6 - First Peter

Summary

History of discussion

An early Christian document which some have felt may constitute a background of Hebrews is 1 Peter. Grässer, who notes the numerous other NT writings with which Hebrews has been compared, says that “this comparison has nowhere been as justified as in the case of 1 Peter.” The resemblances seen by many have been used to argue variously that: (1) Hebrews was written at about the same time, to the same recipients, as 1 Peter; (2) Hebrews was written by a disciple of both Peter and Paul, and (in keeping with the Tübingen hypothesis), was intended to serve as an olive branch between the Pauline circle and the circle of Peter and James; (3) Hebrews was written by the author of 1 Peter. T.E. Ferris, in a special study of the two documents, attempted to prove that 1 Peter is “the paramount influence in Hebrews,” that Hebrews displays extensive literary borrowing from 1 Peter, and that 1 Peter's place as “the foundation” of Hebrews is a conclusion that cannot “be evaded.” Even Selwyn, who was more aware of the parallels between 1 Peter and other NT writings than most, was sufficiently impressed by the parallels with Hebrews in general, and those concentrated in Heb. 13:20f. in particular, to suggest either that “the author of Hebrews may have read 1 Peter and been haunted – as who would not be? – by its language,” or that “among ‘those from Italy’ (Heb. 13:24) who were beside him [Auctor] as he wrote there was one who had been the close associate of St. Paul in writing to Thessalonica and of St. Peter in his first Epistle” (not unlike the Tubingen solution mentioned above).