1 Peter 2:1-10 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

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.

Related Commentaries of 1 Peter 2:1

1 Peter 2:1-10

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:a but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiarb people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.