1 Peter 1:22 to 1 Peter 2:10. The Christians, who were formerly pagans, are created a new race in Christ Jesus, and consecrated as a special priesthood of service to the whole world. Their life must be in accordance with this profession. They are to manifest to one another brotherly love, that noblest jewel in the diadem of early Christianity (Gunkel), and as children naturally seek milk for nourishment, so their desire is to be for spiritual refreshment in the purity of faith. By a changed figure they are to become living stones in a living temple founded on a living Lord, who of old time was termed by the prophets the Corner Stone. To them He is a precious possession, but to those who refuse Him, He is like a stone in the path to trip over, as a rock in the way, over which one may fall.
1 Peter 1:22. love of the brethren: not brotherly love, but brother-love. Not love men as though they were your brothers, but love men because they are your brothers. As Maurice finely said, There can be no brotherhood without a common father (Masterman).
1 Peter 1:23. word of God is here transitional between the written word, and the personal Word of the Fourth Gospel. It is better to take liveth and abideth as referring to word than to God (mg.).
1 Peter 2:2. spiritual milk: a curious phrase, but meaning nourishment that belongs to the spiritual nature.
1 Peter 2:6. Two of the OT passages here quoted are found in combination in Romans 9, and in the same chapter is the reference to Hos. made below (1 Peter 2:10). From this and similar instances it has been suggested that selections of Messianic passages were already in use by Christian teachers (p. 700).
1 Peter 2:7. the preciousness: the phrase may be understood in various ways, but probably for you is the honour is most likely in contrast with shame mentioned in 1 Peter 1:6 and referred to throughout. On the other hand, precious may refer back to the quotation in the sense of the inherent unique quality of Christ.
1 Peter 2:9. royal: because belonging to a king, not as consisting of kings.