you, must clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God resists the proud and gives Grace to the humble [Pv.3:34-lxx].” You must humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s powerful hand, that at the proper time He may exalt you. Cast all your worry upon Him because He is concerned about you. {5:7}
All of you must be alert; must be watchful: your enemy, the devil, stalks about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. You must resist him steadfastly from ‘the Faith’, knowing that the same sufferings are laid upon the brotherhood in the world. After you have suffered a little, the God of all Grace, Who called you into His eternal Splendor in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete, support, strengthen, and establish you. The dominion is His forever, amen. {5:11}
(8th) I have written to you briefly by Silas, a faithful brother by my reckoning, to encourage and to testify that this is the true Grace of God in which you all must stand. She who is in Babylon (chosen with you), and my son Mark, greet you. You must greet one another with a sacred kiss. Peace to all who are in Christ.