Coping with discrimination in the First Epistle of Peter and in modern social psychology

Abstract

This article begins by describing the origin and forms of the suffering which the readers of 1 Peter experienced in the first century AD. It then surveys the strategies offered in the letter for coping with prejudice and discrimination. A further section discusses the problem and emotion focused coping strategies described and used in modern social psychology. Finally, it compares the coping strategies of 1 Peter to those of social psychology. The authors point out similarities and differences and suggest where and how both sets of strategies can help suffering Christians.