Ora Dclmcr Foster, Introduction. 371 



example, there is little agreement among scholars concerning the 

 date of Hebrews, James and I Peter, though they are of the utmost 

 importance for an understanding of this age. After a prolonged 

 battle over the origin of the Gospels, scholars enjoyed a brief period 

 of truce, but they have again been summoned to action by Har- 

 nack's recent challenge. That this great scholar should move the 

 dates of the Synoptic Gospels so far back, in the face of all but 

 universal agreement, furnishes a good illustration of the need of 

 more critical study of the literature of this most difficult period. 



Probably no one book, if properly located, will throw more light 

 on this puzzling period than the First Epistle of Peter. Though 

 small, it contains, in proportion to its size, perhaps more points 

 of contact with other New Testament literature than any other 

 book of the New Testament. It is exceedingly important that 

 the problems in connection with its authorship be solved. If, as 

 many contend, the Epistle is genuine, it is probably the only written 

 legacy we possess from any of the original " Twelve." Since, as 

 is agreed by scholars of all schools, the Epistle is thoroughly 

 Pauline, we should have, in the case of its genuineness, a key to the 

 solution of the problem of how the Pauline and the Petrine mission 

 fields were ultimately united. But the very difficult problem of 

 how Peter became so thoroughly Pauhnized is presented. If the 

 great Apostle to the Circumcision is the author, then important 

 information is here supplied not only regarding the early influence 

 of Paul upon Peter, but also regarding the early development 

 of Christian thought as well as the extent of the Neronian persecu- 

 tions, which in that case would be alluded to in I Peter. 



But if, as others contend, I Peter was not written by the one whose 

 name it bears, it modifies our views of all this period. In this case 

 its evidence amounts to very little in reconstructing the history of 

 the period until it is definitely located in time and place. 



Since the date of this Epistle must be determined before certainty 

 can be obtained regarding its authorship, the present inquiry is 

 concerned about its location in time. The Literary Relations have 

 a very small bearing upon the problem of authorship, but much on 

 the question of date. 



Of all the disputed books of the New Testament no one is more 

 important to locate. Some make it antedate the PauHne Epistles, 

 others put it as late as the fourth decade of the Second Century. 

 Each decade between these extremes has its claimants for its date. 

 Scholars have differed just as widely as to its place of origin. Some 

 claim that it was written at Babylon on the Euphrates, others that 



