We get an insight into how hard it was to be a Christian in the Roman Empire.
The life of peace
1 Peter 3:1-13
The righteous life
1 Peter 4:1-11
Rejoicing in sufferings
1 Peter 4:12-19
Exhortation to be strong
1 Peter 5:1-9
Concluding prayer
1 Peter 5:10-14
Letter to the Hebrews: Christ greater than angels
Hebrews 1:1-14
He took on human nature
Hebrew’s 2:1-9
His sufferings and victory
Hebrews 2:10-18
Peter is concerned that those he is writing to should stand up under suffering and persecution. It was not easy being a Christian in those days - almost everyone else tended to automatically hate you. Those who Peter calls pagans “are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.” (4:4) This is a typical response of young non-Christians today. We know that the Romans and the Jews hated Christians also, so it was no picnic being known as a follower of Jesus.
Peter confronts the issue head on, saying “if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (4:16) He offers no cure, and little comfort, simply saying that Jesus suffered, and we should be pleased to be able to imitate him. It is likely that Peter couldn’t be too explicit, because the Roman authorities would have made life even worse for Christians if they thought that seditious literature was circulating among them. So he concludes his letter with cryptic words: “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings.” (5:13) This means, hello from the church in Rome! But probably even admitting in writing that there were Christians in Rome would have been dangerous.
Tough times.
And so to the letter to the Hebrews. Written anonymously, long thought to be by Paul, but it doesn’t read like him at all, so we really haven’t a clue who wrote it. It was written to Jewish Christians who were thinking about giving up their new faith and going back to the old one, probably as a result of considerable pressure, but not to the extent of martyrdom. It gives theological reasons why Jesus is better than Judaism. Chapter 1 tells us that he is better than angels. Chapter 2 tells us that he was fully human, so he understands and sympathises with our plight.
The life of peace
1 Peter 3:1-13
The righteous life
1 Peter 4:1-11
Rejoicing in sufferings
1 Peter 4:12-19
Exhortation to be strong
1 Peter 5:1-9
Concluding prayer
1 Peter 5:10-14
Letter to the Hebrews: Christ greater than angels
Hebrews 1:1-14
He took on human nature
Hebrew’s 2:1-9
His sufferings and victory
Hebrews 2:10-18
Peter is concerned that those he is writing to should stand up under suffering and persecution. It was not easy being a Christian in those days - almost everyone else tended to automatically hate you. Those who Peter calls pagans “are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.” (4:4) This is a typical response of young non-Christians today. We know that the Romans and the Jews hated Christians also, so it was no picnic being known as a follower of Jesus.
Peter confronts the issue head on, saying “if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (4:16) He offers no cure, and little comfort, simply saying that Jesus suffered, and we should be pleased to be able to imitate him. It is likely that Peter couldn’t be too explicit, because the Roman authorities would have made life even worse for Christians if they thought that seditious literature was circulating among them. So he concludes his letter with cryptic words: “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings.” (5:13) This means, hello from the church in Rome! But probably even admitting in writing that there were Christians in Rome would have been dangerous.
Tough times.
And so to the letter to the Hebrews. Written anonymously, long thought to be by Paul, but it doesn’t read like him at all, so we really haven’t a clue who wrote it. It was written to Jewish Christians who were thinking about giving up their new faith and going back to the old one, probably as a result of considerable pressure, but not to the extent of martyrdom. It gives theological reasons why Jesus is better than Judaism. Chapter 1 tells us that he is better than angels. Chapter 2 tells us that he was fully human, so he understands and sympathises with our plight.
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