Preface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
Summary
The impetus for this project began in Cameroon, West Africa, where in the course of teaching New Testament theology and exegesis at the Faculté de Théologie Evangélique du Cameroun (2000–2004) questions arose about the nature of salvation in general and the eternal state of those Africans who had died without ever being exposed to the message of salvation in particular. It was with respect to the latter that the interpretation of 1 Pet. 3:19 (with its reference to Christ’s proclamation to the spirits in prison) and 4:6 (with its reference to the preaching of the gospel to the dead) and its implications for the African church became acute. At the end of my second academic year at the Faculté I devoted the three months of my ‘summer’ holidays to an in-depth study of this entire passage (3:18–4:6). The first letter of Peter acquired fresh relevance in that context, and the questions simmered during the next two years of teaching (which incorporated a study of this passage).
When my missionary contract for West Africa ended, opportunity to explore the passages more fully came with doctoral studies at the University of Otago, assisted by a very generous University of Otago postgraduate scholarship, for which I am very grateful. In the course of my research I have accrued a number of other debts. My supervisor, the Revd Dr Paul Trebilco (Professor of New Testament at the University of Otago), offered steady advice, rigorous criticism, and generous friendship. He always struck the right balance between offering excellent advice and fostering independence. This, coupled with his enthusiastic encouragement and support, made my time of research at the University of Otago a real pleasure. I also wish to acknowledge the valuable contribution of my second supervisor, Dr Ivor Davidson (Professor of Systematic Theology), whose critical comments and theological insight made those theological portions of this work much better than they otherwise would have been. If this book suggests any significant contribution, it will be due in large part to their skilful and insightful supervision. The superb facilities of the University of Otago library were made accessible by competent and courteous staff. Moreover, I could never have accomplished the depth of research without the valuable assistance of the interloan library staff at the University of Otago, who tracked down my many (and at times obscure) interloan requests, and who helped render distance an illusion.
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- The Doctrine of Salvation in the First Letter of Peter , pp. xi - xiiPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011