05_Biblica_1_H_Collins_Layout 1 05/11/12 12:19 Pagina 426 426 C. JOHN COLLINs Finally, although the question of authorship and provenance of 1 and 2 Peter lies outside the goals of this study, it must strike one as interesting that both letters seem to allude to Gentile versions of the flood story, and especially to Plato’s. at the very least this sup- ports the notion of a close conceptual and argumentative association between the two letters. Covenant Theological seminary C. John COLLINs 12330 Conway road st Louis, MO 63141 (Usa) sUMMary Jewish authors in the second Temple period, as well as early Christian authors after the New Testament, made apologetically-motivated connec- tions between the biblical story of Noah and Gentile stories of the flood, including Greek stories involving deucalion — most notably Plato’s ver- sion. analysis of the New Testament letters attributed to Peter indicates that these also allude to the Gentile flood stories, likely in order to enhance their readers’ sense of the reality of the biblical events.