The Holy Spirit allowed Moses 40 years in a personal wilderness of Midian to prepare him as a 40 year leader of a proto-nation in formation. My impression of the work of Watchman Nee was that in his old age he wished he had understood that (my words) congregations need to understand that they need to be intentional about training their members that they will be used individually, in groups, in manifold ways, to carry the good news of Jesus assassinated, ascended and authorized -- as the light of the nations. Every territory, tongue, and tribe must hear... both their princes on earth and in the celestials.
I’ve taken a different tack on Aliens and Strangers--first, I agree with you, but I would expand it.
I’d suggest the recipients of this letter are not only metaphorically strangers, aliens, immigrants, but they are literally immigrants. This very region was the location of the expansion of Roman colonies by Claudius. Usually when a colony was created it meant an “expulsion” of Roman veterans (can’t have too many of them in the capital!). So they are sent to set up colonies in already established cities. Usually taking the places of local leaders. Of course, they’d need a host of support personnel--people selected from undesirable elements found in Rome (like Jewish Christians and freedmen).
These people would be resented because they would be taking jobs that belonged to natives of Pontus, Bythinia, etc.
If you are interested, here’s my take in a “conversation” during an assembly during CoVid...
Thank you for sharing. The resentment the Christians would have encountered emphasizes the need for Peter's exhortation of honorable conduct (1 Pet 2:12). And I'll listen to your message later.
Thank you. To piggy back on your reply--this may be dated--but in the 1960s Terrance Y. Mullins wrote a piece in Novum Testamentum after researching letters from the first century (secular and sacred) and discovered a pattern among the most personal/informal letters.
He postulated that there was a word found in many informal letters that identified the main concern or appeal of the letter: parakalo (“I urge,” “I beg,” “I beseech”). What precedes the appeal is, for lack of a better term, “background”. What follows is usually a description of how to fulfill the appeal. Thus Ephesians 4:1 is the point of Ephesians--1:1-3:21 identifies what the “calling” mentioned in 4:1 is and what follows is how one lives appropriately to that calling.
If this is true, then in 1 Peter we would find the appeal in 2:11, 12! So, then the main concern of the letter includes the honorable conduct among the Gentiles.
Of course, not all letter writers follow a strict form--even today. I’ve always thought Mullins’ theory was interesting and might actually have a lot going for it.
The Holy Spirit allowed Moses 40 years in a personal wilderness of Midian to prepare him as a 40 year leader of a proto-nation in formation. My impression of the work of Watchman Nee was that in his old age he wished he had understood that (my words) congregations need to understand that they need to be intentional about training their members that they will be used individually, in groups, in manifold ways, to carry the good news of Jesus assassinated, ascended and authorized -- as the light of the nations. Every territory, tongue, and tribe must hear... both their princes on earth and in the celestials.
Love your stuff Rex.
I’ve taken a different tack on Aliens and Strangers--first, I agree with you, but I would expand it.
I’d suggest the recipients of this letter are not only metaphorically strangers, aliens, immigrants, but they are literally immigrants. This very region was the location of the expansion of Roman colonies by Claudius. Usually when a colony was created it meant an “expulsion” of Roman veterans (can’t have too many of them in the capital!). So they are sent to set up colonies in already established cities. Usually taking the places of local leaders. Of course, they’d need a host of support personnel--people selected from undesirable elements found in Rome (like Jewish Christians and freedmen).
These people would be resented because they would be taking jobs that belonged to natives of Pontus, Bythinia, etc.
If you are interested, here’s my take in a “conversation” during an assembly during CoVid...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7y1FQwJO_Y
Thank you for sharing. The resentment the Christians would have encountered emphasizes the need for Peter's exhortation of honorable conduct (1 Pet 2:12). And I'll listen to your message later.
Thank you. To piggy back on your reply--this may be dated--but in the 1960s Terrance Y. Mullins wrote a piece in Novum Testamentum after researching letters from the first century (secular and sacred) and discovered a pattern among the most personal/informal letters.
He postulated that there was a word found in many informal letters that identified the main concern or appeal of the letter: parakalo (“I urge,” “I beg,” “I beseech”). What precedes the appeal is, for lack of a better term, “background”. What follows is usually a description of how to fulfill the appeal. Thus Ephesians 4:1 is the point of Ephesians--1:1-3:21 identifies what the “calling” mentioned in 4:1 is and what follows is how one lives appropriately to that calling.
If this is true, then in 1 Peter we would find the appeal in 2:11, 12! So, then the main concern of the letter includes the honorable conduct among the Gentiles.
Of course, not all letter writers follow a strict form--even today. I’ve always thought Mullins’ theory was interesting and might actually have a lot going for it.