After his opening words, Peter had begun his letter by blessing God because he had caused Peter and his readers “to be born again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). In subsequent paragraphs, Peter had worked out consequences of this glorious second birth, including the imperative to “set your hope” on the grace contained in the return of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13) and the need to “be holy” in the interim as they await the privileges to come (1 Peter 1:15). In the present paragraph Peter draws out another necessary consequence of this new birth, namely, the need to “love one another” (1 Peter 1:22).
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,