11/25/21
Scholarly Reflections
Maier, Gerhard. "Chapter Four: Jesustradition im 1 Petrusbrief?" in Wenham, David (editor), The Jesus Tradition Outside the Gospels. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1984, 85-128.
Maier notes that 1 Peter has garnered a great deal of attention not only due to the possible disputes over authorship but also as scholars have attempted to identify the extent of the Jesus traditions appearing in the text (Wenham [editor] 1984, 85-86). A notable debate concerns the role of the words of Jesus as reported in 1 Peter. Maier observes the sides of the debate are represented by Ernest Best and Robert Gundry (Wenham [editor] 1984, 86). Maier proceeds to summarize the elements of both arguments. Best considers 1 Peter to draw on Jesus traditions outside of canonical sources, while Gundry looks for canonical sources (Wenham [editor] 1984, 87).
Analysis of possible parallel texts may shed light on the challenge. Best and Gundry recognize that there are strong similarities between 1 Peter 1:10-12 and Luke 24:25-27 (Wenham [editor] 1984, 88). This recognition leads to an analysis of the similarities. In fact, Best and Gundry examined multiple passages. While there are many parallel ideas, the wording doesn't match very precisely. The debate, then, remaidqns largely unresolved. However, some passages do strongly suggest an influence from material outside the canonical Gospels (Wenham [editor] 1984, 95).
Maier continues by seeking out similarities between 1 Peter and other works, now not as they were considered by Best and Gundry (Wenham [editor] 1984, 96). Again, he finds a good deal of similarity in ideas. However, it is rare to find identity in wording which would clearly point to a specific literary dependence.
Maier's conclusions based on his review thus far suggest that 1 Peter may show more influence from Jesus traditions themselves than from writings which have proven canonical (Wenham [editor] 1984, 102ff).
A number of passages in 1 Peter may be considered as brief catechism.s Though Maier admits of controversy in identifying them, he suggests they are 1:18-21, 2:21-25, and 3:18-22 (Wenham [editor] 1984, 105). He evaluates these passages particularly looking for influences on the readings. In these passages, the pre-existence of Christ, the value of his passion, and the power of his word emerge as essential concepts. In the context of these possibly catechetical passages, Maier also considers possible influence from the Pauline epistles and, to a lesser debree, the Old Testament. As before, while there are many similarities of concept and thought, Maier finds little specific parallel wording.
Maier further considers relationships between the catechetical passages of 1 Peter and material in Acts, particularly chaptesr two, three, and ten (Wenham [editor] 1984, 111). These are significant passages particularly because they describe Peter's preaching and teaching. As we might expect, the concepts are very similar. However, again, the specific wording, though possibly more similar than other passages reviewed thus far, does not compel us to think in terms of depencence.
Maier concludes that there is some literary distance between 1 Peter and the influences thus leading to similarity of ideas but not specifc language (Wenham [editor] 1984, 115). Maier further notes that by the time of composition of 1 Peter, the canonical Gospels would havebeen becoming available. The differences in wording would be more likely a factor of not yet adopting the speech patterns in the canonical materials, but considerin the ideas in the context of materials which could be a source for both 1 Peter and the canonical Gospels (Wenham [editor] 1984, 117). This can also explain, in Maier's opinion, the fact that the ideas in 1 Peter are found in the Synoptics and in John. The traditions underlying both would have been known to Peter (Wenham [editor] 1984, 118).
A brief observation - while Maier provides arather a lot of documentation of the verses he analyzes, he does so consistently in German, rather than in Greek. Perusal of his arguments with a Greek text could be of value.
Scholarly Reflections
Maier, Gerhard. "Chapter Four: Jesustradition im 1 Petrusbrief?" in Wenham, David (editor), The Jesus Tradition Outside the Gospels. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1984, 85-128.
Maier notes that 1 Peter has garnered a great deal of attention not only due to the possible disputes over authorship but also as scholars have attempted to identify the extent of the Jesus traditions appearing in the text (Wenham [editor] 1984, 85-86). A notable debate concerns the role of the words of Jesus as reported in 1 Peter. Maier observes the sides of the debate are represented by Ernest Best and Robert Gundry (Wenham [editor] 1984, 86). Maier proceeds to summarize the elements of both arguments. Best considers 1 Peter to draw on Jesus traditions outside of canonical sources, while Gundry looks for canonical sources (Wenham [editor] 1984, 87).
Analysis of possible parallel texts may shed light on the challenge. Best and Gundry recognize that there are strong similarities between 1 Peter 1:10-12 and Luke 24:25-27 (Wenham [editor] 1984, 88). This recognition leads to an analysis of the similarities. In fact, Best and Gundry examined multiple passages. While there are many parallel ideas, the wording doesn't match very precisely. The debate, then, remaidqns largely unresolved. However, some passages do strongly suggest an influence from material outside the canonical Gospels (Wenham [editor] 1984, 95).
Maier continues by seeking out similarities between 1 Peter and other works, now not as they were considered by Best and Gundry (Wenham [editor] 1984, 96). Again, he finds a good deal of similarity in ideas. However, it is rare to find identity in wording which would clearly point to a specific literary dependence.
Maier's conclusions based on his review thus far suggest that 1 Peter may show more influence from Jesus traditions themselves than from writings which have proven canonical (Wenham [editor] 1984, 102ff).
A number of passages in 1 Peter may be considered as brief catechism.s Though Maier admits of controversy in identifying them, he suggests they are 1:18-21, 2:21-25, and 3:18-22 (Wenham [editor] 1984, 105). He evaluates these passages particularly looking for influences on the readings. In these passages, the pre-existence of Christ, the value of his passion, and the power of his word emerge as essential concepts. In the context of these possibly catechetical passages, Maier also considers possible influence from the Pauline epistles and, to a lesser debree, the Old Testament. As before, while there are many similarities of concept and thought, Maier finds little specific parallel wording.
Maier further considers relationships between the catechetical passages of 1 Peter and material in Acts, particularly chaptesr two, three, and ten (Wenham [editor] 1984, 111). These are significant passages particularly because they describe Peter's preaching and teaching. As we might expect, the concepts are very similar. However, again, the specific wording, though possibly more similar than other passages reviewed thus far, does not compel us to think in terms of depencence.
Maier concludes that there is some literary distance between 1 Peter and the influences thus leading to similarity of ideas but not specifc language (Wenham [editor] 1984, 115). Maier further notes that by the time of composition of 1 Peter, the canonical Gospels would havebeen becoming available. The differences in wording would be more likely a factor of not yet adopting the speech patterns in the canonical materials, but considerin the ideas in the context of materials which could be a source for both 1 Peter and the canonical Gospels (Wenham [editor] 1984, 117). This can also explain, in Maier's opinion, the fact that the ideas in 1 Peter are found in the Synoptics and in John. The traditions underlying both would have been known to Peter (Wenham [editor] 1984, 118).
A brief observation - while Maier provides arather a lot of documentation of the verses he analyzes, he does so consistently in German, rather than in Greek. Perusal of his arguments with a Greek text could be of value.
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