Saturday, March 24, 2007
Fade to Back
For most of the Gospels and the early years of the Church, Peter had been a key leader and central figure in Christianity. This all changed as Peter decreased so that Christ would increase. Paul became the central figure of the second half of Acts.
The last time we read about Peter in Acts is his speech in defense of Gentile believers. He said, "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us" (Acts 15:7-8).
Peter showed up in the dispute covered in the previous section. Finally, he wrote a letter to Christians throughout Asia Minor, known today as 1 Peter. A second letter call 2 Peter was written to Christians in general warning about false teaching that might arise.
Scholars widely debate whether or not these letters were actually written by Peter. Timing of the persecution mentioned in this letter, the literary skill of the prose and the geographic area covered by the greeting have been raised as historical concerns. Peter appeared to be talking about more than just martyrdom. Although widespread execution of Christians did not occur until after Nero's rule, the letter could have referred to local persecution and things such as verbal abuse or social ostracism. Some today think of Peter as illiterate or mentally unable to write these letters. But he had been a businessman who would have likely known how to read and write. Jews customarily taught their children basic skills. When the religious leaders referred to Peter as an "unschooled ordinary man," they were likely insinuating that he lacked Talmud training, the higher level education required for rabbis and teachers. Peter could have also used a scribe or other person to help him develop the letters. Finally, the concern about the cities mentioned not having received the Gospel by the time of Peter's death. Nobody knows for sure how quickly the Gospel spread in some areas. Generally, the Gospel advanced at a rapid pace. And there is little detail about all the various missionary exploits of the apostles and early Church leaders.
While it was common for false letters or gospels to be developed by a writer and then attributed to someone with a recognizable name, such as Peter, these letters were accepted as authentic by the early Church. There is certainly as much historical evidence to accept these letters as to dismiss them. Given the above factors and the fact that the content does not disagree with other recognized books of the New Testament, this book will accept the authenticity of these letters.
Peter fades into obscurity without any concrete history about his later years or final ministry. The only record that we really have are the two epistles that he wrote. This does not mean that he became insignificant or retired to a life of leisure. The letters show that he was still involved in ministry, caring for local churches, speaking against false teaching, and encouraging personal transformation for the life of the believer.
It seems likely that Peter went around to strengthen local churches. This may have included those places he mentioned in his first epistle. Peter wrote that letter from "Babylon" which likely referred to either the real geographic location along the Euphrates River or Rome as a figurative Babylon of his day. Scholars debate whether Peter ever went to Rome. Some believe that he died there.
From Jesus' words in John 21:18 and Peter's own prediction in his first epistle, he likely died a martyr's death. Scholars generally agree that Peter died during Nero's reign (AD 64-68). Church tradition indicates that Peter was crucified. Origen, a Christian leader and historian, indicated that Peter felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus so he requested to be crucified upside down.
In his later years, Peter embraced the cross that he once fled. Just as Jesus had predicted, he came to the point of complete surrender where he was willing to follow Jesus any where, including the cross. If he was indeed crucified upside down the for the reason stated by tradition, this demonstrates humility that only comes after you realize how great God is and how small you are.
Peter ministered to the end, yet he became less the focus because it was never about him in the first place. The Gospel was always about Jesus. Consider this simple truth from John, maybe the most familiar passage of the New Testament.
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He have His one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Fading to the back indicates a life that understand the Gospel. In discipleship, we must come to the place that we truly believe and accept our life is not about us. It is about God, His glory and His Kingdom. We just get the pleasure and the joy to be a part of it all.
The last time we read about Peter in Acts is his speech in defense of Gentile believers. He said, "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us" (Acts 15:7-8).
Peter showed up in the dispute covered in the previous section. Finally, he wrote a letter to Christians throughout Asia Minor, known today as 1 Peter. A second letter call 2 Peter was written to Christians in general warning about false teaching that might arise.
Scholars widely debate whether or not these letters were actually written by Peter. Timing of the persecution mentioned in this letter, the literary skill of the prose and the geographic area covered by the greeting have been raised as historical concerns. Peter appeared to be talking about more than just martyrdom. Although widespread execution of Christians did not occur until after Nero's rule, the letter could have referred to local persecution and things such as verbal abuse or social ostracism. Some today think of Peter as illiterate or mentally unable to write these letters. But he had been a businessman who would have likely known how to read and write. Jews customarily taught their children basic skills. When the religious leaders referred to Peter as an "unschooled ordinary man," they were likely insinuating that he lacked Talmud training, the higher level education required for rabbis and teachers. Peter could have also used a scribe or other person to help him develop the letters. Finally, the concern about the cities mentioned not having received the Gospel by the time of Peter's death. Nobody knows for sure how quickly the Gospel spread in some areas. Generally, the Gospel advanced at a rapid pace. And there is little detail about all the various missionary exploits of the apostles and early Church leaders.
While it was common for false letters or gospels to be developed by a writer and then attributed to someone with a recognizable name, such as Peter, these letters were accepted as authentic by the early Church. There is certainly as much historical evidence to accept these letters as to dismiss them. Given the above factors and the fact that the content does not disagree with other recognized books of the New Testament, this book will accept the authenticity of these letters.
Peter fades into obscurity without any concrete history about his later years or final ministry. The only record that we really have are the two epistles that he wrote. This does not mean that he became insignificant or retired to a life of leisure. The letters show that he was still involved in ministry, caring for local churches, speaking against false teaching, and encouraging personal transformation for the life of the believer.
It seems likely that Peter went around to strengthen local churches. This may have included those places he mentioned in his first epistle. Peter wrote that letter from "Babylon" which likely referred to either the real geographic location along the Euphrates River or Rome as a figurative Babylon of his day. Scholars debate whether Peter ever went to Rome. Some believe that he died there.
From Jesus' words in John 21:18 and Peter's own prediction in his first epistle, he likely died a martyr's death. Scholars generally agree that Peter died during Nero's reign (AD 64-68). Church tradition indicates that Peter was crucified. Origen, a Christian leader and historian, indicated that Peter felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus so he requested to be crucified upside down.
In his later years, Peter embraced the cross that he once fled. Just as Jesus had predicted, he came to the point of complete surrender where he was willing to follow Jesus any where, including the cross. If he was indeed crucified upside down the for the reason stated by tradition, this demonstrates humility that only comes after you realize how great God is and how small you are.
Peter ministered to the end, yet he became less the focus because it was never about him in the first place. The Gospel was always about Jesus. Consider this simple truth from John, maybe the most familiar passage of the New Testament.
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He have His one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Fading to the back indicates a life that understand the Gospel. In discipleship, we must come to the place that we truly believe and accept our life is not about us. It is about God, His glory and His Kingdom. We just get the pleasure and the joy to be a part of it all.
