The BibleTexts.com Bible Commentary

The BibleTexts.com Bible Commentary

FIRST LETTER OF PETER

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First Letter of Peter
- Bible dictionary explanations of this book of the Bible at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/1pe.htm.
- Topical index of other resources for this book of the Bible at http://www.bibletexts.com/topical.htm#1pe.

Chapter 1

Other resources

1Pe 1:3 - KJV wording: lively - alternative translation: living
1Pe 1:15,16 - be holy

To explore additional references, browse "PERFECT" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/p.htm#perfect.

1Pe 1:15 - KJV wording: all manner of - alternative translation: all
1Pe 1:15 - KJV wording: conversation <391, Greek: anastrophe> - correct translation: behavior or way of life

Interestingly, in the 20 instances throughout the Bible where the KJV uses the word "conversation," the original Hebrew and Greek words have nothing to do with verbal communication. In all but Phi 1:27 and 3:20, the correct biblical translation is "behavior" or "way of life." (In Phi 1:27 and 3:20 the Greek word translated as "conversation" in the KJV is politeuma, which means "commonwealth," "citizenship," "enfranchisement," or "community.")

1Pe 1:16

Lev 11:44,45
Lev 19:2
Lev 20:7

1Pe 1:18 - KJV wording: CONVERSATION - correct translation: behavior {way of life}
1Pe 1:22 - love one another

To explore additional references, browse "LOVE ONE ANOTHER" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/l.htm#love-one-another.

1Pe 1:23 - born again

Joh 3:3,7
To explore additional relevant references, browse "BORN OF GOD" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/b.htm.

Chapter 2

Other resources

1Pe 2:2 - KJV wording: SINCERE - alternative translation: pure
1Pe 2:2

1Co 3:2
Heb 5:12
Heb 5:13
Mis 15:30
Ret 61:29
No .05:12
My 17:6

1Pe 2:5 - KJV wording: LIVELY - alternative translation: living
1Pe 2:11 - abstain...

To further explore biblical teachings on a wide range of related moral and ethical issues, see also "Morals and ethics" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/morals-ethics.htm.

1Pe 2:12 - KJV wording: conversation - alternative translation: behavior {way of life}
- In the 20 instances throughout the Bible where the KJV uses the word "conversation," the original Hebrew and Greek words have nothing to do with verbal communication. In all but Phi 1:27 and 3:20, the correct biblical translation is "behavior" or "way of life." In Phi 1:27 and 3:20 the Greek word translated as "conversation" in the KJV is politeuma, which means "commonwealth," "citizenship," "enfranchisement," or "community."
1Pe 2:21 - follow Christ

Mat 10:39
Mat 16:25
Mar 8:35
Luk 9:24
Luk 17:33
Joh 12:25
Rev 12:11
Mis 211:21
Mis 327:25
Ret 32:6
My 233:25
To explore a commentary on this verse, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/versecom/mat10v39.htm.
To explore additional references in the Bible and other writings, browse "Deny self, take up one's cross, and follow Christ" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/d.htm.
See also "Deny self" (2.d.2.) in the webpage on "Prayer -- some of the many types of prayer taught in the Bible" at http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer2.htm.

1Pe 2:21 - Jesus as our example

Joh 13:15
Phi 2:5
1Jo 2:6
S&H 5:30
S&H 395:6
Man 41:1
Mis 258:4
My 180:22

Chapter 3

Other resources

1Pe 3:1 - KJV wording: CONVERSATION - alternative translation: behavior {way of life}
1Pe 3:2 - KJV wording: CONVERSATION - alternative translation: behavior {way of life}
1Pe 3:6 - KJV wording: AMAZEMENT - modern translation: terror
1Pe 3:8 - KJV wording: PITIFUL - alternative translation: merciful
1Pe 3:9 - not rendering evil .. but .. blessing

For biblical and other references to this, browse "OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/o.htm.

1Pe 3:10 - scripture (specifically Psa 34:12-16)

Daniel C. Arichea and Eugene A. Nida (A Translator's Handbook on the First Letter from Peter, New York: United Bible Socieities, 1980, page 100) comment:

In accordance with his practice of using the Old Testament to support his arguments, Peter again quotes an Old Testament passage. This particular quotation is from Psalm 34.12-16, but with some modifications to fit his purpose. The quotation is introduced simply by the word "For" connecting it with the theme of the whole section, namely, good conduct. By introducing the quotation with As the scripture says, the TEV has made it explicit that what follows is a quotation from the Old Testament.

To further explore what New Testament references to "Scripture" meant to early Christians, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/scripture.htm.
For an explanation of the history of the canon, or canonical writings, now known as "the Bible" or "the Scriptures" to Christians, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/canon.htm.

1Pe 3:11 - KJV wording: ENSUE - alternative translation: pursue
1Pe 3:16 - KJV wording: CONVERSATION - alternative translation: behavior {way of life}
1Pe 3:19 - (Greek New Testament text versus conjectural text)

Some translations of this verse, arranged by date of publication:

KJV (1611): By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
ASV (1901): in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,
Goodspeed (1939): In it Enoch went and preached even to those spirits that were in prison, [conjectural]
Moffatt (1954): It was in the Spirit that Enoch also went and preached to the imprisoned spirits [conjectural]
NASB (1977): in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,
NAB (1987): In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison.
NRSV (1989): in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,
TEV (1992): and in his spiritual existence he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.

United Bible Society's definitive Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (New York, UBS, 1994, page 605), upon which the NRSV, TEV, and most reputable modern translations are based, represents the original Greek text of this verse to have been:

en ho kai tois en phulake pneumasin popeutheis ekepuxen

The aforementioned Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition also makes the following comments in its footnotes:

'Enox kai Bowyer cj [conjecture]; en ho kai Enox Harris cj [conjecture]

Bruce Metzger's definitive A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition (UBS, 1993, page 623) explains:

Several scholars have advocated the conjectural emendation that introduces the subject "Enoch" (enokaienox). Instead of improving the intelligibility of the passage (as a conjectured reading ought to do), the word Enox breaks the continuity of the argument by introducing an abrupt and unexpected change of subject from that of ver. 18.

Bruce Metzger (The Text of the New Testament, Second Edition, New York: Oxford University Press, 1968, page 185) also notes:

Of all the emendations proposed for the New Testament perhaps the one which has enjoyed the widest favour is the suggestion that the name 'Enoch' has fallen out of the text of 1 Pet. iii. 19, '... [the spirit] in which he [Christ or Enoch?] went and preached to the spirits in prison'. Since 1772, when Bowyer included this emendation in the second edition of his Critical Conjectures, down to the present, a large number of scholars have given it their approval, including James Moffatt and Edgar J. Goodspeed, both of whom introduced it into the text of their translations of the New Testament... What shall be said of this conjecture? Admittedly the precise meaning of 1 Pet. iii. 19 in the generally received text is difficult to ascertain and a great number of interpretations have been proposed, and admittedly the proposed emendation is attractive palaeographically... Nevertheless, since the introcution of the new subject ('Enoch') into vs. 19 disturbs an otherwise smooth context and breaks the continuity of the argument, the emendation cannot be accepted -- for an emendation that introduces fresh difficulties stands self-condemned.

It also is worth noting that early Christian commentators made no mention of Enoch when discussing 1Pe 3:19. Such commentators who did not recognize "Enoch" as part of the text include Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215), Tertullian (c. 160-225), Origen (c. 185-254), Cyril of Alexandria (c. 375-444), Prudentius (c. 348-410), Severus of Antioch (c. 465-538), and Ammonius (5th century). To read their commentaries, refer to Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, New Testament XI: James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, edited by Gerald Bray (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000, pages 107-108).

Chapter 4

Other resources

1Pe 4:1 - the same mind... as Christ

To explore more biblical and other references to "the mind of Christ," see http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/m.htm#mind-of-christ.

1Pe 4:8 - KJV wording: CHARITY - modern translation: love
1Pe 4:9 - KJV wording: GRUDGING - modern translation: grumbling
1Pe 4:14 - omit KJV wording: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified - (based on a needed correction of the KJV's Greek text)

Chapter 5

Other resources

1Pe 5:6 - humble ... exalt

For biblical and other references to this, browse "HUMBLE... EXALTED" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/h.htm#humble-exalted.

1Pe 5:8 - the devil

[To read an explanation of the Greek word translated by the KJV as "Satan" and "the Devil," browse http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/satan.htm.]

1Pe 5:10 - Gr: ek Christo [Iesou] - See TCGNT p. 627. {C}
- With strong support from very early ancient manuscripts, the ESV [book review] omits the UBS4's bracketed wording as not having been part of the original text. The removal of that wording has virtually no impact on the meaning of the verse, as shown below in the comparison with the NRSV [book review] (which rarely uses brackets, even when it retains the UBS4's bracketed wording) and the NAB [book review] ( which consistently retains all of the UBS4's bracketed wording within parentheses).
  - ESV - 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
  - NRSV - 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
  - NAB - 10 The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.

Abbreviations
Copyright 1996-2004 Robert Nguyen Cramer
Bibliography

www.bibletexts.com
editor@bibletexts.com

Abbreviations	Copyright 1996-2004 Robert Nguyen Cramer	Bibliography
www.bibletexts.com	Copyright 1996-2004 Robert Nguyen Cramer	editor@bibletexts.com