To note, finally, traditions regarding Peter's literary activity, apart from the two canonical works to be considered in another connexion, there are extant fragments of a Gospel of Peter, an Apoca- lypse of Peter, a Preaching of Peter, and an Epistle of Peter to James prefixed to the Clementine Homi- lies. Jerome (de Vir. ill. i. 1) refers to a work of Peter's called Judicium, but nothing is known of its contents. It may be noted also that tradition connected Peter's name indirectly with the Gospel of Mark (Eusebius, HE III. xxxix. 15). Of the Gospel of Peter we know only a few paragraphs near the end, which speak of the trial of Jesus, the mockery, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. The final words are : ' And I, Simon Peter, and Andrew my brother, took our nets and departed to the sea, and Levi the son of Alphasus was with us, whom the Lord . . .'* Serapion, bishop of Antioch (c. 190), at first permitted this Gospel to circulate at Rliossus, but later condemned it as heretical because it was alleged to be of Docetic origin (Eusebius, HE vi. xii. 2-6). The document probably came into existence about, or not long after, the j'ear 150. The extant remains of the Apocalypse of Peter are in quantity about equal to those of the Gospel, less than a half-dozen ordin- ary pages. Jesus is represented as granting the apostles, in response to their request, a vision of their righteous brethren who have passed over to the future world. The abode of the blessed is disclosed, and also the place of torment, where the wicked are suffering punishments corresponding to their respective types of sinful conduct while upon earth. Clement of Alexandria, who has preserved a number of fragments from this work, sometimes cites it as Scripture (Eclog. prophet. 41), as does the unknown author of the Muratorian Canon. It probably arose in the 2nd century. The remains of the Preaching are more brief and scattered, but apparently it was known and used more widely in antiquity than either of the other works. Clement of Alexandria is our best witness to the content of the document (cf. Strom. I. xxix. 182, VI. v. 39-41, 43, vi. 48, XV. 128). The treatise, which he possessed entire, purported to be the work of Peter, and emphasized monotheism in contrast with inferior ideas of Greeks and Jews. Apparently it was de- signed for use in the missionary propaganda. Its early and wide currency has led scholars to place its composition in the first half of the 2nd cent, (cf. Harnack, op. cit. p. 472 tt'. ).
Literature. — ^Treatises on the Apostolic A?e and on early Christian literature usually deal in a general way with our sub-
* The fragment has often been edited since its discovery at Akhmim in 1886. It may he found in convenient form, together with other Petrine fragments, in H. Lietzmann's Kleiiie Tezte fur theotogische Vorle.tuntjeii UTid Ubungen, * Apocrypha,' i., ed. E. Klostermann, Bonn, li)03.
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ject. Discussions devoted exclvisively to Peter are nminl.v ftrtt. in the various Dictionaries, the more important beiiur F. H. Chase, ' l'eter(Simon),'iui/i)B iii. 7.')0-77U ; P. W. Schmiedel, 'Simon Peter,' in EBiiv. 44S'J-4C'27 ; F. Sieffert, 'Petrusder Apostcl.' in PJiE3 XV. 186-'J03 ; K. Lake, ' Petcr.lSt,' in Klii-n xxi. 285-'2S3. Important treatments of special topics liave hccn cited in the course of tlie discussion. To liiese siiould be added the valuable critical work of C. Guignebert, La I'rimaitU de Pierre et la venne de Pierre d liuiiw, Paris, IHOft, which has an exhaustive bibliography. S. J. CASE.
PETER, EPISTLES OF.— The NT contains two writings bearing the name of Peter. Since tlie problems connected with tliese Epistles depend for their solution mainly upon the internal indicia of the documents themselves, a r6suni6 of their con- tent is first in order. It will also be convenient to treat the two letters separately.
A. First Peter. — 1. Content. — The content of this Epistle may be outlined as follows :
(a) Salutation (I"-).— The apostle Peter greets Christians of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These believers are reminded of the fact that they are merely temporary residents on earth, their real citizenship being in heaven. God the Father, knowing in advance their ultimate destiny, has given them a spiritual sanctilication to the end that they may be obedient children and may receive the saving benetits accruing to those who have been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.
(6) Praise to God for the surety of ultimate salvation (1^"'-). — Since Christ has been raised from the dead those who are united to Him by faith are sure of obtaining the Divine salvation to be revealed in the near future when the present world-order shall be brought to an end. On the basis of this certainty believers rejoice exceedingly, notwithstanding temporary afflictions, which only serve to prove the genuineness of their faith. Their salvation has been prophesied by the ancients, it was preached by the spiritually equipped evan- gelists, and even angels desired to peer into these matters.
(c) The type of personal life befitting individuals who are to inherit so great salvation {l"-3'-). — (1) In view of believers' blessed condition as heirs of the heavenly inheritance about to be disclosed, they should "be pure in their personal life. Since God who has chosen them is holy, as is also Christ who redeemed them, they too should live right- eously. They have been re-born to a new and incorruptible condition of being, and, like new- born infants, their nourishment is to be derived from the sphere of the new life into which they have come. They are a new race, a peculiar people, set apart to live the heavenly life while yet on earth (I'^-e'").