Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Peter 2:5

Fulfilment of the saying, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it (John 2:19). Christians live to God through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11). For this development of the figure of building, cf. especially Ephesians 2:20 ff. οἰκοδομεῖσθε, indicative rather than imperative. “It is remarkable that St. Peter habitually uses the aorist for his imperatives, even when we might expect the present; the only exceptions (two or three) are preceded by words removing all ambiguity, 1 Peter 2:11; 1Pe 2:17, 1 Peter 4:12 f”. (Hort). οἶκος … ἅγιον, a spiritual house for an holy priesthood. The connection with priesthood (Hebrews 10:21) and the offering of sacrifices points to the special sense of the House of God, i.e., the Temple; cf. (1 Peter 4:17; 1 Timothy 3:5) ναὸς ὅς ἐστε ὑμεῖς, 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21. So Hebrews 3:5 f., οὗ (Χριστοῦ) οἶκός ἐσμεν ἡμεῖς … Ἱεράτευμα, body of priests, in Exodus 19:6 (Heb. priests) Exodus 23:22; Malachi 2:17; Malachi 2 Maccabees cf.9 infra. Here Hort prefers the equally legitimate sense, act of priesthood. Usage supports the first and only possible etymology the second. The ideal of a national priesthood is realised, Isaiah 61:6. ἀνενέγκαι … Χριστοῦ. to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. δια Ἰησοῦ Χ. is better taken with ἀν. than εὐπροσδ.; cf. Hebrews 13:15, διʼ αὐτοῦ, where the thankoffering is singled out as the fit type of the Christian sacrifice. Spiritual sacrifices are in their nature acceptable to God (John 4:23) and Christians are enabled to offer them through Jesus Christ. ἀναφέρειν in this sense is peculiar to LXX, Jas. and Heb.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Peter 2:5

Old Testament

New Testament