1 Peter
INTRODUCTION
1 & 2 PETER
H.L. ELLISON
1 Peter was written to the scattered Christians of northern and western Asia Minor, an area which was mainly outside the sphere of Paul’s missionary work. Various references make it clear that the majority of the intended readers were Gentiles. Silvanus (5:12), ie Silas, Paul’s companion on his second missionary journey, may have interested Peter in the area. The excellent Greek is probably due to Silvanus having acted as scribe. The letter was probably written from Rome (5:13), possibly after the beginning of Nero’s persecution.
The language of 2 Peter is very different, but this can be explained by Peter’s using a different scribe, for there is no marked difference in thought. The recipients of the letter are not named, but since this letter was perhaps the last book to be accepted into the canon, it was probably not written to an influential church. The chief reason why many reject Peter’s authorship is the way he speaks of Paul’s letters (3:15f.), but the argument is hardly valid. The same may be said of the use of Jude, the message of which Peter may have wished to make better known.