202 BERNARDO ESTRADA Second Temple Judaism some texts indicating joy after suffering and joy in spite of suffering 85, what they meant is an invitation to bear pain and toil patiently or to interpret suffering positively as a divine testing of constancy. One does not find, however, any explicit text in Jewish writings which talks about joy in suffering: To comfort those who are poor or hungry, or mournful, or persecuted, is one thing. But to tell them that they not only will be happy, but are, or should feel themselves, really and truly, happy now, this is quite another thing. To tell them that they ought positively to be glad and rejoice in their misfortune struck a new note — a note of great significance and power, a note which was to have great consequences of far-reaching importance. This was promoted by the beatitudes (...). And these notes and excellences have been, it must be acknowledged, distinctive of Christianity 86. It is, therefore, necessary to place in perspective the thesis of Nauck about the Jewish origins of joy in suffering 87. III. The Tradition in 1 Peter Two passages of 1 Pet about rejoicing in trial and suffering, are often quoted in the studies by Selwyn and Nauck 88. Exhortation to bear tribulations beginning in 1 Pet 1,4-8 reaches its climax in 4,12-16. A third passage, 1 Pet 3,13-17, completes the framework that allows one to contemplate that topic in the light of Matthean tradition. 1. Three Texts in the Letter 1 Pet 1,4-8 speaks, after the initial eulogia, about “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you”. Such an eschatological perspective is supported by “ Die Freude im Leiden (im Judentum) ist ein Freude trotz des Leidens, 85 nicht über das Leiden”. Millauer, Leiden als Gnade, 179. Cf. C.G. MONTEFIORE, The Synoptic Gospels (London 1927) II, 44. 86 Cf. J.H. ELLIOT, 1 Peter (AB 37B; New York 2000) 776; F. SCHRÖGER, 87 Gemeinde im 1. Petrusbrief: Untersuchungen zum Selbstverständnis einer christlichen Gemeinde an der Wende vom 1. zum 2. Jahrhundert (Passau 1981) 186. “ Joy in suffering is an essentially Christian teaching”: SELWYN, 1 Peter, 88 450. Cf. B. RIGAUX, Saint Paul. Les Épîtres aux Thessaloniciens (Paris 1956) 588.