Texts in Conversation
In 1 Peter faith is compared to gold tested by fire, common language used in texts such as Zechariah where a remnant is refined like silver and tested like gold to prove their genuineness.
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Zechariah 13:9
Hebrew Bible
7 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate, ”says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Strike the shepherd that the flock may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the insignificant ones. 8 It will happen in all the land,” says the Lord, “that two-thirds of the people in it will be cut off and die, but one-third will be left in it. 9 Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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1 Peter 1:7
New Testament
5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. 7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Date: 60-65 C.E. (If authentic), 80-90 C.E. (If anonymous) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The second compelling piece of evidence for Liebengood (there are only two) is the shared reference to ‘fiery trials’. The metaphor of the fiery trial is contained in 1 Pet. 1.7 and 4.12. Liebengood argues that this image draws upon Zech. 13.8-9 (Liebengood 2014: 105-155). While both 1 Pet. 1.7 and Zech. 13.9 do refer to the testing or proving of gold there are key differences. In Zech. 13.9 the refinement of gold is said to be analogous to the way the pure remnant are brought through the fire. By contrast, in 1 Pet. 1.7, gold is said to be perishable even though tested with fire, and that is contrasted with faith that will be found at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1.7) ..."
Foster, P.
Echoes without Refernce: Critiquing Certain Aspects of Recent Scholarly Trends in the Study of the Jewish Scriptures in the New Testament
(pp. 96-111) Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 38, No. 1, 2015
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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