This Is True Grace

This new study of 1 Peter and the question of what kind of response to their cultural situation the text summons of its original readers rightly emphasizes that the primary basis for that summons is theological. . . I commend this study heartily.

Larry W. Hurtado
Emeritus Professor of New Testament Language, Literature & Theology,
School of Divinity,
University of Edinburgh

This is a valuable study of 1 Peter, which argues that the letter’s social behavioural instructions are primarily shaped by the author’s theological vision, and that the reasons for distinctive behaviour are therefore primarily religious.

David G. Horrell
Professor of New Testament Studies,
Director, Centre for Biblical Studies,
Department of Theology and Religion,
University of Exeter

Dr Sun has made a distinctive contribution to the understanding of the Christian identity during the first century in her study of 1 Peter. Her argument that the epistle urged Christians as the elected people of God and resident-aliens to employ the strategy of “differentiated resistance” in their social engagement is very convincing.

Luke Cheung
Vice-President and Professor in Biblical Studies,
China Graduate School of Theology

Joyce Sun has convincingly put forward a clear picture of the Petrine theological vision of the “elect exiles of Diaspora” that functions as the driving force of its social behavioural instructions.

Josaphat C. Tam
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies,
Evangel Seminary

Sun’s stimulating analysis is historically accurate and exegetically sound, and is a significant and indispensable contribution to the interpretation of the paraenetic materials of 1 Peter in particular, and Petrine scholarship in general.

Jonathan W. Lo
Assistant Professor,
Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary

1. Abbreviations
2. Chapter 1
1. Introduction
1. 1.1 Review of Scholarship
1. 1.1.1 Form-Critical Approach
2. 1.1.2 Social-Scientific Approach
2. 1.2 Approach of This Study
3. 1.3 Plan of This Study
4. 1.4 Working Hypothesis
3. Chapter 2
1. Theological Vision of 1 Peter
1. 2.1 The Christ-Messiah in 1 Peter
1. 2.1.1 The Suffering Christ-Messiah
2. 2.1.2 The Exalted Christ-Messiah
3. Section Summary
2. 2.2 The Christian Elect Exiles of Diaspora in 1 Peter
1. 2.2.1 The Christian Elect
2. 2.2.2 The Christian Exiles
3. 2.2.3 The Christian Elect Exiles of Diaspora
4. Section Summary
3. 2.3 Christ-Christians Unity in 1 Peter
1. 2.3.1 The Christ-Christian Spiritual House
2. 2.3.2 The Christian Elect Diaspora Determined by Christ
3. Section Summary
4. 2.4 Chapter Conclusion
4. Chapter 3
1. Social Behavioural Instructions in 1 Peter
1. 3.1 The Governing Principle (2:11–12)
2. 3.2 Christian Engagement in Civil Life (2:13–17)
1. Section Summary
3. 3.3 Christian Engagement in Household Life (2:18–3:7)
1. 3.3.1 Exhortations to Slaves (2:18–25)
2. 3.3.2 Exhortations to Wives (3:1–6)
3. 3.3.3 Exhortations to Husbands (3:7)
4. Section Summary
4. 3.4 Christian Engagement in Daily Social Life (3:9–4:6)
1. 3.4.1 Do Not Return Evil for Evil (3:9–12)
2. 3.4.2 Suffer for the Sake of Righteousness (3:13–22)
3. 3.4.3 Do Not Accomplish the Will of the Gentiles (4:1–6)
4. Section Summary
5. 3.5 Christian Engagement in Suffering for the Name of Christ (4:12–4:19)
1. Section Summary
6. 3.6 Chapter Conclusion
5. Chapter 4
1. The Jewish Elect Exiles of Diaspora
1. 4.1 Social Engagement of the Jewish Elect Exiles of Diaspora
1. 4.1.1 Jewish Diaspora Engagement in Civil Life
2. 4.1.2 Jewish Engagement in Household Life
3. 4.1.3 Jewish Engagement in Daily Social Life
4. Section Summary: Jewish Resonances in 1 Peter
2. 4.2 Diaspora Consciousness of the Jewish Exilic People of God
1. 4.2.1 Diaspora’s Longing for Return
2. 4.2.2 Diaspora’s Belonging to the Native Country
3. Section Summary: Jewish Resonances in 1 Peter
3. 4.3 Chapter Conclusion
6. Chapter 5
1. Comparison Text I: Revelation
1. 5.1 Social Behavioural Instructions in Revelation
1. 5.1.1 Purpose of the Revelation Social Behavioural Instructions
2. 5.1.2 Social Behavioural Instructions of Revelation
3. Section Summary: Features of Petrine Social Behavioural Instructions
2. 5.2 Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in Revelation
1. 5.2.1 Messiah-Christ in Revelation
2. Subsection Summary
3. 5.2.2 Christian Messianic Army in Revelation
4. Section Summary: Features of the Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in 1 Peter
3. 5.3 Chapter Conclusion
7. Chapter 6
1. Comparison Text II: The Epistle to Diognetus
1. 6.1 Christian Social Engagement Portrayed in the Epistle to Diognetus
1. 6.1.1 Christian Engagement in Civil Life
2. 6.1.2 Christian Engagement in Household Life
3. 6.1.3 Christian Engagement in Daily Social Life
4. Section Summary: Petrine Resonances in the Epistle to Diognetus
2. 6.2 Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in the Epistle to Diognetus
1. 6.2.1 All-loving God/Christ in the Epistle to Diognetus
2. 6.2.2 Christian Resident-Aliens in the Epistle to Diognetus
3. Section Summary: Features of the Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in 1 Peter
3. 6.3 Chapter Conclusion
8. Chapter 7
1. Conclusion
9. Bibliography
1. Primary Sources
2. Dictionaries, Lexicons and Grammars
3. Secondary Literature