1 Peter 2:1-10
The epistle readings on these Sundays of the Easter season have been from the First Letter of St. Peter. I did my graduate degree on 1 Peter, and I grew to know and love this letter. My subject was the use of the Old Testament in 1 Peter, and there are many quotations, allusions, and echoes from the scriptures of Israel in this letter. Our epistle this morning is especially rich in Old Testament references. There are citations from Exodus (2:9), Psalms (2:3-7), Isaiah (2:6, 8-9), and Hosea (2:10).
Several scholars have noticed that some passages in the New Testament follow the pattern of homilies preached in synagogues during the time of Jesus. I began to see that this passage in 1 Peter also conforms to this pattern. Several texts from the Old Testament are woven together under a common theme or keyword (“stone” verses 6-8) and were echoed in the commentary. In short, the ancient Jewish homily had two main elements, which I will explore briefly:
The first is Haggadah. This word comes from the Hebrew term meaning to narrate, to tell the story. Most of us have heard of the Passover Haggadah, the yearly retelling of the deliverance of God’s people from slavery in Egypt. Haggadah is the telling of the story of God and his people. And 1 Peter is especially rich in telling this story. Indeed, the writers of the letter narrate the story from before the foundation of the world (1:20) and echo the stories of creation and covenant, exodus and exile, kingship and messiah. At the heart and center of this story is the death and Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. This is brought out in the second of the “stone” texts, Psalm 118:22: “The very stone which the builders refused has become the head cornerstone.” Jesus loved this text and made it the climax of a story he told about his own death and Resurrection. (Mark 12:1-12). And the emphasis on the suffering and glory of Jesus is seen at the end of 1 Peter 2 (verses 18-22). Here, the writers use six references from Isaiah 53, the famous “suffering servant” song, to tell of the suffering of Jesus and connect the suffering of Christians to it. This is the heart of the story we tell, the suffering and glory of Jesus the Messiah.
But there is another key element of Jewish synagogue preaching: Halakha. This word comes from the Hebrew word “to walk.” And it is a call to God’s people to “walk their talk,” and to live out a life of love which we find in Jesus. 1 Peter 2:1 is a call to put away all sins of mind and mouth that can disrupt and even destroy the Christian fellowship. “Therefore, put away all malice and guile and insincerity and envy and all slander.” Interestingly, this list is not like many “vice lists” in the New Testament, which focus on Idolatry, adultery, murder, theft, etc. The more subtle sins of thought and speech can be equally as destructive. So, Peter urges the readers to “Put off” these things. Actually, this command is the first of a pattern of five commands which 1 Peter shares with other epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, and James: Put off, Put on, Submit, Watch and Pray, Stand and resist the Devil. All four of these letters share this “five-fold pattern,” and each applies it differently to the specific situations in the congregations being addressed. It would be a fascinating Bible study to compare these four letters and their different applications of the pattern. Also, it would be helpful to gain clarity and perspective on the middle item, difficult for many today: “submit.”
But there is a third element that is fundamental to ancient Jewish preaching and exhortation: Hallelujah. Praising the Lord. The letter of 1 Peter begins on this note” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And that note persists throughout the letter. We see it in 2:5, where as God’s people we offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, and in verse 9 which states that we are to “declare the wonderful deeds of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Indeed, certain passages in this letter almost sound like a hymn in the original Greek. (Check out my own tune to 2:9-10 at the end of my sermon for 5/3 on the website.) Christians have always sung God’s praises in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Col 3:16). Perhaps some of you know the contemporary song “Come and worship, royal priesthood, come and praise him, holy nation….” Using expressions from 1 Peter 2:9 (and Exodus 19:6). St. Augustine once said that the one who sings prays twice. So let us not hesitate to join the chorus with our own Hallelujah!
Peter Rodgers
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