Understanding 1 Peter 4:17 in the Context of Pesher Habakkuk Part I

Abstract

<p>It was found that 1 Peter 4:17 is like a layer of onion underneath of which are more layers. Behind the New Testament surface was 1QHab, a commentary on Habakkuk. This Qumran text allocated a difference between the judgment for the faithful and the judgment for the evil. Two different houses are referred to: house of Judah (faithful) VII.7 which will be judged on a specific day and not an ongoing process (VI.9-10) and the house of damnation for the wicked in IX.14. So the processes are separated for faithful and the evil. God decreed times for these. It did not start yet and the periods are long. Imminent expectancy is not foremost. The role of Jubilees and Enoch indicates that they were aware of the year-day principle, the 490 years, thus the long periods of Daniel’s prophecy. Since Qumran readers were aware of this principle, aware of the nearness of the First Advent of Christ on the basis of this, the question is what about the correct understanding of the other long periods like the 2300 days/years prophecy? Were the apostles familiar with this also? Since the Investigative Judgment started at the end of the 2300 years in Peter’s future and also Qumran readers, does Peter echo the same expectation of Pesher Habakkuk on a specific day for Judgment of the faithful? Preterists deny that and change the reading of Peter’s text here by inserting extra verbs or modify some elements in the text to download their “persecution” of the faithful explanation. But, since Peter stated that the judgment has yet to start, it was not ongoing at that time. The misreadings by the versions of 1 Peter 4:17 are also dealt with.</p>