• • • • 1 Peter • • • • Paul J. Achtemeier • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Hermeneia- • • • • A Critical • • • • and • • • • Historical • • • • Commentary • • • • on the • • • • Bible "With more than twenty volumes in print at this point, it is evident that Hermeneia must be regarded as the premier biblical commentary series in the English-speaking world today. While some other biblical commentary series have suffered from the uneven quality of the contributions, the individual volumes of Hermeneia are notable for their uniformly high caliber. The quality of scholarship throughout is first-rate. The Hermeneia commentaries have set a standard of excellence in biblical interpretation that future series will be hard-pressed to meet." -Michael L. Barre The Catholic Biblical Quarterly "Hermeneia is offered to us just at the right moment, just as scholarship has reached a summation of a whole period of critical reflection. These commentaries, for the foreseeable future, will be the benchmark and reference point for all future work. I anticipate that the basic, technical work in this research will become generative of many other studies and commentaries that can build on this scholarship as a completely reliable baseline. The series offers the very best available. We are, moreover, fortunate to have a press willing to undertake such a formidable publishing project." -Walter Brueggemann Columbia Theological Seminary "The Hermeneia Commentaries are an excellent series, featuring many notable twentieth-century biblical scholars. Taken together, Hermeneia represents some of the best recent biblical scholarship. The Commentaries are a pleasure to handle and easy to use. I have no hesitation in recommending them for students." -Professor M.D. Hooker University of Cambridge, Faculty of Divinity "The Hermeneia series has established itself among the most useful tools available for biblical research, whether by professionals or by laypersons. These commentaries present solid scholarship, but the editors have not been afraid to include some fresh, even venturesome interpreta tions. Excellence in content is matched by handsome design and production; the books are a pleasure to use." -Wayne A. Meeks Yale University "Hermeneia has established itself as one of the leading international technical commentary series. The depth and breadth of the various authors' grasp both of historical context and of contemporary literature makes the volumes an unsurpassed resource for background, informed critique, insightful exegesis, and often stimulating exposition. Serious students of biblical texts will want to consult Hermeneia and where possible to have the relevant volumes close to hand." -James D. G. Dunn University of Durham "The Hermeneia commentary series is a distinguished contribution to New Testament scholarship. Some of its earlier volumes-for example, M. Dibelius and H. Greeven on James-represent classic positions that must be taken into account by all other interpreters. The newer volumes enrich the usefulness of the series for serious scholars." -Luke Timothy Johnson Emory University 1 Peter • • Hermeneia -A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible Old Testament Editorial Board Frank Moore Cross, Harvard University, chairman Klaus Baltzer, University of Munich Paul D. Hanson, Harvard University S. Dean McBride, Jr., Union Theological Seminary in Virginia Peter Machinist, Harvard University Susan iditch, Amherst College Christopher R. Seitz, Yale University Roland E. Murphy, 0. Carm., emeritus New Testament Editorial Board Helmut Koester, Harvard University, chairman Harold W. Attridge, University of Notre Dame Adela Yarbro Collins, University of Chicago Eldon jay Epp, Case Western Reserve University James M. Robinson, Claremont Graduate School 1 Peter A Commentary on First Peter by Paul]. Achtemeier Edited by Eldon Jay Epp Fortress Press Minneapolis 1 Peter A Commentary on First Peter Copyright@) 1996 Augsburg Fortress All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write to: Permissions, Augsburg Fortress, 426 S. Fifth St., Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440. Scripture quotations from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, © 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America are used by permission. Cover and interior design: Kenneth Hiebert Production management by Publisher's WorkGroup Typesetting by Polebridge Press Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Achtemeier, Paul]. I Peter / by Paul J. Achtemeier : edited by Eldon Jay Epp. p. em. - (Hermeneia-a critical and historical commentary on the Bible) Includes bibliographical•·eferences and indexes. ISBN 0-8006-6030-7 (alk. paper) I. Bible. N.T. Peter, 1st-Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Epp, Eldon jay. II. Title. Ill. Series. BS2795.2.A24 1996 95-19564 CIP The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z329.48-1984. Manufactured ih the U.S.A. AF 1-6030 00 99 98 97 96 4 5 6 8 9 10 FOR RACHEL, SARAH, AND JOSHUA MICHAEL AND ROBERT AND THEIR PARENTS The Author Paul]. Achtemeier is the Herbert Worth and Annie H. Jackson Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, he received his theological education at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and has done additional study at Princeton Theological Semi nary, the University of Heidelberg, and the University of Basel. He has taught New Testament at Elmhurst College, his alma mater, at Lancaster Theological Seminary, and, since 1973, at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He has been a visiting professor at several seminaries and universities in North America and Europe, and has received a number of honors, including five appointments as Staley Foundation Distinguished Scholar. Active in learned societies, he has served as Executive Secretary and as President of the Society of Biblical Literature, and is the first Protestant scholar to have been elected President of the Catholic Biblical Society of America. He is also an elected member of the American Theological Society and the international Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas. Professor Achtemeier has contributed to several major aspects of New Testament scholarship in his thirteen books and numerous scholarly articles as well as his editing of scholarly journals and reference books. He is General Editor of Harper's Bible Dictionary, new edition (1985), and Consulting Editor for Harper's Bible Com mentary (1985-88). Among his Fortress Press books are The Quest for Unity in the New Testament Church (1987) and Mark, second edition, Proclamation Commentaries {1986). VI