

Identity: Children of God (1 Peter 1:13-2:10).The first section defines Christian identity, the second section exhorts believers to live a particular kind of life, and the third interprets their suffering and hope occasioned by that life. Peter uses “beloved” twice (1 Peter 2:11 4:12), and it marks off three distinct sections of the letter, which constitute the letter’s main body (1 Peter 1:13-4:12).

1 Peter 1:22 2:17), and one that loves God (1 Peter 1:8). They are a beloved community they form a family loved by God, called to love each other (cf. How, then, do they live faithfully in a hostile culture? This is the substance of 1 Peter 2:11-12.īeloved ( agapetoi) is how Peter addresses his readers. They are now part of the narrative of God’s ancient people they are a holy nation of priests who constitute God’s new temple within God’s good creation. In terms of identity, though exiles and aliens within Roman culture, they are children of God who have been born into Israel.

Theologically, it describes how disciples of Jesus live faithfully in a hostile culture. Rhetorically, it heads the major body of the letter (1 Peter 2:11-4:11) as the letter moves from identity to exhortation. This is a key moment in Peter’s letter, both rhetorically and theologically.
