434 T.B. WIllIAMs it would be equivalent to saying, ‘I write this epistle in order to confirm the contents of this epistle’” 27. The most problematic aspect of this theory, however, is that it cannot adequately explain the presence of avlhqh,j. The use of the attributive adjective avlhqh,j (“genuine”, “true”) to describe ca,rij is the key to understanding the referent of the demon- strative pronoun. In and of itself, there is nothing unusual about an ad- jectival modifier for the term ca,rij. What is strange is the use of an adjective like avlhqh,j, which verifies the legitimacy of something 28. There are no comparable examples from the Hellenistic world of avlhqh,j in an attributive relationship with ca,rij. Normally, ca,rij was perfectly recognizable in the ancient world. It did not require verifica- tion or validation, for it was an unmistakable benefit for those to whom it was directed. This was especially true in the case of ca,rij received from the divine realm, as it is here. The expression found in 1 Pet 5,12 (h` ca,rij tou/ qeou/) is employed elsewhere in Greek literature to de- scribe the benefits which the gods bestow on humans (e.g., Cyranides 1.1; Aelius Aristides, Or. 18 [Jebb p. 252]; 39 [Jebb p. 495]; cf. Sent. Sextus 436b). This usage is most prominent in Jewish and Christian literature, where it refers to the munificence which God lavishes upon people (cf. Josephus, Ant. 3.14; 4.60; 5.54; 5.107; 5.280). Among New Testament writers, God’s gifts are thought to manifest themselves in a variety of ways. While the sacrifice of Christ is considered to be a primary boon (Rom 5,15; 1 Cor 1,4; Heb 2,9), God’s gift of ca,rij also includes the empowering presence with which the people of God are filled in order to live lives of faith (1 Cor 15,10; cf. 1 Clem. 55.3; Ign. Rom. 1.0; Mart. Pol. 7.3). Often h` ca,rij tou/ qeou/ serves to summarize, in a general way, all of the benefits which God offers to believers (Acts 20,24; Col 1,6; cf. Acts of John 52). At times, this expression describes the sphere of Christian existence in which God’s beneficence is experienced (Acts 13,43), or even final salvation at which believers will inherit 27 WAND, General Epistles of St. Peter, 128. 28 In a few places, the focus of avlhqh,j is on reliability which finds its basis in truth (cf. John 5,31-32; 21,24; Tit 1,13; 3 John 12). Understood in this manner, some render the term as “dependable” or “reliable” (so ellIOTT, 1 Peter, 878-79; FORBes, 1 Peter, 184). But this usage is normally connected to spoken testimony (marturi,a or marture,w), which lends itself to this translation. such is not the case in the present verse. It is thus better to view the adjective as relating to that which is true; hence the translation “genuine” or “real” (cf. GOPPelT, 1 Peter, 373 n. 26).