1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:1 NEWBORN INFANTS. Peter is not saying that believers are immature in their faith. He means all Christians are to be like infants in their longing for PURE SPIRITUAL MILK, which likely refers to God’s Word (compare 1 Peter 1:23). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTa... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:3 Christians will continue to long for the Word IF they HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GOOD, which they did in conversion (compare Psalms 34:8). In writing this letter, Peter may well have thought about Psalms 34:1, which stresses how the Lord delivers the righteous in their... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:4 AS YOU COME TO HIM indicates a daily personal relationship with Christ. LIVING STONE. Jesus is the foundation of God’s new temple. He is God’s elect (CHOSEN) one. He is honored above all. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.l... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:5 Believers are LIVING STONES in God’s new temple (SPIRITUAL HOUSE). Since the pieces that make up the house are “living,” the house itself is growing: YOU YOURSELVES... ARE BEING BUILT UP. The OT temple anticipated the new temple where God dwells (that is, in his people).... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:6 Peter cites Isaiah 28:16 (compare Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11) in support of the idea that Jesus is the CORNERSTONE (see note on Eph. 2:20) of God’s temple. Those who trust IN HIM will be saved on judgment day. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:7 Unbelievers will find this prophecy from Psalms 118:22 fulfilled. The STONE the BUILDERS rejected is Jesus, the foundation of God’s temple, his new people. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:8 STUMBLING. Tripping over the truth of the gospel. Unbelievers fall because they do not walk with God. In doing so, unbelievers fulfill this prophecy from Isaiah 8:14. There the STONE God has established becomes the means of their falling. THEY STUMBLE BECAUSE THEY DISOBEY... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:9 A CHOSEN RACE. God has elected (“chosen”) some to be his people. Therefore no one can boast about being included. Peter views the church as a new Israel. He cites what is said of Israel in Exodus 19:5 and applies it to the church. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsB... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:10 Peter echoes texts in Hosea 1:1 that refer to Israel (Hosea 1:6, Hosea 1:9, Hosea 1:10; Hosea 2:23) and says they are fulfilled in the church. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:11 Living as Strangers to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World. Believers should live as exiles in a world that rejects their message. They bear witness to the gospel when they live in a way that pleases God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (v... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:12 Peter refers to unbelievers as GENTILES. This reflects his understanding of believers as a new Israel (see note on 1:1). GLORIFY GOD. See Matthew 5:16. ON THE DAY OF VISITATION may refer to the believer’s initial conversion through the regenerating work (“visitation”) of... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:13 Peter exhorts Christians to goodness as citizens (1 Peter 2:13), slaves (1 Peter 2:18), wives (1 Peter 3:1), and husbands (1 Peter 3:7). The section is summed up in 1 Peter 3:8: those who imitate Christ and pursue goodness will receive an eternal reward.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:15 The godly lives of believers will PUT TO SILENCE false charges raised against them. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:16 Compare Galatians 5:13. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:18 On slavery in the Greco-Roman world, see note on 1 Cor. 7:21. SERVANTS (bondservants) often entered into service to pay off a debt. They were not owned forever without their consent. There were laws to protect bondservants. Still, MASTERS were often unjust. Bondservants... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:19 GRACIOUS THING comes from the Greek word for “grace.” Here it seems to be synonymous with CREDIT. Both words indicate that God will reward his people if they endure suffering righteously. Compare Luke 6:34. “Gracious thing” could also mean that patient endurance of suffe... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:22 This crucial verse emphasizes Christ’s sinlessness (COMMITTED NO SIN) and his substitutionary death for sinners (compare 1 Peter 3:18; see also Isaiah 52:13). Jesus’ freedom from DECEIT alludes to Isaiah 53:9. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 2:24 TREE was often used as a synonym for “cross” in first-century Judaism. This may have been due to Deuteronomy 21:22 (see Galatians 3:13; also Acts 5:30; and see note on crucifixion at Matt. 27:35). The unique, substitutionary, sin-bearing death of Jesus is described here... [ Continue Reading ]