As we turn now to 1 Peter itself and its time and place in history, it will be such aspects of the letter that deserve our close attention. In this eloquent expression of the church’s kerygma (“proclamation”), how does an appealing vision of human community become “good news” for strangers and aliens in Asia Minor society? In view of the diversity of opinion concerning virtually every detail of 1 Peter’s composition, a reliable interpretation would do well to base itself as much as possible on the