Texts in Conversation
1 Peter echoes the Greek Septuagint translation of Psalm 33, adapting its wisdom to emphasize the role of peacemaking in community life. 1 Peter incorporates several elements from Proverbs, presenting itself in continuity with Israel’s wisdom traditions.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Psalms 33:15
Septuagint
13 What man is there that desires life, loving to see good days? 14 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. 15 Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 16 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer: 17 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth.
Date: 100–1 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
1 Peter 3:11
New Testament
9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. 10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. 11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil. 13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
Date: 80–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Of these five characteristics listed in 1 Peter 3:8 only the word for 'compassionate' is found more than once in the New Testament and it is only used twice (here and in Ephesians 4:32). This unique vocabulary stresses the importance of these Christian virtues which keep one from deceitful (compare 1 Peter 2:1, 22) speech. The second exhortation, taken from Psalm 34:14, is foreshadowed by 1 Peter 3:9, do not repay evil with evil (compare Romans 12:17). Turning from evil (1 Peter 3:11) requires that there be no retaliation for ill treatment. Jesus taught this same law of love: 'If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also' (Matthew 5:39) ..."
John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Victor Brooks, 1983), 849–850.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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