Who is Peter writing to in 1 Peter 1:18 and what traditions is he talking about?
Peter, himself a Jew, is writing to Jews. The traditions he addresses are the traditions of Judaism and the Old Testament economy received from the fathers. He says they were not redeemed by such vain inherited practices, but by the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.
Les explains that Peter is a Jew writing to Jews, so the traditions in 1 Peter 1:18 refer to all the traditions of Judaism and the Old Testament economy. Peter says they were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold, nor from their vain conversation received by tradition from the fathers. Instead, they were purchased with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot, ordained before the foundation of the world and manifest in these last times. Les emphasizes that the price of redemption is the blood of Christ, a basic tenet of Scripture that cannot be bypassed.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
When in Peter's life was 1 Peter written?
First Peter was written shortly before Peter's martyrdom, a long time after he first preached in the early Acts. The epistle reflects his later years, near the end of his life, as he writes about redemption through the precious blood of Christ.
What does Peter mean by the tradition received from your fathers?
Peter means the inherited traditions and religious customs of Judaism and the Old Testament economy passed down from Jewish fathers. Those traditions formed a vain manner of life and could not redeem anyone; redemption comes only through the precious blood of Christ, the unblemished Lamb.
More Questions
What does Peter mean by 'vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers'?
Peter is a Jew writing to Jews, so when he speaks of 'vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers,' he is referring to the traditions of Judaism and the Old Testament economy.