Peter on Leadership: A Contemporary Exegetical Analysis

This study examines three constructs for leadership—authentic leadership, kenotic leadership, and principles of leadership—from the Christian Scriptures in the pericope of 1 Peter. The examination of principles from 1 Peter is drawn from an exegetical examination of particular sections of Christian Scripture, as well as from the research literature. This exegetical process is developed in the light of socio-rhetorical interpretation and was applied particularly to 1 Peter for a preliminary examination of leadership principles as found in this section of Christian Scriptures. In this research, ten principles of leadership are found from the text of 1 Peter and then compared to kenotic and authentic leadership. In this comparison, some profound similarities with authentic leadership and kenotic leadership are discovered. This discovery has implications for leadership in the church and in the organizational world.