Peter highlighted the differences involved in our high calling by contrasting what his readers were and had before conversion with what they were and had after conversion. The church is not the only people of God in history. Nevertheless it is the people of God in the present age because of Israel"s rejection of the Corner Stone (cf. Romans 9-11). [source][source][source]
"The evidence from the use of the Old Testament in 1 Peter 2:6-10 suggests that the Old Testament imagery used to describe the church in 1 Peter 2:9-10 does not present the church as a new Israel replacing ethnic Israel in God"s program. Instead, Old Testament Israel was a pattern of the church"s relationship with God as his chosen people. Therefore Peter uses various aspects of the salvation, spiritual life, and service of Israel in its relationship with Yahweh to teach his recipients the greater salvation, spiritual life, and service they enjoy in Christ. In his use of the three people of God citations in 1 Peter 2:9-10, the apostle is teaching that there are aspects of the nation of Israel"s experience as the people of God that are also true of the New Testament church. These elements of continuity include the election, redemption, holy standards, priestly ministry, and honor of the people of God. This continuity is the basis for the application of the title people of God to the church in 1 Peter 2:1-10. [source][source][source]
"The escalation or advancement of meaning in Peter"s application of these passages to his recipients emphasizes the distinction between Israel and the church. Israel is a nation, and the national, political, and geographic applications to Israel in the Old Testament contexts are not applied to the church, the spiritual house, of1Peter. Furthermore, the initial application of these passages to the church by typological-prophetic hermeneutics does not negate the future fulfillment of the national, political, and geographic promises, as well as the spiritual ones, made to Israel in these Old Testament contexts." [1][source]
Christians, generally speaking, do not understand or appreciate God"s purpose for the church that Peter presented so clearly here. Consequently many Christians lack purpose in their lives. Evidence of this includes self-centered living, unwillingness to sacrifice, worldly goals, and preoccupation with material things. Before Christians will respond to exhortations to live holy lives they need to understand the reasons it is important to live holy lives. This purpose is something many preachers and teachers assume, but we need to affirm and assert it much more in our day. [source][source][source]
"Peter concludes the first major section of his epistle ( 1 Peter 1:3 to 1 Peter 2:10) by drawing the lines for a confrontation. Two groups are differentiated-"unbelievers" and "you who believe"-on the basis of their contrasting responses to Jesus Christ, the "choice and precious Stone" ( 1 Peter 2:6). The former are on their way to "stumbling" and shame, the latter to "honor" and vindication. The theological contrast between these two groups, with its consequent social tensions, will absorb Peter"s interest through the remainder of his epistle." [2][source]
Context Summary
1 Peter 2:1-10 - Building On The Precious Corner-Stone
It is easy to lay aside malice, guile and evil speaking, when we are constantly feeding on the unadulterated milk of spiritual truth. If you have tasted of the grace of Jesus, you will not want to sip of the wine of Sodom. Drink, O beloved, eat and drink abundantly, that we may grow, casting aside sinful and childish things.
The changing imagery of the next paragraph is remarkable. As we touch the Living Stone we live, and we touch others who are touching Him, and so a temple begins to grow up. Then we become a holy priesthood in the temple, and finally the sacrifices which are offered within its precincts. If Christ is not that Living Stone for you, He will be your undoing.
All that God said of His ancient people may be realized by us in and through Christ. Compare 1 Peter 2:9 with Exodus 19:6. Thus songs of praise are ever ascending to Him who has called us into His light. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 2
1He exhorts to put away wickedness; 4showing that Christ is the foundation whereupon they are built 11He beseeches them also to abstain from sinful desires; 13to be obedient to authorities; 18and teaches servants how to obey their masters; 20patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ
Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 2:10
Which in time past [οι ποτε] “Who once upon a time.” [source]
No people [ου λαος] This phrase from Hosea 2:23. Note use of ου ou (not ουδεις oudeis) with λαος laos like Hebrew negative.Which had not obtained mercy (οι ουκ ελεημενοι hoi ouk eleēmenoi). Perfect passive articular participle of ελεεω eleeō and the emphatic negative ου ou with which compare Paul‘s use of Hosea 1:1-11; 2 in Romans 9:25, which may have been known to Peter or not.But now have obtained mercy Change to first aorist passive participle from “the long antecedent state” to “the single event of conversion which ended it” (Hort). [source]
Which had not obtained mercy [οι ουκ ελεημενοι] Perfect passive articular participle of ελεεω eleeō and the emphatic negative ου ou with which compare Paul‘s use of Hosea 1:1-11; 2 in Romans 9:25, which may have been known to Peter or not. [source]
But now have obtained mercy [νυν δε ελεητεντες] Change to first aorist passive participle from “the long antecedent state” to “the single event of conversion which ended it” (Hort). [source]
Romans 9:25In Hosea [εν τωι ωσηε] He quotes Hosea 2:23 with some freedom. Hosea refers to the ten tribes and Paul applies the principle stated there to the Gentiles. Hosea had a son named Lo-ammi = ου λαος ou laos So here ο ου λαος μου ho ou laos mou “the not people of mine.” Ου Ou with substantives obliterates the meaning of the substantive, an idiom seen in Thucydides and other Greek writers. See also Romans 10:19; 1 Peter 2:10. [source]
Titus 2:14A peculiar people [λαὸν περιούσιον] Λαός peopleonly here in Pastorals. In Paul ten times, always in citations. Most frequently in Luke and Acts; often in Hebrews and Revelation. Περιούσιος N.T.oA few times in lxx, always with λαός . See Exodus 19:5; Exodus 23:22; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18. The phrase was originally applied to the people of Israel, but is transferred here to believers in the Messiah - Jews and Gentiles. Comp. 1 Peter 2:10. Περιούσιος is from the participle of περιεῖναι tobe over and above: hence περιουσία abundanceplenty. Περιούσιος also means possessed over and above, that is, specially selected for one's own; exempt from ordinary laws of distribution. Hence correctly represented by peculiar, derived from peculium, a private purse, a special acquisition of a member of a family distinct from the property administered for the good of the whole family. Accordingly the sense is given in Ephesians 1:14, where believers are said to have been sealed εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως witha view to redemption of possession, or redemption which will give possession, thus = acquisition. So 1 Peter 2:9, where Christians are styled λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν apeople for acquisition, to be acquired by God as his peculiar possession. Comp. 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14, and περιποιεῖσθαι toacquire, Acts 20:28. The phrase καθαρίζειν λαὸν topurify the people, in lxx, Nehemiah 12:30; Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+21:20&sr=1">Acts 21:20; Acts 22:3; 1 Peter 3:13. Only here in Pastorals. In Paul, 1 Corinthians 14:12; Galatians 1:14. For the word as a title, see on the Canaanite, Matthew 10:4, and see on Mark 3:18. [source]
Hebrews 3:4He that built all things is God [ὁ πάντα κατασκευάσας θεός] The verb includes not only erection, but furnishing with the entire equipment. See Hebrews 9:2; 1 Peter 2:10. The verb oP. The application of built or established to Christ (Hebrews 3:3) is guarded against possible misapprehension. Christ is the establisher, but not by any independent will or agency. As the Son he is he that built, but it is as one with God who built all things. The special foundership of Christ does not contradict or exclude the general foundership of God. [source]
Hebrews 13:12That he might sanctify the people [ἵνα ἁγιάσῃ τὸν λαόν] Ἁγιάζειν tosanctify had a peculiar significance to Jews. It meant to set them apart as holy. Hence, the Israelites were called ἅγιοι , as separated from other nations and consecrated to God. Our writer extends the application of the word to Christians. For Christ's work he claims the same efficacy which the Jew claimed for the special call of God to Israel, and for the operation of the Jewish sacrificial system. The office of his atoning work is to sanctify; to make for himself a holy nation ( ἔθνος ἅγιον ), a people “prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17); a true Israel of God. Ὁ λαός thepeople, or λαός mypeople, occurs constantly in O.T. as a designation of Israel, and also in N.T. See, in this epistle, Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 7:5,Hebrews 7:11,Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:7,Hebrews 9:19. The N.T. extends the title to all who, under the new dispensation, occupy the position of Israel. See 1 Peter 2:10; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10; Hebrews 4:9; Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 10:30; Hebrews 11:25. [source]
What do the individual words in 1 Peter 2:10 mean?
whoonce [were]nota peoplenowhowever[the] peopleof Godthosenothaving received mercyhaving received mercy
Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 2:10
“Who once upon a time.” [source]
This phrase from Hosea 2:23. Note use of ου ou (not ουδεις oudeis) with λαος laos like Hebrew negative.Which had not obtained mercy (οι ουκ ελεημενοι hoi ouk eleēmenoi). Perfect passive articular participle of ελεεω eleeō and the emphatic negative ου ou with which compare Paul‘s use of Hosea 1:1-11; 2 in Romans 9:25, which may have been known to Peter or not.But now have obtained mercy Change to first aorist passive participle from “the long antecedent state” to “the single event of conversion which ended it” (Hort). [source]
Perfect passive articular participle of ελεεω eleeō and the emphatic negative ου ou with which compare Paul‘s use of Hosea 1:1-11; 2 in Romans 9:25, which may have been known to Peter or not. [source]
Change to first aorist passive participle from “the long antecedent state” to “the single event of conversion which ended it” (Hort). [source]
See on 1 Peter 2:9, and note the choice of the term here. A people of God. Compare Romans 9:25, Romans 9:26. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 2:10
He quotes Hosea 2:23 with some freedom. Hosea refers to the ten tribes and Paul applies the principle stated there to the Gentiles. Hosea had a son named Lo-ammi = ου λαος ou laos So here ο ου λαος μου ho ou laos mou “the not people of mine.” Ου Ou with substantives obliterates the meaning of the substantive, an idiom seen in Thucydides and other Greek writers. See also Romans 10:19; 1 Peter 2:10. [source]
Λαός peopleonly here in Pastorals. In Paul ten times, always in citations. Most frequently in Luke and Acts; often in Hebrews and Revelation. Περιούσιος N.T.oA few times in lxx, always with λαός . See Exodus 19:5; Exodus 23:22; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18. The phrase was originally applied to the people of Israel, but is transferred here to believers in the Messiah - Jews and Gentiles. Comp. 1 Peter 2:10. Περιούσιος is from the participle of περιεῖναι tobe over and above: hence περιουσία abundanceplenty. Περιούσιος also means possessed over and above, that is, specially selected for one's own; exempt from ordinary laws of distribution. Hence correctly represented by peculiar, derived from peculium, a private purse, a special acquisition of a member of a family distinct from the property administered for the good of the whole family. Accordingly the sense is given in Ephesians 1:14, where believers are said to have been sealed εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως witha view to redemption of possession, or redemption which will give possession, thus = acquisition. So 1 Peter 2:9, where Christians are styled λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν apeople for acquisition, to be acquired by God as his peculiar possession. Comp. 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14, and περιποιεῖσθαι toacquire, Acts 20:28. The phrase καθαρίζειν λαὸν topurify the people, in lxx, Nehemiah 12:30; Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+21:20&sr=1">Acts 21:20; Acts 22:3; 1 Peter 3:13. Only here in Pastorals. In Paul, 1 Corinthians 14:12; Galatians 1:14. For the word as a title, see on the Canaanite, Matthew 10:4, and see on Mark 3:18. [source]
For the phrase see Romans 9:25; Romans 11:1; 1 Peter 2:10. and comp. Israel of God, Galatians 6:16. The true Israel, who inherit the promise by faith in Christ. [source]
The verb includes not only erection, but furnishing with the entire equipment. See Hebrews 9:2; 1 Peter 2:10. The verb oP. The application of built or established to Christ (Hebrews 3:3) is guarded against possible misapprehension. Christ is the establisher, but not by any independent will or agency. As the Son he is he that built, but it is as one with God who built all things. The special foundership of Christ does not contradict or exclude the general foundership of God. [source]
Ἁγιάζειν tosanctify had a peculiar significance to Jews. It meant to set them apart as holy. Hence, the Israelites were called ἅγιοι , as separated from other nations and consecrated to God. Our writer extends the application of the word to Christians. For Christ's work he claims the same efficacy which the Jew claimed for the special call of God to Israel, and for the operation of the Jewish sacrificial system. The office of his atoning work is to sanctify; to make for himself a holy nation ( ἔθνος ἅγιον ), a people “prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17); a true Israel of God. Ὁ λαός thepeople, or λαός mypeople, occurs constantly in O.T. as a designation of Israel, and also in N.T. See, in this epistle, Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 7:5, Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 9:19. The N.T. extends the title to all who, under the new dispensation, occupy the position of Israel. See 1 Peter 2:10; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10; Hebrews 4:9; Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 10:30; Hebrews 11:25. [source]