Quizzing the New Testament : 1 Peter

Answer: The Day of Pentecost

"Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs - we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!' (Acts 2 v. 5-11)

The five places listed by Peter represent four Roman provinces (with Pontus and Bithynia having been merged into one single province). The fact that Pontus and Bithynia are listed separately, coupled with the order in which the provinces are named, suggests that the bearer of such letters would have followed a circular route arriving via the Black Sea in Pontus and returning to the Black Sea in Bithynia.

Answer: Pure spiritual milk

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2 v. 1-3)

The opening "therefore" links these verses to the previous chapter where Peter had written:
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1 v. 22-23).

The implication would seem to be that those being addressed are relatively new to Christian faith and it has been suggested that much of the letter was originally intended as teaching material for new initiates.

Answer: A spiritual house

"As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2 v. 4-5)

The phrase "spiritual house" refers to a temple and Jesus is described as being its cornerstone. Peter is, therefore, mixing his metaphors as he has described his readers both as the priests making the sacrifices and the building in which these are offered. One of his chief concerns is to stress to a presumably Gentile audience - "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God" (1 Peter 2 v. 10) - that they are now on the inside of God's plans. He does this by using phrases formerly used only of the Jewish people - chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, people belonging to God (1 Peter 2 v. 9).

Answer: They are sharing in the suffering of Jesus

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4 v. 12-13)

This is a familiar theme in the New Testament and is foreshadowed in the gospels:
"Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15 v. 20).

Answer: They are aliens and strangers in the world

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2 v. 11-12)

Peter's use of the phrase is no doubt meant to evoke images from the Old Testament of the Israelites in exile, Moses in Midian and, most notably, Abraham who, addressing the local Hittite population, called himself "an alien and a stranger among you" (Genesis 23 v. 4).

The phrase, however, also describes a particular class of people within Roman society that were more than foreigners but did not have the full rights and status of citizens. It is probable that many of these would have embraced Christianity and that Peter is knowingly using a double meaning.

Answer: He includes all of these

"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2 v. 17)

Again, the emphasis is on an irreproachable lifestyle that leaves no grounds for criticism and thereby serves as a witness. Peter echoes Paul in his writings about obeying the state authorities (Roman 13 v. 1-3 and Titus 3 v. 1-2). The New Testament writers were not in a position to develop a theology of civil disobedience (even had they wanted to) as they held the twin beliefs that their rulers were appointed by God to administer justice, and that these things were transient as the end of the world was imminent.

Answer: Preaching to fallen angels

"He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built." (1 Peter 3 v. 18-20)

To understand these verses, you will need to refer back to the book of Genesis. There, the story is told of rebellious angels ("sons of God") that have children by human women (Genesis 6 v. 1-4). It is their corruption that leads God to flood the earth. The Bible offers no explanation as to the fate of these spirits but the non-biblical book of 1 Enoch, written in the first or second century BC and viewed as scripture by many early Christians, records that they are kept imprisoned awaiting judgment.

Answer: A baptismal sermon

It is impossible to verify the truth of these claims, but they are based upon the section from 1 Peter 1 v. 3 to 1 Peter 4 v. 11. This contains a lot of basic advice on leading a Christian lifestyle as well as numerous references that could suggest that those being addressed are new to the Christian faith.

In these verses they are described as having been given new life by Jesus (1 Peter 1 v. 4); having been purified and born again (1 Peter 1 v. 22-23); having received mercy (1 Peter 2 v. 10); having returned to the shepherd and overseer of their souls (1 Peter 2 v. 25); no longer living as the pagans do (1 Peter 4 v. 34); needing to crave spiritual milk like newborn babies (1 Peter 2 v. 2) and needing to live as obedient children (1 Peter 1 v. 14).

Answer: Shepherds of God's flock

"To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." (1 Peter 5 v. 1-4)

The image is taken from the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who all use it to refer to Israel's religious leaders, the phrase having previously been used of God or the Jewish king. Paul (Acts 20 v. 28) and Jude (1 v. 12) both use it in a Christian context as, of course, does Jesus who refers to himself as the good shepherd who "lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10 v. 11).

Answer: The church in Rome

"Babylon" is also used in the book of Revelation to refer symbolically to the earthly power of the Roman empire. A longstanding tradition holds that Peter died in Rome during the reign of the emperor Nero.

Peter's mother-in-law may not be the correct answer here but she does get her own mention in the Bible, as one of Jesus' first healing miracles (Mark 1 v. 29-31).