To conclude is literally “finally” (Revised Standard Version). The translation of this expression depends on how one understands the section as a whole. If the section is taken as a summary of the arguments which preceded it then a translation like New English Bible “to sum up” would be appropriate (compare New American Bible “In summary”). If, however, the section is taken not just as a summary, but as a concluding statement, in which Peter moves from particular groups to the whole Christian community, then the Good News Translation rendering would be more appropriate (compare Moffatt “Lastly”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “To finish off the subject”). In view of the fact that Peter does not just repeat himself, this latter position seems preferable.

The infinitive phrase To conclude must be expanded somewhat in some languages, for example, “now I wish to conclude what I want to say” or “now I will finish what I have to say” or “what I am going to say now will finish what I have to say.”

Peter then proceeds to mention six attitudes which should be present among believers. (1) First of all they must have the same attitude (literally “of one mind”). The Greek word is used only here in the whole New Testament (although Paul expresses the same idea in Rom 15.5; Phil 2.2), and means both oneness in opinion (compare New English Bible “one in thought”; New American Bible “like-minded”), and in outlook, attitude (compare Barclay “one in your attitude to life”), disposition, and sentiment.

You must all have the same attitude may be expressed as “you must all think the same about life” or “… about what you should do” or “you must all think about life in the same way….”

(2) They must have the same feelings (literally “feel sympathy for one another”). Again, the Greek adjective is used only here in the whole New Testament and may mean sharing in the feelings of others, whether those feelings be of joy or of sorrow. A similar idea is expressed in Romans 12.15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (compare Heb 10.34; 1 Cor 12.26). You must all have … the same feelings may be expressed as “you must feel sympathy for what happens to one another,” or, as expressed idiomatically in some languages, “your hearts should go out to one another” or “you should feel pain when others are hurt and feel happy when others rejoice.”

(3) They must love one another as brothers (literally “love for the brothers”). For this, see 1.22. There may be a difficulty in a literal rendering of love one another as brothers, since in at least some societies brothers are expected to be rather competitive. This problem may be overcome by rendering “love one another as brothers should.”

(4) They must be kind. Here the Greek word (eusplanchnoi) is derived from the noun splanchna, which means the internal organs (for example, liver, kidney, heart, etc.), and in an extended sense, the internal organs as the seat of emotion and feeling. So in the New Testament, to have splanchna is to feel deeply for someone, in terms of love, compassion, pity, kindness. Perhaps no English expression is strong enough to capture the impact of such a word, although many translations have tried to do justice to its rich meaning (for example, Barclay “You must be deeply concerned for others”).

In view of the important connotations in the Greek term here translated kind, it is frequently not possible to provide an equivalent rendering apart from some rather extensive idiomatic equivalent, for example, “feel deeply in your hearts for” or “show how much you are pained on behalf of” or “let your kindness demonstrate how much you feel for others.”

(5) They must be humble. Humility was not considered a virtue in the Hellenistic world, but in the New Testament it is spoken of as a good quality of life (compare Eph 4.2; Phil 2.3 and following; Gal 5.23). Perhaps the attitude of Jesus (for example, Matt 11.29) has influenced Christians to think of humility as a virtue rather than as a sign of weakness.

An expression equivalent to humble is frequently expressed from a negative standpoint, for example, “do not feel proud” or “do not make yourself big.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The First Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .