1 Peter 2:4-7
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).
Summary for 1Pet 2:6-8: 2:6-8 l The three Old Testament quotations in these verses each identify Christ as some kind of stone: the cornerstone on which the new temple is built (2:6 m); the cornerstone that God, despite peoples’ rejection, has elevated to be the keystone of his redemptive plan (2:7 n); and the stone that makes people stumble (2:8 o). Jesus quotes Ps 118:22 p (Matt 21:42 q), and Paul quotes both Isa 8:14 r and 28:16 s (Rom 9:33 t). Likely these three quotations were brought together very early as a combined Old Testament testimony to the nature and significance of Jesus the Messiah.
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