ReCIPROCITy AND sUFFeRING IN 1 PeTeR 2,19-20 437 an appropriate reciprocation of God’s favor or beneficence. elsewhere, the author attempts to persuade these communities that God’s blessing is displayed in trials and difficulties which will eventually result in a more desirable heavenly reward, but now he asks them to understand the letter’s prescribed response as a means of returning their gratitude toward God and completing the circle of reciprocity. The second clue that the Petrine author is using ca,rij as the requital of divine favors is found in the prepositional modifier that follows. It is instructive to note that the term is modified by the genitive qeou/ in 1 Pet 5,12 (suggesting that God is the source of blessing), whereas in 2,20 it is para. qew/|. As argued above, this is not the same as the idiom, “to find favor before (or: in the eyes of) someone (eu`ri,skein ca,rin evnanti,on [or: evn ovfqalmoi/j] tino,j); nevertheless, the meaning of the prepositional phrase is similar in both instances. It indicates that some- thing is evaluated or appraised from the viewpoint of God (cf. Prov 17,15; 4 Macc 13,3; Philo, Leg. 3.89; Mig. 196; Rom 2,13; Jas 1,27), and thus it is best translated, “from the perspective of God” 31. An ana- logous usage is found in 1 Cor 3,19, where Paul argues that, “the wis- dom of this world is foolishness from the perspective of God (para. tw/| qew/|)”. Inherent in this statement is a perspectival contrast: “worldly” people who esteem human wisdom might evaluate it positively, but ac- cording to God’s assessment, such wisdom is not able to rise to a com- mendable level. The prepositional phrase thus distinguishes God’s appraisal from popular standards. In the same way, the statement, “this is ca,rij para. qew/|” (1 Pet 2,20) differentiates God’s perspective on ca,rij from that of popular society. It is God who evaluates endurance in the midst of unjust suffering as ca,rij. Therefore, as believers pa- tiently withstand their present difficulties, they are actually discharging their obligation to reciprocate God’s generous bounty. IV. Ca,rij and suffering in 1 Peter In the past, scholars have focused on different aspects of the au- thor’s rhetorical discourse in order to understand the letter’s theology 31 The prepositional phrase para. qew/| is sometimes translated, “in the sight of God” (see M.J. HARRIs, Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament. An essential Reference Resource for exegesis [Grand Rapids 2012] 172). While this rendering is acceptable, the translation, “from God’s perspective,” more fully captures the author’s attempt to (re-)define the nature of ca,rij for his readers (cf. 1 Pet 2,4; 2 Pet 3,8).