119 CHOSEN THROUGH SANCTIFICATION played a slightly bigger part in the composition of 1 Peter? Obviously, the dominant theological themes of 1 Peter and 2 Thessalonians are quite dis- tinct from each other. Though both have a concern for eschatology, in 2 Thessalonians this interest is detailed whereas in 1 Peter it is assumed as a sub-plot to a more dominant concern for Christian life in the present 10. Fur- thermore, 1 Peter has a concern for the theological status of his audiences as bearers of several scriptural titles for Israel, as well as a concern for com- munal order, seen in the Haustafel material in chapter three, that is com- pletely lacking in 2 Thessalonians. Yet the phrase ἐν ἁγιασµῷ πνεύµατος is identical. This ought to be considered to be of some significance since these are the only places in the New Testament where it is used. Moreover, the theological concept it relates to is very distinctive; indeed, it appears to be unique to these two places in the New Testament 11. The only comparable notions of agency in election appear to lack explicit reference to the work of the Spirit or sanctification (Rom 8,28-29; 16,13?; Eph 1,4-5.11). At the same time, it must be noted that whilst the work of the Spirit is important in both 1 Peter and 1 and 2 Thessalonians (though 2,13 is the only reference to the Spirit in the latter), nowhere is the Spirit’s role in election discussed in any detail, or indeed mentioned outside of the particular phraseology em- ployed in 1 Pet 1,2 and 2 Thess 2,13. Indeed, the Spirit is mentioned nowhere else in 1 Peter in relation to sanctification, though one might expect to discern an obvious relation between an epistolary prescript and the con- tent of the epistle. Whilst the holiness of Christian life is prominent in the paraenesis of the epistle (1,13-16; 2,5.9; 3,5), there is no indication that ho- liness is a product of the Spirit’s work. Rather, the role of the Spirit is seen in revelation (1,11? and 1,12), the resurrection of Christ (3,18) and comfort during persecution (4,14). The notion, then, of election through the sancti- fying work of the Spirit suggested by ἐν ἁγιασµῷ πνεύµατος seems barely related to the broader doctrine of 1 Peter. Could this then represent a par- ticular contribution made by Silvanus or some other common amanuensis of both 1 Peter and 2 Thessalonians? Wycliffe Hall Benjamin SARGENT 54 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 6PW B. SARGENT, “The Narrative Substructure of 1 Peter”, ExpTim 124.9 10 (2013) 1-6. Indeed, because of this uniqueness, several commentators have offered 11 theological simplifications of the verse. This can be seen in Calvin’s explanation of the phrase in 2 Thessalonians as indicating that the Spirit is a mark of election as in Rom 8,14. See also W. MCCOWN, “‘God’s Will … for You’: Sanctification in the Thessalonian Epistles”, Wesleyan Theological Journal 12 (1977) 30. © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati