1Pe 2:4-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Pet 2:4-10: 2:4-10 Throughout the letter, Peter encourages the suffering believers by reminding them of their exalted spiritual status. In this paragraph, he presents the Christian community as the new temple built on the foundation of Christ, and as heirs of the blessings granted to God’s covenant people. 2:4 rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor: This is an allusion to Ps 118:22 , which is quoted in 1 Pet 2:7 .

a2:4-10►

b2:4►

cPs 118:22►

d1 Pet 2:7►

e2:5►

f1 Cor 3:16►

gJohn 2:19-22►

hEph 4:12►

i1 Pet 2:10►

jRom 12:1►

kHeb 13:15-16►

‏ 1 Peter 2:4-5

Summary for 1Pet 2:4-10: 2:4-10 ^a Throughout the letter, Peter encourages the suffering believers by reminding them of their exalted spiritual status. In this paragraph, he presents the Christian community as the new temple built on the foundation of Christ, and as heirs of the blessings granted to God’s covenant people. 2:4 ^b rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor: This is an allusion to Ps 118:22 ^c, which is quoted in 1 Pet 2:7 ^d.
2:5 ^e God’s people themselves constitute the spiritual temple where God dwells (1 Cor 3:16 ^f). Jesus compared his body to a “temple” (John 2:19-22 ^g), and the church is called the “body of Christ” (Eph 4:12 ^h). God no longer manifests himself in a particular place but in the people who belong to him and praise his goodness (see 1 Pet 2:10 ⁱ).

• As God’s holy priests in the new covenant, Christians offer not animal sacrifices but spiritual sacrifices such as praising God, praying, and doing good (see Rom 12:1 ^j; Heb 13:15-16 ^k).