Living as Exiles in the Roman Empire

In this episode, the hosts discuss the first letter of Peter and its relevance to the politics of the New Testament. They highlight how Peter's message aligns with Paul's teachings and both their strategies for living as followers of Jesus in the Roman Empire. They emphasize the social location of the believers, who were temporary residents and exiles. The hosts argue that Peter encourages these believers to live in a way that is socially and aesthetically pleasing to the Roman Empire, while also remaining faithful to their Christian convictions. They discuss the concept of 'agathopoia,' which refers to doing good works in the public sector for the common good. The hosts underline the importance of believers building their public reputation as 'good people' in order to compel others to consider the Christian way of life.