1st and 2nd Peter

1st and 2nd scape The Christians slightly the prison term I Peter was written were undergoing some intense persecution. Socially they were shunned, ab utilise, insulted and ridiculed, and Peter realized that the circumstances were acquire worse. Nero was Emperor of Rome during the clock time I Peter was written. He oversaw the persecutions of Christians. Peter wrote this letter to offer encouragement to Christians suffering this persecution. (I Peter 218-20) As a result the church in Jerusalem was creation scattered throughout Asia Minor.Some of the slipway Christians were being persecution during Neros time were, being nailed to crosses or sewn up in the skins of wild beasts and left in the sun to die a horrible and painful death. They were used as torches to illumine Neros par hold fasts. Through this time it was Peter who reminded them that Jesus has set an example for e trulyone and that although there is much suffering on Earth, they are promised an imperishable inherit ance in heaven. It states in I Peter 221-23 that this suffering is all part of what God has called to you. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example.Follow in his steps. He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get still. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. That is what the letter rejoices. Although the Christians wanted so negative to get even with Emperor Nero and his people, they stayed humble, and pulled through their suffering (I Peter 39). The author calls Christians to be holy as God is holy, for they are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and Gods chosen people.In the Bible it does state that as a Christian you have decided to not go ski binding to the evil desires such as immorality and lust, feasting and drinking and wild parties and worshipping opposite idols, provided you impart be anxious to do the impart of God (I Peter 42-3). The Bible s ays that there will be people who are surprised that you dont participate in their wicked ways and they will say evil things about you and torture you (I Peter 44-5). This is much like the Christians during the time of Nero.Nero didnt understand why Christians didnt believe and worshiped like his people did, therefore he entirely rejected their ideas and put them through a lot of torment. One reason for their persecution was their life-style as aliens and fo runers in the heathen culture. Peter wanted Christians to know that, yes, we as Christians are aliens and foreigners not only to Rome but also to this world. We are only vi teaseors here, and in our short time we have here we must re chief(prenominal) and glorify God in everyway possible (I Peter 117 & 1Peter211).Nero is described to be fair- haired, with atonic blue eyes, a rather large neck, and a potbelly. He came off to have a very strange mixture of absurdity. Nero was artistic, weak, sensual, bi-sexual, aggressive, extr avagant, and later in life rather disturbed. Early on in his ruling, Nero came crossways as very a civilized person. He gave the senate more freedom and considered ending the murder of criminals and gladiators in the arenas, he do city wide reforms and was very upset that the law required him to put three hundred slaves to death over the fact that their master, a powerful senator, was poisoned by them.Many historians report that he was very antipathetic to do it. Later on in his ruling he became absolutely obsessed with the arts, recreation, and sexual desires. He had many battles and began to go about his evil ways at once his mother began spreading reports. The main reason Nero persecuted the Christians was because of something that happened during the burning of his city. It was around 64 A. D. when the Great Fire of Rome took place. Rome had 14 variant districts and only 4 of them remained untouched.The fire burned for a total of 6 days and 6 nights. At that time, people started a lot of rumors about Nero, saying that he fiddled while Rome burned and this rumor spread throughout Rome, creating other rumors. People believed that Nero was the one who started the fire so that he could totally hang-up out Rome and start a new city named after him in its place, also that he could build a better palace. Nero didnt like the fact that people were spreading rumors about him so he decided he needed a scapegoat to blame the fire on.He chose the Christians. Neros exploit to use them to take all of the blame off of him failed. Everyone turned against him after this tragic event and the senate decided that he should be flogged to death. But instead of going through this humiliation, he made the decision to give way suicide. He died in 68 A. D. and during his 14 years he managed to establish a bloody reign of terror and to the world he will always be remembered as an insane tyrant. The culture around the time of Nero was rather interesting.Much of the furniture they used was couches, not too many chairs, and they almost always reclined even at the dinner table. The most popular room was the lavatory were there were rows of toilets with arm rests were people would sit and talk for an hour or more. Baths were equivalent to that of a modern day athletic club. There were some(prenominal) rooms including the sweat room and the warm room where sweat was scraped off by slaves because soap was unknown.Foot races, boxing, and hand-to-hand struggle were minor sports in this era but chariot racing and gladiator contests where the most amusing to watch. These events tie in to the persecution theme of I Peter. When Emperor Nero decided to blame the Christians for the burning, he threw them in to the arena and made them face gladiators and wild animals, killing them. Peter says that we should expect ridicule, rejection and suffering and that persecution makes us stronger because it refines our faith (I Peter 221-25).Nero completely rejected the idea of family. After his stepfather adopted him, he was engaged to his stepsister Octavia, and after for a while he became involved with a woman named Acte. As he became even more lustful, he began having an affair with another woman and his mother got enraged and sided with Octavia. He then attempted to kill his mother, more than once it was said. He tried poisoning her 3 times, he also tried to murder her by loosening her ceiling on a boat and almost drowning her but she managed to escape.After his failing attempts, he then leased an assassin who clubbed and stabbed her to her death in 59 A. D. Peter truly encouraged the idea of family life in the fact that he urged all family members to treat other with sympathy, love, tenderness and humility (I Peter Chapter 3). Finally, the theme that is bring mostly in II Peter is the false teachings. One of the reasons that Nero persecuted almost all the Christians was that fact that they didnt conform to the heathen culture that he encourage d during his reign.Heathen culture emphasize the importance of relationships with gods and goddesses, ancestors, spirits of the land, and others in the community. Since the Christians living in Rome at the time believed in the one true(p) God they were mocked and tortured, but in no way did they give into the false teachings that were in their surroundings ( II Peter chapter 2) Works Cited Nosotro, Rit. Nero. 13. 05. 2007. 13. 05. 07 . Christian, Imanual. bible. org. I Peter how should we live in a Pagan Culture. 13 May 2007 .

Maggie: a Girl on the Streets

Maggie A miss On the Streets The problems that were confront by Maggie, and many other women in the lower social-economic levels during the Gilded Age, are virtually unbearable to imagine. She faced discrimination, attachment issues, and grew up with a dysfunctional family that failed to show union. Fortunately for Maggie, she wasnt care the people she lived around. As Stephen Crane put it, None of the dirt of Rum Alley seemed to be in her veins (Maggie 16). This unique feature acquired by Maggie gave her the ability to improve her chance, even by a slim chance.Maggie grew up with a family who would have been classified as the low-class, in the scums of New York City. This is where Maggie naturally sets back her chances on ultimately leaving her awful neighborhood, also known as Rum Alley. The name of the neighborhood basically describes the theatrical role of neighborhood it really is. Its filled with many alcoholic families, with children who dont receive the affection that they deserve from their elders. This unfortunately makes it difficult for Maggie to find help inside her neighborhood, which forces her to make full decisions inside her neighborhood.Maggie was discriminated on mainly for one reason for being a woman. During this time period, women were socially accepted inside the house, and not out of it. On the passageways was where men were found whether they were working, or drinking at the local tavern. Women at this time were harassed unapologetically. For example, when Pete comes to Maggies house he tells her, Im stuck on yer shape. Its outa sight. (Maggie 19). Maggie didnt want to end up as a low-life scum living as a housewife when she became older. She wanted to be somebody. divergence of women and lower-class citizens unfairly held Maggie back from the start.She had a slim-to-none chance. Maggie suffered attachment issues numerous times in the novel. She became afraid to abet anyone because all of her previous attachments had left her. Maggie finds herself falling for a young man named Pete. Pete comes off as a nice gentleman, but behind his good looks is just another boy looking for a good time. He keeps this hidden from Maggie until later he seduces her into having sex, then leaves her. Maggies brother, Jimmie, abandons her after Maggie brings disgrace on the family after having sex with Pete. Maggies mother, Mary, abandons her after Maggie runs away from home.Mary blames Maggie on her immorality instead of considering her own alcohol problem. As stated before, Rum Alley was occupied with several alcohol-induced dwellers that participated in lower-class activities such as street fighting. Maggies family wasnt any exception. Both Maggies parents were extreme alcoholics. Mary was destructive as they get. Considered the prosopopoeia of the devil, Mary is hypocritical enough to condemn her daughter for immorality. Maggies father, Mr. Johnson, is only referred to his last name in the book. He isnt in the novel for very long until he dies.What is seen of Mr. Johnson is a brutally red-faced father who dwells at the bars every night to escape the living hell at home. Jimmie is Maggies brother. In spite of the abuse he receives at home, he fights on the streets. Jimmie is a hotheaded battler that refuses to back down. For example,Naw, responded Jimmie with a valiant roar, dese micks cant make me run, Jimmie says in one of the first lines in the book (Maggie 1). Although Jimmie and Maggie seem to somewhat get along in the beginning of the novel, Jimmie ends up scorning Maggie and blaming her for what happened with Pete.Jimmie is hypocritical in his reasoning because he too has seduced and abandoned women in the past. Maggie grew up in a place with no hope a place where many are born and never leave. Maggie had a plenty to leave Rum Alley. This vision eventually seemed out of her grasp, and she decided to end her life because of it. Maggie overcame many obstacles in her life including discr imination, attachment issues, and faced an abusive and dysfunctional family her entire life. Maggie is a great example of a visionary, or one who thinks about the future with imagination and wisdom. We could all use a little Maggies vision in us.