King James Version
1 Peter
1 Peter in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of 1 Peter: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writing by Silvanus. Acknowledged as Peter’s by the early church. Many critical scholars regard it as written later in his name. |
|---|---|
| Date | About AD 60–65 in one survey, before Peter’s death. The same survey gives AD 85–90 if pseudonymous. |
| Place written | Babylon, as the letter says, widely read as a code name for Rome, Italy. |
| Genre | A circular letter of encouragement to suffering churches. |
| Chapters | 5 |
| Verses | 105 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | 1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionBut sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:1 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
1 Peter 1:11 Peter 1:1 · King James VersionPeter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Peter 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) names Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 5:11 Peter 5:1 · King James VersionThe elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1 Peter 5:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source calls him a witness of the sufferings of Christ. 1 Peter 5:121 Peter 5:12 · King James VersionBy Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
1 Peter 5:12 · King James VersionOpen the Source says by Silvanus I have written briefly.
Eusebius says in Church History 3.3.1 that one epistle of Peter, the first, is acknowledged as genuine and that the ancient elders used it freely. (2) In 3.39.16 he says Papias used testimonies from it. (2) Origen, reported in 6.25, says Peter left one acknowledged epistle. (3) Athanasius lists two letters of Peter. (4) Critical scholars who doubt Peter wrote it cite its polished Greek, its use of the Greek Old Testament, and possible later persecution. Defenders point to Silvanus as secretary or drafter and to the early, wide acceptance.
Who It Is Not
Silvanus may have shaped the Greek but is named as the means, not the author. Mark is with Peter, in 1 Peter 5:131 Peter 5:13 · King James VersionThe church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
1 Peter 5:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source, as a son. The Gospel of Peter and the Apocalypse of Peter are other works, and Eusebius lists them as not accepted. (2)
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives AD 60–65, or AD 85–90 if pseudonymous. (5) Eusebius records the tradition that Peter was crucified at Rome. (2)
Audience and Setting
Elect strangers scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, in 1 Peter 1:11 Peter 1:1 · King James VersionPeter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Peter 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source, Christians in northern and western Asia Minor. The purpose is to encourage them to stand firm and live honorably under suffering.
Rulers at the Time
1 Peter 2:13–171 Peter 2:13–17 · King James Version2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1 Peter 2:13–17 · King James VersionOpen the Source tells readers to honor the king without naming one. This page adds none.
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Babylon | Probably a name for Rome, Italy. Some read literal Babylon, near Hillah, Iraq. | 1 Peter 5:131 Peter 5:13 · King James VersionThe church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.1 Peter 5:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia | Roman provinces in modern Turkey. | 1 Peter 1:11 Peter 1:1 · King James VersionPeter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,1 Peter 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
1 Peter 1–2 celebrate the living hope of the new birth and call readers a chosen people. 1 Peter 2–3 give instructions for life under authority, in households, and in marriage. 1 Peter 3–4 address suffering for righteousness. 1 Peter 5 instructs elders and closes with greetings.
Key Themes
Hope in 1 Peter 1:31 Peter 1:3 · King James VersionBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Suffering and glory in 1 Peter 4:12–131 Peter 4:12–13 · King James Version4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:12–13 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Readiness to give an answer for that hope in 1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionBut sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionOpen the Source, the verse from which the word apologetics is often explained.
Apologetics Questions
1 Peter 3:191 Peter 3:19 · King James VersionBy which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1 Peter 3:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source, Christ preaching to the spirits in prison, is one of the hardest verses in the New Testament, and interpreters differ widely. This page does not choose. The authorship question is stated above.
How the Book Points to Christ
1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionBut sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionOpen the Source says sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Many Greek copies read sanctify Christ as Lord, applying to Christ the language of Isaiah 8:13Isaiah 8:13 · King James VersionSanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isaiah 8:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source about the Lord of hosts. 1 Peter 1:21 Peter 1:2 · King James VersionElect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source names the Father, the Spirit, and Jesus Christ together. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus contains 1 Peter. (6) The reading of 1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionBut sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1 Peter 3:15 · King James VersionOpen the Source differs between the King James and many Greek copies, and the verse page states it.
Canon Reception
1 Peter was acknowledged from early on. (2) (3) (4)
Further Reading
References
- First Epistle of Peter, 1:1; 5:1; 5:12–131 Peter 1:1 · King James Version
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Peter 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Church History, Book 3, 3.3.1; 3.25; 3.39.16Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Church History, Book 6, 6.25.8 (Eusebius, Church History 6.14 and 6.25, reporting Clement of Alexandria and Origen. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent.)
- Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, 1 Peter (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives 1 Peter as AD 60–65 (or AD 85–90 if pseudonymous). It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.