The First letter of Peter

Der Predigtentwurf zu 1Petr 5,1–4 reflektiert die zugrundeliegenden exegetisch-hermeneutischen, systematisch-theologischen und homiletischen Entscheidungen. Der Aufbau der Arbeit folgt dem „Stufenmodell der Predigtvorbereitung“ bei Henning Luther und gliedert sich in die Abschnitte Wahrnehmungen (II.), Verarbeitung (III.) und Reflexion der Predigtgestalt (IV.). Die ausformulierte Predigt steht am Ende der Arbeit (V.).

Durante mucho tiempo, el centro de atencion en los estudios dela primera carta de Pedro fue la estrategia propuesta por el autor a sus destinatariospara que, sin renunciar a su fe, superaran la hostilidad de la queeran victimas. El presente articulo intenta responder a la pregunta por el rolde la teologia en la estrategia de 1 Pe, aportando como resultado una perspectivaalternativa a las tesis ya conocidas de aculturacion y conformidad, poruna parte, y de resistencia, por otra. El estudio corresponde a la segundaparte del trabajo publicado anteriormente bajo el titulo “Los destinatariosde la primera carta de Pedro en la sociedad greco-romana del siglo i”. Palabras clave: 1 Pedro. Teologia y etica. Buena conducta. Epistolas catolicas.Cristianismo primitivo. Aculturacion.    Theology and Strategy in the First Letter of Peter Abstract: For a long time, the centre of attention in the studies of 1 Peter wasthe strategy proposed by the author to his addressees, in order to overcome thehos...

This study examines the perceptions of Christians within the most important socio-political milieus in today’s Turkey. Methodically it undertakes a qualitative content analysis of five Turkish daily newspapers. First a retrospect depicts the most prominent historical factors for the attitude towards Christians in Turkey: early Islam, the societal status of Christian minori-ties in the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic, the interference of “Christian” powers during the crusades and later in the age of colonialism.
The analysis of the newspapers Yeniçağ, Millî Gazete, Yeni Şafak, Milliyet and Cumhuri-yet, which are selected for representing the different milieus, proves to provide meaningful and adequately differentiated results concerning the perceptions of Christians. It becomes obvious that secular Kemalism, Turkish-Islamic nationalism, Islamism in its different flavors, and democratic liberalism manifest thoroughly different perceptions of Christians. Simultane-ously, significant common ground of the perspectives under examination can be demonstrat-ed, especially in terms of a deep mistrust against Christian missionary activities in Turkey.
In the systematizing part of the study, ideological, historic-political, and psychological-sociological reasons are established for the mostly negative attitude towards Christians in Turkey. In addition the necessity of a Christian theological interpretation of the accusations against Christians is substantiated. Appropriate Christian responses are identified, with special attention to the First Letter of Peter. A theologically justified integration of verbal abuse into the broader framework of persecution creates the interpretational foundation for determining a variety of possible responses. Prominent among these responses are a debate about the accu-sations against Christian mission and the self-assurance of one’s Christian identity. The First Letter of Peter suggests active strategies to mitigate societal prejudice, but at the same time calls for Christians to patiently bear accusations according to the example of Christ and for his sake.

An edited and updated version of the dissertation was published as:

2017. Anschuldigungen und Antwort des Glaubens: Wahrnehmungen von Christen in türkischen Tageszeitungen und Maßstäbe für eine geistliche Reaktion. Berlin: LIT (Beiträge zur Missionswissenschaft/Interkulturellen Theologie, Bd. 38).

When looked at from the modern reader’s perspective, the “Marriage Table”, which is one of the elements of the so-called Haustafeln (household codes), is a quite difficult passage. This is more so since there are a few of them in the New Testament (Eph 5,22-6,9; Col 3,18-4,1; Tit 2,1-10 and 1 Pet 2,13-3,7). The main difficulty that one encounters while reading them is that they stress a lower status of women, expressed in the idea of “subjection”. The “Marriage Table” in 1 Pet 3,1-7, which is examined in the article, adds two aspects to the aforementioned interpretational problem: the religious diversity of spouses (mixed marriages) and, following it, violence. Numerous preachers accept a literal interpretation of the text, arguing that a woman in a marriage with an aggressive husband should endure the violence. A contextual and intertextual reading, however, leads us to discover that the heroic act of sacrifice for the sake of the husband’s conversion is not obligatory, but should be treated as an act of free will. Therefore a woman’s voluntary submission as well as her being a victim of aggression for a greater good can subscribe to an idea of agape which Paul mentions in the “Marriage Table” of Eph 5,21-33.

In Turkey, we find a remarkable degree of prejudice against Christians. Opinion formers of the nationalistic and the Islamist ideologies use and deepen the existing prejudice to define Christian identity in a way that may lead to more violent forms of persecution and to a wrong self-image of the Christians themselves. Therefore, an important element of persecution in today’s Turkey is a battle for defining Christian identity. As a response to wrong definitions, Christians have to focus on the real Christian identity.  The First Letter of Peter speaks into a similar situation of suffering through prejudice and ostracism. The letter focuses on the assurance of real Christian identity and on a warning of Christians to provoke wrong definitions by inconvenient behavior.

El presente artículo tiene por objeto examinar de modo introductorio el significado del término diáspora en la primera carta de Pedro, y a la vez, ofrecer al lector perspectivas de análisis que enriquezcan la comprensión del mensaje de la carta. Con el estudio del término diáspora desde diversas áreas, se busca abordar lo que, ya varios años atrás, planteó la Pontificia Comisión Bíblica acerca de la interpretación bíblica (1993): valorar las posibilidades abiertas por los distintos métodos y orientar hacia la búsqueda del sentido del texto. Teniendo en cuenta la amplitud de ese propósito frente a lo acotado de este estudio, la pretensión es dar cuenta de cuatro perspectivas desde donde es posible aproximarse a un escrito bíblico: sentido alegórico, exégesis sociológica, influencia cultural y análisis literario. En adelante se analizará el término diáspora en la primera carta de Pedro desde estas cuatro perspectivas.

Resumen: El presente artículo examina la Primera carta de Pedro a partir de la perspectiva que el documento La sinodalidad en la vida y en la misión de la Iglesia ofrece acerca de la sinodalidad y sus dinamismos. A partir de un análisis literario y contextual de la carta se abordan las expresiones que ponen en evidencia la intención del autor con las iglesias de Asia Menor de gestar comunión y "hacer camino" juntos. El estudio de la carta se concentra en tres aspectos: la carta y su autor que se identifica con Pedro, el análisis de las expresiones que manifiestan su espíritu sinodal y los aspectos que orientan la organización y vida de la comunidad. La finalidad del estudio es ofrecer al lector una reflexión acerca de los dinamismos y procesos sinodales que se reflejan en una carta oficial de la Iglesia de los primeros tiempos.

In 1 Pt 2:4-10 the community of Christian believers is exposed as a group that is integrated like a family. The disciples of Jesus believe in the same values and live them amidst the world that is strange and hostile. The instructions of the author aim to convince them that their holiness should be based on the constant deepening of their personal relationship with Christ. By accepting faith they were involved in the work of salvation that was initiated and realized by God in Christ. They were chosen and take part “in the blood of Jesus Christ” – in his passion and death, resurrection and life. Each of them becomes a living stone and imitates Christ, and all of them form a spiritual home – the Church. The author of 1 Pt 2:4-10 submits a very novel idea of Christian community as a family home. The metaphor is very expressive and has deep theological capacity. It describes both the spiritual bonds among the members of the community and among them and Christ – who is the corner stone without whom the edifice of the Church loses its identity and reason for existence.

Lo studio enuclea all'interno della Prima Lettera di Pietro il nesso intercorrente tra la testimonianza ecclesiale e la memoria creativa di Cristo crocifisso e risorto, o - detto con le parole di Papa Benedetto XVI - tra un’evangelizzazione «a tutto campo» e un cammino «sulle orme del Maestro, anche nel nostro tempo».