Andrew & Peter
Hazy this morning, windy and whitecaps on StAndrewsBay. 79°F, wind SSE 19 mph.
Members of our Adult Sunday School class tune in and turn on to what is going on with the Revised Common Lectionary that we use in The Episcopal Church; lectionary, the list of readings that comprise our "Propers" (Bible lessons appointed for us to read in worship each Sunday of the church year), Propers of the Mass as opposed to the Ordinary of the Mass (what is always read and sung and doesn't vary; eg, Sanctus, Agnus Dei).
Class members know the lectionary gives us orderly progression through bits of Scripture. For example, in Easter of current Year A, we are reading through 1 Peter. Year B has us read through 1 John, and Year C through Revelation. The lectionary takes us on an exciting journey of things to enjoy reading and discussing, and things to look forward to.
For next Sunday, our second reading is 1 Peter 2:19-25. But for Shelter in Place, we would be gathering in the parish library on Sunday mornings, where my idea would be to get to know the book by discussing it and then reading through 1 Peter, five chapters, and I think I'll work on us doing that through the current Easter Season.
Generally we read from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible because that's the translation we use in worship at Holy Nativity. For a change though, I think we'll use The Voice translation, which I'll copy and paste a chapter at a time, as below, both for a change and because The Voice is so clear in our 21st century expression.
Also with the 21st century, I've come down to using online sources instead of chasing down books that are either on my bookshelf here at home, or on the long rows of shelves in my office at the church, or that I wish I hadn't given away here and there over the years as part of downsizing every time I've had to pack up and relocate!
So okay then, 1 Peter, the epistle, letter. Written maybe earliest 60 AD if actually by Peter, to latest maybe 110 AD. But maybe 70 to 90 AD in Peter's name by someone who had known Peter or had assembled his thoughts from elders who had known him. As official guidance from what was developing to be "church headquarters" in Rome, to outlying churches and Christians maybe as part of unifying a Christian worldview?
Somewhat apocalyptic, anticipating the End Time and Second Coming, it has some but not necessarily all of Paul's convictions, is independent of Paul, who had died maybe about 62 or 63 AD. Solidly acclaims a doctrine of salvation by blood atonement for believers. Encourages obedience to the social framework of the age. Frequently calls on Hebrew scripture, I didn't look up to cross from 1 Peter's Greek to the Septuagint, but not unlikely the writer is using the Septuagint as did the author of the Gospel according to Matthew. Interesting that the writer, if Peter himself, did call himself an apostle but did not call on any personal memories of Jesus; not that he would have had to, considering the letter is instruction, not a gospel story about the life and ministry of Jesus.
Below is Chapter One. I'll copy and paste, and maybe comment on, the rest of the five chapters as Easter moves along and before we get to Pentecost.
1 Peter 1 The Voice (VOICE)
1 Peter, an emissary[a] of Jesus the Anointed One, to God’s chosen people living as aliens scattered among the unbelievers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2 I am sending this letter to those who have been selected and destined by God the Father and made holy by God the Spirit that you may be obedient to Jesus the Anointed and purified by the sprinkling of His blood. May grace and peace beyond all reckoning be yours.
3 Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope— 4 reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. 5 Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things. 6 You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you,even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. 7 Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last.
Early Christians stand apart from the culture and suffer social stigmas and physical persecution at times. Peter challenges them to remain faithful to Jesus who also suffered for not conforming.
8 Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. 9 You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith.
10 The prophets who spoke of this outpouring of grace upon you diligently searched and inquired of the Lord about this salvation: 11 to whom and to what time was the indwelling Spirit of the Anointed referring when He told them about the suffering of the Anointed and the honor that would follow it? 12 The Spirit revealed to them they were not serving themselves but you. And you have learned from those who told you the good news by the Spirit that was sent down from heaven. Even the heavenly messengers would like to explore this news.
13 So get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves, and look forward in hope as you focus on the grace that comes when Jesus the Anointed returns and is completely revealed to you. 14 Be like obedient children as you put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. 15 Since the One who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. 16 For the Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”[b] 17 If you call on the Father who judges everyone without partiality according to their actions, then you should live in reverence and awe while you live out the days of your exile.
18 You know that a price was paid to redeem you from following the empty ways handed on to you by your ancestors; it was not paid with things that perish (like silver and gold), 19 but with the precious blood of the Anointed, who was like a perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb. 20 God determined to send Him before the world began, but He came into the world in these last days for your sake. 21 Through Him, you’ve been brought to trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him for the very reason that your faith and hope are in Him.
22 Now that you have taken care to purify your souls through your submission to the truth, you can experience real love for each other. So love each other deeply from a [pure][c] heart. 23 You have been reborn—not from seed that eventually dies but from seed that is eternal—through the word of God that lives and endures forever. 24 For as Isaiah said,
All life is like the grass,
and its glory like a flower;
The grass will wither and die,
and the flower falls,
25 But the word of the Lord will endure forever.[d]
and its glory like a flower;
The grass will wither and die,
and the flower falls,
25 But the word of the Lord will endure forever.[d]
This is the word that has been preached to you.
Footnotes:
- 1:1 Literally, apostle
- 1:16 Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7
- 1:22 Some manuscripts omit “pure.”
- 1:24–25 Isaiah 40:6b–8
The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
