THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER Edited by THE REV. G. W. BLENKIN, M.A. Vicar of Hitchin, and Prebendary of Lincoln Cathedral Church, WITH NOTES AND INTRODUCTION Cambridge: at the University Press 1914 PREFACE BY THE GENERAL EDITOR HE General Editor does not hold himself respon THE sible, except in the most general sense, for the statements, opinions, and interpretations contained in the several volumes of this Series. He believes that the value of the Introduction and the Commentary in each case is largely dependent on the Editor being free as to his treatment of the questions which arise, provided that that treatment is in harmony with the character and scope of the Series. He has therefore contented himself with offering criticisms, urging the consideration of alternative interpretations, and the like; and as a rule he has left the adoption of these suggestions to the discretion of the Editor. The Greek Text adopted in this Series is that of Dr Westcott and Dr Hort with the omission of the marginal readings. For permission to use this Text the thanks of the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press and of the General Editor are due to Messrs Macmillan & Co. TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. M179238 THE PREFACE HE completion of this commentary has been unavoidably delayed by the thronging duties of parochial work since my departure from Cambridge. In the Notes and Introduction I have relied chiefly upon the study of other New Testament Books and of the Septuagint with which the Epistle is saturated. The opinions adopted are in many cases based upon the views of other commentators too numerous to mention. I must, however, express my indebtedness to the commentary of Dr Hort upon the earlier portion of the Epistle, and to that of Dr Bigg upon the whole book, even where I fail to concur with his views. For the problems of date and authorship I have derived most help from the exhaustive articles of Dr Chase on S. Peter and 1 Peter in Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible, and not without full consideration have I ventured to differ from some of the conclusions of Professor Ramsay in The Church in the Roman Empire. My thanks are due to the Syndics of the University Press for their patient forbearance and to the General Editor for his great kindness in reading the proofs and for much valuable criticism. July 1914. G. W. B. |