I PETER 1:1-2:3 REPETITIONS

In reading some of the New Testament writings, you may have been struck by how often an author appears to re-use the same language over and over even though the overall flow of thought may proceed in a straightforward manner. This is especially true in the case of John, but Peter may come in a close second in that regard, as we can see in the examples below, taken from his first epistle. Such repetition may be a little off-putting, but there is always a good reason for it.

As one example, look at the opening section of I Peter. I have previously posted an analysis of this whole letter (see “I Peter: Introduction to the Literary Structure”) where it was demonstrated that there are major breaks in thought after both 1:12 and 2:3 following a general introduction in 1:1-2 which can also be viewed as the opening for the first twelve verses. Confirmation that this is a valid breakdown of the sections is seen in that 1:3-12 constitutes one single sentence in the Greek. For convenience sake, I Peter 1:1-12 will be called x, and 1:13-2:3 will be labeled as y.

Some of the repeated words and thoughts in this overall section serve to tie together x and y in a general manner by their appearance in both. These include:

    exiles (1:1, 17)

    faith (1:5a, 7a, 9a, 21c)

    salvation (1:5b, 9b, 10a; 2:2)

    revealed (1:5c, 7e, 12a, 13c, 20a)

    gold (1:7b, 18b)

    the last time (1:11b) / end of the ages (1:20b)

    they were serving not themselves but you (1:12b) / for your sake (1:20b)

Sometimes these duplicated words are specifically found within the same general location in both literary units. Thus:

    obedient (1:2b) / obedience (1:22) – conclusions of x and y

    grace (1:2c, 13c) – beginnings of x and y

    hope (1:3b, 13) – beginnings of x and y

    glory / glorious (1:11e, 21b, 23b) – conclusions of x and y

    announced to you...good news (1:12c,d) / good news...announced to you (1:25c,d) –

        conclusions of x and y

Then there are those cases, where the repetition occurs within the same section in order to unify it:

    God the Father (1b, 3a) in x

    rejoice (1:6a, 8a) / joy (1:8c) in x

    suffer (1:6b) / suffering (1:11d) in x

    word (1:23, 24a,b) in y

More specifically there are occasions when such duplication of vocabulary within a given unit serves as an inclusio. That is the technical term for the same word or phrase at the start and conclusion of a small or large portion of Scripture in order to act as a pair of bookends to delineate the boundaries of that unit. Possible examples for the individual sub-sections of the beginning of I Peter include the following:

    Spirit (1:2a, 11c, 12e) – inclusio for x

    grace (1:2c, 10b) – inclusio for x

    heaven (1:4b, 12f) – inclusio for x

    time / the last time (1:5d, 11b) – inclusio for x

    obedient (1:14) / obedience (1:22) – inclusio for y

    hope (3b, 13b, 21d) – inclusio for y

    therefore (13a; 2:1) – inclusio for y

    hope (1:3b, 13b, 21d) – inclusio for y

Similarly, duplication found near the start and conclusion of a whole section (1:1-2:3, for example) can also signal an inclusio. In this case we have the following examples:

    obedient (1:2b) / obedience (1:22)

    new birth (1:3a) / you have been born anew (1:23a) / newborn infants (2:2)

    Lord (1:3b, 25; 2:3)

    resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1:3c) / who raised him from the dead (1:21a)

    imperishable / perishable (1:4a, 23b,c)

    God (1:5, 21, 23)

So keep this phenomenon in mind when you begin to encounter a passage in either the Old or New Testament which appears to use redundant words or phrases that say the same thing. Before just dismissing it as a sign of sloppy writing, keep in mind that it may very well signal that something more is going on behind the scenes.