The Roman ad bestias Execution as a Possible Historical Background for 1 Peter 5.8

Most commentators on 1 Pet. 5.8 understand the lion picture as a metaphor for (1) the Christian believer’s human enemies (e.g. Bigg, Achtemeier, Elliott, Michaels; cf. LXX Ps. 21.14) or (2) ungodly world systems (e.g. Jobes) under the Devil’s power. This article offers a more literal explanation: th...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Paschke, Boris 1976- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Sage 2006
In: Journal for the study of the New Testament
Year: 2006, Volume: 28, Issue: 4, Pages: 489-500
Further subjects:B execution
B ad bestias
B Devil
B Roman Empire
B Lion
B Persecution
B Apostle Peter
B Arena
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Most commentators on 1 Pet. 5.8 understand the lion picture as a metaphor for (1) the Christian believer’s human enemies (e.g. Bigg, Achtemeier, Elliott, Michaels; cf. LXX Ps. 21.14) or (2) ungodly world systems (e.g. Jobes) under the Devil’s power. This article offers a more literal explanation: the Roman ad bestias execution. So far this interpretation of the lion image has been mentioned only by a minority of exegetes (e.g. Rymer, Perdelwitz) and in passing. Nobody has tried to substantiate this obvious interpretation with first-century CE ad bestias witnesses. Such an enterprise is carried out in the present article, with the result that the Roman ad bestias execution can be considered a possible—perhaps even probable—historical background for 1 Pet. 5.8.
ISSN:1745-5294
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the New Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0142064X06065696