Conflict, Community, and Honor: 1 Peter in Social-Scientific Perspective

by J.H. Elliott

Endorsements: "Affirming that 1 Peter represents from beginning to end a coherent and integrated line of thought, Prof. Elliott seeks to show in these two essays how this pastoral letter, forged to respond to the alienated situation of its readers, employs the conceptuality of the moral discourse and pivotal values of honor and shame that reigned in its contemporary world. The book is an excellent introduction to Prof. Elliott's seminal work in applying social-scientific analysis of this New Testament writing, and will richly reward its careful reader."" --Paul J. Achtemeier author of 1 Peter (Hermeneia) "[This volume] reveals the letter in its own context, in such a way that we can appropriate its message and values into our own." --Carolyn Osiek coauthor of A Woman's Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity ""Here, as elsewhere, Elliott expertly joins the findings of social-scientific research with the insights of literary and theological analysis to clarify the 'good news' that is proclaimed in this often-overlooked New Testament writing."" --Victor Paul Furnish author of The Moral Teaching of Paul About the Contributor(s): John H. Elliott is Professor of New Testament Emeritus at the University of San Francisco. Among his numerous publications are A Home for the Homeless, The Elect and Holy, What Is Social-Scientific Criticism?, and 1 Peter (Anchor Bible).

106 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

Sir John Huxtable Elliott, FBA, was an English historian, Regius Professor Emeritus at the University of Oxford and Honorary Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford and Trinity College, Cambridge. He published under the name J.H. Elliott.

Elliott was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was an assistant lecturer at Cambridge University from 1957 to 1962 and Lecturer in History from 1962 until 1967, and was subsequently Professor of History at King's College, London between 1968 and 1973. In 1972 he was elected to the Fellowship of the British Academy. Elliott was Professor in the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey from 1973 to 1990, and was Regius Professor of Modern History, Oxford between 1990 and 1997.

He held honorary doctorates from the Autonomous University of Madrid (1983), the universities Genoa (1992), Portsmouth (1993), Barcelona (1994), Warwick (1995), Brown University (1996), Valencia (1998), Lleida (1999), Complutense University of Madrid (2003), College of William & Mary (2005), London (2007), Charles III University of Madrid (2008), Seville (2011), Alcalá (2012), and Cambridge (2013). Elliott is a Fellow of the Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford, of whose Founding Council he was also a member.

Elliott was knighted in the 1994 New Year Honours for services to history and was decorated with Commander of Isabella the Catholic in 1987, the Grand Cross of Alfonso the Wise in 1988, the Grand Cross of Isabella the Catholic in 1996, and the Creu de Sant Jordi in 1999. An eminent Hispanist, he was given the Prince of Asturias Prize in 1996 for his contributions to the Social sciences. For his outstanding contributions to the history of Spain and the Spanish Empire in the early modern period, Elliott was awarded the Balzan Prize for History, 1500–1800, in 1999.

His studies of the Iberian Peninsula and the Spanish Empire helped the understanding of the problems confronting 16th- and 17th-century Spain, and the attempts of its leaders to avert its decline. He is considered, together with Raymond Carr and Angus Mackay, a major figure in developing Spanish historiography.

Reviews

[Chuck]

Insightful treatment of "resident aliens" and "shame and honor" as themes explicated in 1 Peter. Helpful in terms of understanding how and why Christians are strangers in the world. Brief, but packed with insight.

[Bill Hooten]

John Elliott is the author of the volume on I Peter in the Anchor Bible series, and another book on I Peter called "A Home for the Homeless." This book is two short essays, one is about that Peter describes the recipients of his letter as "resident aliens" in their world; and the second is the role of "honor and shame" in their culture and used in Peter's letter. I was more interested in the first essay, as I feel that Peter has much to say to 21st Christians in their world. It was well-written, and very interesting and compelling. I recommend it to anyone that has an interest in this subject.

[Matt Adams]

First essay was much more enjoyable than the second. The first essay speaks directly to the struggles that our society is experiencing, and it reminds us that Christ has called for his people to remain steadfast.

[Ali McNeely]

For BT613: General Epistles