Central Argument

The central argument of this work is that 1 Peter does not promote a supersessionist view in which the church has replaced Israel as the new and true people of God. Rather, Liebengood contends that 1 Peter, as an authoritative Jewish apostolic text, extends to gentile followers of Jesus the privileges and promises originally given to Israel--affirming their full inclusion and belonging within the people of God as gentiles.

By closely attending to the letter's use of Jewish restoration imagery and eschatology, as well as its christological and pneumatological grounding, Liebengood demonstrates that 1 Peter constructs the identity of its gentile addressees in continuity with, rather than discontinuity from, God's covenant with Israel.

The apostolic correspondence serves to welcome these gentiles into a form of Jewish identity (or Israelhood) centered on following the pattern of the Davidic Messiah, Jesus, without requiring them to become Torah-observant proselytes.