Peter 2: 21-25
THE LITERARY CONTEXT OF 1 PETER 2:21-25:
§ Key Questions: ü How does this passage fit into Peter’s flow of thought? ü What contribution does it make to that flow of thought? ü Why did he include this passage at this point in the book? ü What is the main purpose of the passage in its original context? Ø Peter’s ultimate purpose in 1 Peter 2:21-25 was not to teach Christology in a vacuum, so what was his purpose? The Purpose of the Passage As reflected in the outline above, in 1 Peter 2:18-20 the apostle exhorts slaves to submit to their masters even when they are harsh and unreasonable. The conjunction “for” at the beginning of verse 21 connects the two passages and indicates that 1 Peter 2:21-25 provides the reason for the command in 1 Peter 2:18-20. This connection becomes even clearer when the interpreter notes that suffering is mentioned twice in the former passage (vv. 19 and 20) and twice in the latter passage (vv. 21 and 23). At this point, a careful observation of the two passages clarifies the connection—1 Peter 2:18-20 exhorts slaves to respond to suffering in a submissive manner, and 1 Peter 2:21-25 describes how Jesus responded to suffering in a submissive manner. The identification of Jesus as “an …show more content…
The audience hears development in each of these conceptual links. The knowledge of Christ appears first as the past revelation and gift of Christ (1:3-4), through which believers received everything necessary for life and piety. The next section (1:5-9) describes knowledge of Christ as the beginning and end of the present pursuit of virtue, a necessity of the life of faith. Finally, the future entrance into Christ’s kingdom represents the consummation of knowledge of Christ
§ Key Questions: ü How does this passage fit into Peter’s flow of thought? ü What contribution does it make to that flow of thought? ü Why did he include this passage at this point in the book? ü What is the main purpose of the passage in its original context? Ø Peter’s ultimate purpose in 1 Peter 2:21-25 was not to teach Christology in a vacuum, so what was his purpose? The Purpose of the Passage As reflected in the outline above, in 1 Peter 2:18-20 the apostle exhorts slaves to submit to their masters even when they are harsh and unreasonable. The conjunction “for” at the beginning of verse 21 connects the two passages and indicates that 1 Peter 2:21-25 provides the reason for the command in 1 Peter 2:18-20. This connection becomes even clearer when the interpreter notes that suffering is mentioned twice in the former passage (vv. 19 and 20) and twice in the latter passage (vv. 21 and 23). At this point, a careful observation of the two passages clarifies the connection—1 Peter 2:18-20 exhorts slaves to respond to suffering in a submissive manner, and 1 Peter 2:21-25 describes how Jesus responded to suffering in a submissive manner. The identification of Jesus as “an …show more content…
The audience hears development in each of these conceptual links. The knowledge of Christ appears first as the past revelation and gift of Christ (1:3-4), through which believers received everything necessary for life and piety. The next section (1:5-9) describes knowledge of Christ as the beginning and end of the present pursuit of virtue, a necessity of the life of faith. Finally, the future entrance into Christ’s kingdom represents the consummation of knowledge of Christ