As first-generation Christians, it would be no surprise if few in a given family became Christians (see 1 Peter 3:1). This development would compound the loneliness that characterizes being sojourners and exiles.
So while Peter’s readers need to honor
everyone, they need to love
the brotherhood (fellow sojourners and exiles in their community). The term love
is the same word Peter used in 1 Peter 1:22 and is the sort of love that will lay down one’s life for the sake of the other (John 13:34: John 15:12, as Christ modelled). With that sort of love for one another these strangers in society send a message to their neighbours of what the gospel behind their strangeness is really all about.
In the present context this instruction also means that you take seriously the input from the brotherhood
in what honor[ing] everyone
looks like in practice. Peter would have no solo operators among the elect exiles.
17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.