Scholars disagree on how we should interpret εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε in 1 Peter 3:9 which states, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary bless, for to this you were called (εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε), that you may obtain a blessing.” Paul J. Achtemeier and Thomas R. Schreiner understand τοῦτο as anaphoric, pointing backwards to εὐλογοῦντες. However, Peter H. Davids and J.N.D Kelly both understand τοῦτο as cataphoric, understanding it to be pointing towards εὐλογίαν κληρονομήσητε .
Beyond helping break the stalemate on how we should interpret εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε in 1 Peter 3:9, my paper provides an answer to the question: Do the teachings and ethics of Jesus help us interpret the letters of his earliest followers? If my thesis is correct, then perhaps the teachings and ethics of Jesus in the Gospels will receive greater attention in our interpretation of other difficult or grammatically ambiguous texts.
I will seek to introduce another piece of evidence into this conversation—evidence that has been underutilized. While it is grammatically possible for εἰς τοῦτο ἐκλήθητε in 1 Peter 3:9 to be taken as either cataphoric or anaphoric, my thesis suggests an anaphoric understanding is most satisfying based upon the teachings and ethics of Jesus found in the Gospels that echo in this verse.