1 Peter

• DatesAbout AD 62–64 if Peter wrote it (debated)
• GenreGeneral Letters
• AuthorshipPeter according to the letter; authorship debated
• TimelineEarly Church
• Key texts1 Peter 1; 1 Peter 2:9–12; 1 Peter 4:12–19
• Read the text1 Peter in the World English Bible
• Covered in classSession 4

What the sources say, and how sure we are

• The text says

  The letter names Peter, says it is written from “Babylon” with Silvanus, and addresses believers in five regions of Asia Minor. “Babylon” is usually taken to mean Rome.1 Pet 1:1; 1 Pet 5:12–13

• Outside evidence

  Tacitus reports that Nero blamed Christians in Rome for the fire of AD 64 and punished them. That persecution is attested only for Rome. Scholars do not agree that it applied to Asia Minor.Tacitus, Annals 15.44

• Debated

  Some scholars hold that Peter wrote it with Silvanus as secretary. Others doubt that a Galilean fisherman wrote such polished Greek and date the letter later. Scholars also disagree about whether the suffering it describes is social hostility or official persecution.1 Pet 4:12–16