Preaching 1 Peter

How should Christians think and act within a culture that is hostile toward them? 1 Peter addresses the lives of Christians who are being alienated by the broader culture. The first readers carried the status of aliens, strangers, and members of the diaspora—a status that indicated their conflict with non-Christians. This seminar traced the main themes of 1 Peter, keeping our eyes on the text, the world of the addressees, and our own contexts. The goals of our exploration of 1 Peter were increased skill in communicating the message of the letter in sermons and/or Scripture studies, greater appreciation for Peter’s unique voice in a theological climate currently dominated by Pauline studies, and heightened respect for marginalized believers everywhere.