Having previously emphasised his readers’ need to love those within the community of faith, Peter, in the text before us, begins to exhort them to love those outside the community of faith. In light of their identity in Christ, they should respond to outside opposition in a Christlike, rather than a fleshly, manner. We consider these verses under three broad headings:

1. An Exhortation to Hear (v. 11)

2. An Expectation to Honour (v. 12a)

3. An Examination to Heed (v. 12b)