About the Book
Explores the epistles’ reception history and their effects in sermons, music, art, literature, and politics over time
1, 2 Peter and Jude Through the Centuries considers three small epistles which are often overlooked in controversial discussions of theology, culture, art, music, politics, and literature. This book offers fresh perspectives on the epistles’ effects in numerous theological and cultural contexts such as slavery, the role of women in marriage, the nature of Christology, and how believers should relate to the government.
Author Rebecca Skaggs traces the reception history of 1 Peter, Jude, and 2 Peter and investigates the texts’ effects on diverse doctrinal, social and political issues. Their influence on artists, musicians, dramatists and literary writers is explored, especially the Doctrine of the Descent of Christ into Hades. Each chapter includes an overview of central issues and topics, a selection of ancient readings with interpretations and a brief survey of modern scholarship on the subject. Illuminating how readings vary across historical periods and interpretive communities, this book:
Traces the multi-faceted contributions of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude to theological discussions
Provides a sampling of the kinds of effects available from each of the texts in various contexts
Shows how the epistles engage in the discussions and controversies of the Medieval Ages
Offers discussions of the epistles’ contributions to doctrinal debates on the inspiration of scripture and how to respond to heresy in the church
Features detailed treatment of topics such as Christ’s visit to the spirits in prison, the dispute between Michael and Satan over Moses’ body and the final judgment by fire
Features commentary from a leading scholar in New Testament Studies and Christian Theology
Offering enlightening essays and new approaches, 1, 2 Peter and Jude Through the Centuries is an ideal book for anyone interested in the rich contributions of these epistles, such as Biblical and Theological Studies students, and pastors looking for original insights on reception material.
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xii
Introduction 1
Historical Overview and Genre 2
Reception Historical Sources for 1, 2 Peter, and Jude 6
Significant Ancient Interpreters 7
Nineteenth‐ and Twentieth‐Century Perspectives 10
Aims and Methods of this Commentary 14
Literary Relationships: Which Came First – Jude or 2 Peter? 18
Chapter 1 The Transformed Life in the Context of Suffering, Grace, Hope, and Love (1:1–2:10) 22
Author, Audience, and Abundant Grace (1:1–2) 22
The Meaning and Purpose of Suffering (1:3–10) 26
Consequences of the Transformed Life: Suffering Related to the Suffering of Christ (1:11–12) 36
Consequences of the Transformed Life: Hope, Holiness, and Love (1:13–23) 40
The Transformed Life: Three Metaphors (1:24 – 2:10) 47
The Grass Metaphor (1:24, 25) 47
The Milk Metaphor (2:1–3) 49
The Living Stones Metaphor (2:4–10) 51
Doctrinal Interpretations: The Priesthood of all Believers 54
Doctrinal Interpretations: Eternal Security 55
Chapter 2 Three Practical Situations (1 Peter 2:11–3:17) 57
Transition (2:11–12) 57
The Governing Authorities (2:13–17) 59
Slavery (2:18–25) 66
Submission and Suffering for Doing Good 68
Christ as Guardian of Our Souls, v.25 74
Marriage (3:1–7) 76
Ornamentation (3:3–6) 83
To “Husbands” (3:7) 86
The “Weaker Vessel” (3:7) 88
Transition: Summary and Concepts to Come (3:8–17) 88
Summary: Live in Harmony and Mutual Love (3:8–12) 89
Suffering for Doing Good (3:13–17) 89
Chapter 3 Christ’s Visit to the Spirits in Prison, 3:18–22 91
Christ’s Resurrection, the Ground of the Transformed Life 91
The Preaching or Announcement in Hades 96
The Audience for Christ’s Preaching 97
Religious Traditions 105
Opposition 108
Summary of the Effects of 1 Peter 3:18–22 So Far 109
Other Interpretations 110
Effects in Literature 110
Effects in Music 112
Effects in Drama 112
Effects in Art 114
Relation to the Harrowing of Hell Tradition 128
Summary/Observations 130
Chapter 4 The Transformed Life: The Believer as Sufferer (1 Peter 4:1–19) 132
Suffering is in God’s Control (4:7–11) 138
Love Covers a Multitude of Sins (v.8) 139
Love Shown in Joyful Service and Hospitality (4:9–11) 141
Suffering for Being a Christian (4:12–19) 142
The Spirit of Glory … Rests upon You (v.14) 144
Judgment Begins with the House of God (4:17) 145
Scarcely Saved (vv.18–19) 146
Chapter 5 Final Exhortations and Greetings (1 Peter 5:1–14) 149
Message to Three Groups (5:1–10): “Elders” (vv.1–4); the
“Younger” (vv.5–6); and “All” (vv.6–10) 149
The Message to “All” (vv.2, 6–10) 155
God Gives Grace to the Humble (vv.6–11) 157
The Final Promise to All (vv.10–11) 160
Final Greetings: Who, Where, and How (vv.12–14) 161
Who is Silvanus and What is His Role in the Writing of the Epistle? 161
Who is “Mark?” 162
Where/What is Babylon? 162
Chapter 6 Jude: A Dynamic Response to Heresy 166
Greeting and Purpose 166
Purpose (v.3) 170
The Body of the Epistle: Charges/Punishment Predicted (vv.4–16) 173
The Fallen Angels: Second Example of Punishment (v.6) 175
Sodom and Gomorrah: Third Example (v.7) 178
Second Set of Triple Charges (vv.8–11): Pollution, Rejection of Authority, Slander of Heavenly Beings 180
The Illustration: The Dispute Between Michael and Satan (v.9) 182
Three Examples of Punishment: Cain, Balaam, and Korah (v.11) 184
Metaphors of Charges Against the Teachers (vv.12–16) 186
Prediction of Punishment: Enoch’s Prophecy (vv.14–16) 188
Exhortations to the Faithful (17–23) 191
Closing Doxology (vv.24–25) 194
Effects in Literature, Culture, and Art: Michael and Satan’s Dispute (v.9) 196
Chapter 7 Excursus: Jude’s Role in the Reception History of Enoch 200
Enoch in the Early Church 201
Summary 205
Effects in Literature, Culture, and Art: The Fallen Angels, Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4 206
Chapter 8 Greetings and the Bases for Certainty (2 Peter 1) 213
Greetings: Authorship, Authenticity, and Authority (1:1–2) 213
The Basis for Certainty and Peter’s Response: Participation in the Divine Nature (1:4–11) 216
Can Salvation Be Lost? (vv.10–11) 222
More Grounds for Certainty: Eyewitness Testimony (1:12–15) 223
Even More Grounds for Certainty: The Nature of Prophecy and the Inspiration of Scripture (1:16–21) 225
Chapter 9 The False Teachers and Peter’s Response (2 Peter 2:1–22) 232
Chapter 10 Where is the Promise of His Coming? (2 Peter 3:1–18) 244
Reaffirmation and Reminders (3:1–3) 244
Where is the Promise and Peter’s Response: Judgment andRescue (3:4–10) 248
Final Exhortations (3:11–18) 252
Chapter 11 Excursus: Delay of the Parousia (2 Peter 3) 255
Modern and Current Scholarship (eighteenth to twenty-first centuries) 261
Concluding Remarks 265
Appendix 1: Who Wrote These Epistles? The Reception of 1, 2 Peter and Jude 268
Appendix 2: Ancient Writers, their Writings, and their Sources 273
Appendix 3: Reception Historical Timeline 279
Appendix 4: Overview of the Reception History of Enoch 284
Glossary 288
Bibliography 296
Index of Biblical References 312
Index 316
About the Author :
Rebecca Skaggs is Professor of New Testament and Greek at Patten University, Oakland, California. Previously, she was Fellow at the Kierkegaard Library, St. Olaf College and is author of several books and numerous journal articles on the New Testament and the early Christian Church.
