The Roman ad bestias Execution as a Possible Historical Background for 1 Peter 5.8

Abstract

Most commentators on 1 Pet. 5.8 understand the lion picture as a metaphor for (1) the Christian believer’s human enemies (e.g. Bigg, Achtemeier, Elliott, Michaels; cf. LXX Ps. 21.14) or (2) ungodly world systems (e.g. Jobes) under the Devil’s power. This article offers a more literal explanation: the Roman ad bestias execution. So far this interpretation of the lion image has been mentioned only by a minority of exegetes (e.g. Rymer, Perdelwitz) and in passing. Nobody has tried to substantiate this obvious interpretation with first-century CE ad bestias witnesses. Such an enterprise is carried out in the present article, with the result that the Roman ad bestias execution can be considered a possible—perhaps even probable—historical background for 1 Pet. 5.8.