Employing a narratological approach, Abson Joseph links the structure of 1 Peter with God’s actions on behalf of Israel. Using a three-layered distinction of narrative—fabula (raw material), story, and text—Joseph studies the text of 1 Peter and shows the presence of a fabula that comprises four main elements: election, suffering, steadfastness, and vindication. Joseph asserts that this fabula is common to the experiences of Israel, Jesus, and the epistle’s audience and thus shapes the narrative substructure of the epistle and constitutes the lens through which the author urges his audience to make sense of its situation.
Joseph argues that the author of 1 Peter urges the audience to view suffering only as a temporary experience that befalls the elect. Suffering is to be met with faithful response because God vindicates the righteous sufferer. The narrative substructure provides evidence of God’s vindication of righteous sufferers, serves as basis for the author’s exhortations to the audience, and substantiates his claims about God’s ability to vindicate those who remain steadfast in the face of suffering.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
Save more when you purchase this book as part of the T&T Clark General Epistles Collection.
“This ‘volume’ of echoes10 in 1 Peter leads to further consideration of the Exodus story” (Page 124)
“Green has offered a scheme of the narrative of 1 Peter and demonstrated how the author’s instruction is set within and determined by a temporal map.4 While making a case for narrative theology in an epistle, Green suggests, ‘1 and 2 Peter are self-evidently epistolary; they do not tell a story. Nevertheless, even these books participate in a narrative—or better, they manipulate the grand story of God’s engagement with the world and his people for theological purposes’” (Page 34)
“I will show that the lens through which the author of 1 Peter reads Scripture and encourages his audience to makes sense of their situation comprises four elements: election, suffering, steadfastness, and vindication.” (Page 25)
“Narrative plays an important role in identity formation” (Page 39)
“The author of 1 Peter emphasizes that one should not suffer for the wrong reasons, and should meet trials, when they occur, with ‘faithful response’, which comprises ‘steadfastness’, ‘doing good’, and ‘subordination’ (2:18–20; 3:15–17).” (Page 122)