background of the exiles to whom Peter wrote his epistles There were probably Gentiles represented in the group as well, suggested by such verses as 2:10 and 4:3-4 (read these) C DATE AND PLACE WRITTEN First Peter was written probably around the time of the outbreak of the Neronian persecution, or A.D 64 From 5:13 we may conclude that Peter wrote this epistle from Babylon If the reference is a literal one,7 there are two possible places of writing: (1) Babylon on the Euphrates (Mesopotamia), where a colony of Jewish Christians lived as early as A.D 36; or (2) Babylon on the Nile (a city of Egypt now known as Old Cairo).8 Many Bible scholars favor a symbolic interpretation of the name Babylon, seeing it as a reference to Rome Merrill Tenney sees Babylon here as “a mystic name for Rome, by which Christians applied to it all the evil connotations that had been historically associated with the Babylon on the Euphrates, and by which they could vent their feelings without being detected.”9 If the purpose of using “Babylon” was to disguise the actual origin, we can understand why the name as Peter used it does not have the appearance of mysterious symbolism in the context of the verse D IMMEDIATE SETTING The Christians addressed by Peter in this epistle were experiencing ery trials of their faith (1:6-7) Slander by fellow citizens was one of those trials (2:12) Darker still were the shadows of state persecution, which Christians throughout the Roman Empire feared Everyone knew about those martyred by Nero in Rome Would the res spread to the Christians in northern Asia Minor? Peter wrote this letter not to assure the Christians that persecution would not come, but to encourage them to stand true and endure su ering for Christ’s sake and with His strength, even when the persecution grew more intense.10 E PLACE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Refer to Chart 62, page 244, and note that the Petrine epistles are classi ed under the subject of eschatology The emphasis of the two books is how to live the Christian life in view of the second coming of Christ After you have surveyed the letters think of how they are related to other New Testament books IV SURVEY A FIRST READING Scan Peter in one sitting The purpose of this initial quick reading is to get the feel and atmosphere of the book and to catch its major purposes Write down your rst impressions of Peter and any key words and phrases that stand out as of this reading B PARAGRAPHS First, mark in your Bible paragraph divisions at these verses: 1:1, 3, 10, 13, 22; 2:1, 4, 9, 11, 13, 18; 3:1, 7, 8, 13, 18; 4:1, 7, 12; 5:1, 5, 10, 12 ... of the two books is how to live the Christian life in view of the second coming of Christ After you have surveyed the letters think of how they are related to other New Testament books IV SURVEY. .. the persecution grew more intense.10 E PLACE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Refer to Chart 62, page 244, and note that the Petrine epistles are classi ed under the subject of eschatology The emphasis of. .. historically associated with the Babylon on the Euphrates, and by which they could vent their feelings without being detected.”9 If the purpose of using “Babylon” was to disguise the actual origin, we