I have just read a really nice article in JSNT by David Horrell and Wei Hsien Wan on the politics of time inherent to the ‘eschatological Christology’ in 1 Peter. In other words, setting up Christ as the centre of time (and the sweep of history) reorients one’s assumed associations of power. Continue Reading
Tuesday Time Travel to the Roman Empire… “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind…” 1 Peter 1:13 The phrase translated “gird up the loins” (ἀναζωσάμενοι τὰς ὀσφύας) refers to an action ancients would take to prepare themselves for some activity (hence many modern versions translate this phrase something like “prepare your minds for action.”) Because… Continue Reading
Another Tuesday Time Travel… Ancient Hairstyles. “Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dress; but let it be the hidden person of the heart…” – 1 Peter 3:3-4 (cf. 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Cor. 11:2-16) In New Testament times, women’s hairstyles held a place in… Continue Reading
Another Tuesday Time Travel to the Roman Empire… Though conditions of imprisonment may vary from one location to another (or one time period to another), a general picture of Roman imprisonment can be painted from primary source material. I will attempt only to give a general picture and offer a couple of secondary sources below… Continue Reading
Recent posts regarding the command for civil submission in 1 Peter has provoked a bit of discussion about the contemporary application of the command. In this post, I would like to (1) reflect generally on civil submission in the contemporary context and (2) reflect on the American context of civil submission, especially as it relates… Continue Reading
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him…” 1 Peter 2:13-14 Human Institutions, i.e., Governing Authorities Peter commands his readers to submit to πάσῃ ἀνθρωπίνῃ κτίσει (quite roughly: “every human creation”). The word often translated ‘creation’ (κτίσις)… Continue Reading
Teaching through 2 Timothy and sitting in on a class through 1 Peter has been quite an experience. Both NT letters strongly emphasize enduring persecution for the sake of the Gospel. Paul and Peter each give their respective addressees compelling reasons for not only enduring suffering, but doing so with hope and strength. (I’ve written… Continue Reading
“Slaves, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are crooked.” 1 Peter 2:18 There is no doubt that slavery was commonplace in the Roman Empire. It was an intricate part of the societal structure, and something with which people living… Continue Reading
Roman Families The paterfamilias was a term attributed to the head of the familia in the Roman world. This position was not held by any father. Rather, among the males of a familia, the father who was at the ‘top’ of the family tree held this position. He had an exuberant amount of control over… Continue Reading