The Use of Leviticus 19 in James and 1 Peter: A Neglected Parallel

Numerous linguistic and thematic connections between James and 1 Peter have been well documented, yet the common use of Leviticus 19 has not been noted as one of those significant connections. In this article, I argue that Jas 2:1–13 and 1 Pet 1:15–22 are both influenced by the larger literary context of Lev 19:2–18. Both texts cite Leviticus 19 directly (19:18b in Jas 2:8; 19:2 in 1 Pet 1:16) and both show evidence of secondary allusions to Leviticus 19 in the immediate context (19:15 in both Jas 2:1, 9 and 1 Pet 1:17). There is a further allusion to the command to love one’s neighbor (Lev 19:18b) in 1 Pet 1:22, which leads to the conclusion that both texts offer extended commentary on Leviticus 19, contextualizing the love command in the particular rhetoric of each letter. Finally, I argue that this neglected parallel between James and 1 Peter must be considered in the reassessment of the larger question of the literary relationship between the two letters.