1&2 Peter Part One Deep Dive

BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR | NATHAN ROSS

In a general summary, the books of 1 and 2 Peter are very broad letters. Broad in the sense of both the audience and theological topics. 1 Peter 1:1 notes that these letters are sent from the Apostle Peter to “those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” The theological topics at hand include salvation, leadership, suffering, false prophets, end times, and much more. For the sake of this Deep Dive we will hone in on one topic – Holiness. 

Both 1 and 2 Peter repeat this this theme of holiness regarding the calling for the Christian audience to be ‘holy.’  1 Peter 1:14-15 is the first passage to mention this theme in these letters. It says, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” It is a calling to not live like your past life but to live a life that is holy reflecting the holiness of Jesus.

Note that initially a few ideas must be considered for a proper and sound biblical exegesis. Firstly, the fact that these letters are written to such a broad range of people suggests that this calling can be taken as a ‘Christian principle.’ That it wasn’t simply a solution to a specific circumstance but rather it was written as an overarching principle for all Christians. Secondly, when we consult the wider New Testament it is a theme that is predominant in much of it, particularly in Paul’s writing. Ephesians 4:22-24 is just one example of many – “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This ‘new man’ is not simply a new ‘mindset’ but rather a whole new lifestyle and way of living. Then the last point is that Peter backs up his idea in 1 Peter 1:16 with Old Testament scripture – “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” A reference from Leviticus 11:44. Thus, we can see from the whole tenure of scripture, reaching back from the context of 1 + 2 Peter, to the New Testament, and also the Old Testament, that this principle of holiness is one we should take seriously.

Now that such a foundation is set, we can explore this idea of holiness. A key to this idea is found in 1 Peter 2 verses 9-10. It says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” In this passage Peter is shaping the identity of the newly formed Christian group. Note that in its context Christianity was a radical new belief system that included a multitude of different people groups. These groups when together Peter notes, “were not a people, but now you are God’s people.” That together they may be a group of misfits, but it is a group of misfits under the banner of Christ and adopted as the people of God (a major metaphor for the Church found in the New Testament). 

The importance of such a scripture is that the first step to our holiness is to acknowledge our identity. Holiness does not come from who we are but who we belong to. Yes, God calls us to be holy, but he does not leave us alone in that endeavour, he empowers us through our identity to become holy. He does this by giving us the source of all holiness - Christ. Just as Christ is holy, we the Church are holy since we are now the ‘body of Christ’ (1 Cor 12:27, Col 1:18, Eph 4:15-16, Rom 12:4-5). So, let us be holy, just as Christ is holy. But let us not seek after holiness through our own strength and works. But rather let us seek after the One who calls us into such a holiness. And when we do such seeking, we find that our understanding of ourselves, our identity, will be radically shifted and only out of such a shift will we truly be able to behave in such a way. That belief always comes before behaviour, so rather than trying to address our behaviour we must first address our beliefs. 

Nathan Ross has a Bachelor of Theology and works at C3 College. As one of our key New Testament writers, Nathan teaches the book of Ephesians and Romans at C3 College and is a self-confessed history nerd. 

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extra resources

1&2 Peter Part One

1&2 Peter Part Two