Verses 17–23 are used in the lectionaries for the Easter season of many faith groups: the Revised Common Lectionary is used by churches all over the world, for example by the Roman Catholics, the Episcopalians, the Lutherans, and the United Methodists (see Blass and Debrunner, 1961; textweek.com/1, 2 Peter.htm; Choral Literature for Sundays and Seasons, 66).
Peter continues with the implications of the holy life – a life typified by holiness is also characterized by love of one another. Because God is holy, we must be holy; because the Word is living and abiding, we should abide in holiness and demonstrate brotherly love. Although the word is philadelphion (literally “brotherly love”), it should be understood in a generic sense to include women as well. “Sibling love” would perhaps be better (Michaels, 1988: 73). Peter uses Isaiah 40:6–8 as a “centerpiece” to link this section together (vv.23–25): the perishability of human existence, like the transient grass, contrasts remarkably with the everlasting and dynamically abiding word of God.
The early thinkers are concerned with the nature of this holy life; what it looks like in practical terms. Hilary of Arles makes a point: “True purity comes from within. If the soul is clean, the body will be cleansed as well” (Intro. Comm. on 1 Peter, PLSupp 3: 87: ACC). Oecumenius is more concerned with the connection between the power of the Spirit and our behavior among one another (Comm. on 1 Peter, PG 119: 528: my tr.).
Current scholars are also interested in the focus of this passage on the life of holiness and understand the passage in a variety of ways. Green (2007: 50–52), using historical and social‐scientific methodology, elaborates on the multifacetedness of ancient conversion.
Other scholars such as Michaels are intrigued by the language used: that the perfect tenses of agnizo (consecrate, purify, v.22), anagennao (give new birth, v.23), and the aorists of apotithemi (put off, v.21) and geuomai (yearn, v.23), along with the imagery of seed (v.23) and growth (v.22), convey that salvation is both in the present and something we are anticipating (Green, 2007; see also Michaels, 1996: 251).
Others argue that the entire epistle is a baptismal liturgy with this passage (vv.22–25) being the “baptismal dedication delivered by the officiant following the actual baptism” (Martin, 1992: 36). Boismard (1956: 339–352) modifies the theory by suggesting that rather than the epistle being entirely a liturgy (Priesker, 1951: 152–156; Cross, 1957) or a homily (Perdelwitz, 1911), it contains several fragments of a primitive baptismal liturgy. He suggests that vv.22–25 is one of four baptismal hymns used by Peter.
Various catechisms express ideas from this passage. For example, the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), in answer to Question 65, says, “Since, then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all his benefits, where does such a faith originate?” The answer paraphrases 1:23: “The Holy Spirit creates it in our hearts by the preaching of the Holy gospel and confirms it by the use of the holy sacraments” (Pelikan II, IV: 441). The Brief Statement of the Evangelical Synod (1932) comments on “Conversion”: “All men, since the fall, are dead in sins … Hence, Scripture calls the faith of man, or his conversion … a new birth by the gospel, 1 Pet. 1:23–5” (Pelikan III, V: 491). The Statement of Belief of the North American Baptist Conference (1982) is more specific in terms of the nature of scripture: “We believe the Bible is God’s Word given by divine inspiration … it is trustworthy, sufficient, without error – the supreme authority and guide for all doctrine and conduct” (1 Pet. 1:23–25) (Pelikan, ibid.: 809).
Our author now addresses the new life of holiness by using another metaphor, “taking off,” such as in “removing clothes” (apotithemi, cf., also Rom. 13.12; Col. 3.8; Jas. 1.2). The readers, having “taken off” their past evil and deceitful ways (v.21), will now need to replace these with love (agapao), harmony, and loyalty. Peter emphasizes the imagery of family – they are now relatives with God himself as Father (vv.1:2, 3, 17) (Green, 2007: 51; see also van Rensburg, 2004: 387–388). Here, their new existence of “brotherly love” stands in marked contrast with their past state. Whereas they were once alienated and strangers from God, they are now “aliens and strangers” within their society because they are chosen by God (reiterating the notion from vv.1–2). Finally, this new existence grows out of, and is sustained by, the “word that was preached to us” (v.25).
Emerson (1992: vol. 4) understands the new birth in a different sense entirely, as evidenced by a sermon preached on several occasions. His text is Luke 20:38, and is entitled, “For all live unto him.” According to editor Wesley T. Mott, Emerson’s idea of order in nature is anticipated here. In any case, Emerson interprets the doctrine of the second birth (as in John 3.3 and 1 Pet. 1.23) as a transformation of character and behavior:
When a man begins strongly to feel the obligation of duty; when he begins to see the beauty of right actions, and to hate vice; when he begins to feel his debt to his Maker; there is such a growth and enlargement in his mind that he calls it a new life by emphasis; as if first he began to live. All the parts of his character acquire balance and energy; he becomes useful to his fellow men to the whole extent of his powers; so that he is born again. (Emerson, 1992: 122)
An exceptional hymn based on this chapter was written by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. Born on 14 August 1810, he was the first child of Samuel Wesley and his housekeeper, Sarah Suter. He inherited the outstanding musical abilities of his family and at the age of 22 was appointed organist and master of the choristers at Hereford Cathedral. While there, he composed the anthem “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” based generally on 1 Peter 1. Written for an Easter Day service, the circumstances surrounding the writing are certainly worthy of note and are described as follows by markfromireland on the website Saturday Chorale:
Apparently on that particular Easter Sunday only the trebles and one bass (the Dean’s butler) were available to sing. Despite this unpromising start “Blessed be the God and Father” is Wesley’s best‐known anthem sung in Anglican cathedrals and churches throughout the world. Structurally it’s a very taut piece of music consisting of five sections linked in an unbroken chain and characterized by a remarkable variety of musical textures. The opening is unaccompanied and well worth listening to in its own right but it’s the anthem’s central portion – a wonderful dialog between a solo treble and the treble chorus that lifts the piece from the merely very good to the extraordinary. This central section is flanked by passages for deeper voices while the final fughetta after “But the word of the Lord endureth forever” is announced by the (in)famous dramatic dominant seventh chord of E flat on full organ. It is performed in modern times, for example, by the Worcester Cathedral Choir, conducted by David Hunt, with Adrian Partington on the organ. (Saturday Chorale, posted on 31 January 2013)
The content vibrantly captures the theological and creative imagery of this text. It should be noted that the text is very similar to the translation of the authorized version:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed at the last time.
But as he which hath called