Reading 1 Peter After Supersessionism: Jewish Apostolic Affirmation of Gentile Israelhood

by Kelly D Liebengood

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498207690
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	03/18/2025
Series:	New Testament After Supersessionism
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Kelly D. Liebengood is professor of biblical studies and theology at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. He is the author of The Eschatology of 1 Peter: Considering the Influence of Zechariah 9–14 (2014).

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“In this rich and engaging book, the product of many years of research and reflection, Kelly Liebengood argues that 1 Peter can and should be read in a non-supersessionist way, despite centuries of interpretation to the contrary. Combining detailed exegesis and scholarly engagement with a critical awareness of what is at stake theologically, Liebengood argues that the author of 1 Peter does not depict a new people—the church—replacing Israel as God’s people, but rather invites gentiles to appropriate ‘Israelhood,’ extending the people of the God of Israel to include gentiles as gentiles. Anyone interested in this fascinating letter, and the wider issues at stake, should grapple with this valuable study.”

—David G. Horrell, professor of New Testament studies, University of Exeter



“In Reading 1 Peter after Supersessionism, Liebengood provides the most complete and thorough post-supersessionist reading of 1 Peter to date. Moving beyond the recognition that this letter is silent on the status of Jews in God’s new salvific plan in Christ, Liebengood demonstrates that instead of replacing Israel with the church, this letter emplaces its gentile recipients in an Israelhood composed of both Jew and gentile. This book makes a significant contribution to the conversation of how to read 1 Peter in new ways that foster Jewish- Christian relations.”

—Troy W. Martin, department of religious studies, Saint Xavier University



“Liebengood skillfully and sensitively navigates the intricacies of 1 Peter on his way to problematizing the traditional supersessionist interpretation of the letter. Interacting with the latest developments in the field and introducing creative solutions to questions that have long puzzled interpreters, he offers an informed and informative reading of the epistle, one that includes an innovative perspective on the ‘Israelhood’ that 1 Peter calls the gentiles to embrace. Petrine scholarship will long be indebted to this trailblazing work.”

—Travis B. Williams, professor of religion, Tusculum University



“Kelly Liebengood gives us a comprehensive, compelling, and at times even gripping scholarly argument against supersessionist readings of 1 Peter. The addressees of the letter are gentile believers in Jesus the Davidic shepherd, who need reassurance amidst suffering that they are indeed the people of the God of Israel, that in Messiah they share a form of ‘Israelhood’ without replacing Israel. This book commands the attention of all future interpreters of 1 Peter.”

—Douglas Harink, emeritus professor of theology, The King’s University, Edmonton



“What does a New Testament letter that nowhere explicitly mentions Israel or the Jewish people offer for a post-supersessionist reading? First Peter is that letter, and Kelly Liebengood promotes a way of reading it that avoids marginalizing Jewish identity and interests. He suggests that 1 Peter participates in a Jewish restoration theology rather than a replacement theology. This is an important topic to grapple with, and I highly recommend this thoughtful book.”

—Jeannine K. Brown, The David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota



“Liebengood will not allow contemporary readers of 1 Peter to erase Jewish people from the letter. He asserts that supersessionist readings of 1 Peter are problematic exegetically and not just ethically or ideologically. With careful analysis of 1 Peter, particularly regarding the communal imagery and eschatological outlook of the letter, and engaging studies focused on ethnic reasoning in the letter, Liebengood provides an intriguing case for absolving 1 Peter of supersessionism. Reading 1 Peter after Supersessionism is necessary for our study of 1 Peter. Liebengood helps us remember there is diverse Jewish community in the background of the letter and invites us to consider how that community influences the gentile followers of a Jewish messiah.”

—Dennis R. Edwards, seminary dean, North Park Theological Seminary



“Kelly Liebengood is an expert on 1 Peter, and his book, Reading 1 Peter after Supersessionism, is a theological and exegetical tour de force, addressing systematically the issues involved with a supersessionist reading of this letter. Anyone interested in 1 Peter should read this book!”

—W. Edward Glenny, University of Northwestern, St. Paul, Minnesota

Editorial Reviews

In this rich and engaging book, the product of many years of research and reflection, Kelly Liebengood argues that 1 Peter can and should be read in a non-supersessionist way, despite centuries of interpretation to the contrary. Combining detailed exegesis and scholarly engagement with a critical awareness of what is at stake theologically, Liebengood argues that the author of 1 Peter does not depict a new people—the church—replacing Israel as God’s people, but rather invites gentiles to appropriate ‘Israelhood,’ extending the people of the God of Israel to include gentiles as gentiles. Anyone interested in this fascinating letter, and the wider issues at stake, should grapple with this valuable study.”

—David G. Horrell, professor of New Testament studies, University of Exeter



“In Reading 1 Peter after Supersessionism, Liebengood provides the most complete and thorough post-supersessionist reading of 1 Peter to date. Moving beyond the recognition that this letter is silent on the status of Jews in God’s new salvific plan in Christ, Liebengood demonstrates that instead of replacing Israel with the church, this letter emplaces its gentile recipients in an Israelhood composed of both Jew and gentile. This book makes a significant contribution to the conversation of how to read 1 Peter in new ways that foster Jewish- Christian relations.”

—Troy W. Martin, department of religious studies, Saint Xavier University



“Liebengood skillfully and sensitively navigates the intricacies of 1 Peter on his way to problematizing the traditional supersessionist interpretation of the letter. Interacting with the latest developments in the field and introducing creative solutions to questions that have long puzzled interpreters, he offers an informed and informative reading of the epistle, one that includes an innovative perspective on the ‘Israelhood’ that 1 Peter calls the gentiles to embrace. Petrine scholarship will long be indebted to this trailblazing work.”

—Travis B. Williams, professor of religion, Tusculum University



“Kelly Liebengood gives us a comprehensive, compelling, and at times even gripping scholarly argument against supersessionist readings of 1 Peter. The addressees of the letter are gentile believers in Jesus the Davidic shepherd, who need reassurance amidst suffering that they are indeed the people of the God of Israel, that in Messiah they share a form of ‘Israelhood’ without replacing Israel. This book commands the attention of all future interpreters of 1 Peter.”

—Douglas Harink, emeritus professor of theology, The King’s University, Edmonton



“What does a New Testament letter that nowhere explicitly mentions Israel or the Jewish people offer for a post-supersessionist reading? First Peter is that letter, and Kelly Liebengood promotes a way of reading it that avoids marginalizing Jewish identity and interests. He suggests that 1 Peter participates in a Jewish restoration theology rather than a replacement theology. This is an important topic to grapple with, and I highly recommend this thoughtful book.”

—Jeannine K. Brown, The David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota



“Liebengood will not allow contemporary readers of 1 Peter to erase Jewish people from the letter. He asserts that supersessionist readings of 1 Peter are problematic exegetically and not just ethically or ideologically. With careful analysis of 1 Peter, particularly regarding the communal imagery and eschatological outlook of the letter, and engaging studies focused on ethnic reasoning in the letter, Liebengood provides an intriguing case for absolving 1 Peter of supersessionism. Reading 1 Peter after Supersessionism is necessary for our study of 1 Peter. Liebengood helps us remember there is diverse Jewish community in the background of the letter and invites us to consider how that community influences the gentile followers of a Jewish messiah.”

—Dennis R. Edwards, seminary dean, North Park Theological Seminary



“Kelly Liebengood is an expert on 1 Peter, and his book, Reading 1 Peter after Supersessionism, is a theological and exegetical tour de force, addressing systematically the issues involved with a supersessionist reading of this letter. Anyone interested in 1 Peter should read this book!”

—W. Edward Glenny, University of Northwestern, St. Paul, Minnesota

From the Publisher