I Peter 2:1-3
(A Bible Study Led by Dr. Larry Reynolds)
July 25, 2013
A snake and a
rabbit were racing along a pair of intersecting forest pathways one day, when
they collided at the intersection. They immediately began to argue with one
another as to who was at fault for the mishap.
When the snake
remarked that he had been blind since birth, and thus should be given
additional leeway, the rabbit said that he, too, had been blind since birth.
The two animals then forgot about the collision and began commiserating
concerning the problems of being blind.
The snake said that
his greatest regret was the loss of his identity. He had never been able to see
his reflection in the water, and for that reason did not know exactly what he
looked like, or even what he was. The rabbit declared that he had the same
problem. Seeing a way that they could help each other, the rabbit proposed that
one feel the other from head to toe, and then try to describe what the other
animal was.
The snake agreed,
and started by winding himself around the rabbit. After a few moments, he
announced, "You've got very soft, fuzzy fur, long ears, big rear feet, and
a little fuzzy ball for a tail. I think that you must be a bunny rabbit!"
The rabbit was much
relieved to find his identity, and proceeded to return the favor to the snake.
After feeling about the snake's body for a few minutes, he asserted,
"Well, you're scaly, you're slimy, you've got beady little eyes, you
squirm and slither all the time, and you've got a forked tongue. I think you're
a lawyer!" [http://www.ahajokes.com/law015.html]
I share that story because it is a good reminder of
how important it is for us to understand who we are. The famous phrase, “Know thyself” is often
attributed to the Greek philosopher, Socrates. Whether or not he was the author
of those famous words, no-one knows for sure.
But the concept certainly does have its roots in ancient Greek
philosophy. In the ancient city of
Delphi, at the entry to the place where the legendary oracle of Delphi made her
predictions, is inscribed the phrase “Know thyself.” And virtually every system of human
thought/philosophy stresses the importance of understanding who we really are.
The Apostle Peter certainly understood the
importance of that. We have seen that he
began the letter of 1 Peter with a beautiful description of Christians. In verses 1-2 he points out three significant
truths about our identity:
·
We
are “those
who reside as aliens”
·
We
are “scattered”
·
We
are “chosen.”
In this session, as
we explore 1 Peter 2:4-10, we will see another beautiful description of who we
are as the people of God. Twice in these
verses Peter uses the phrase “you are” (verse 5 and verse
9). Essentially, he uses two images to
describe who we are in Christ:
·
Verse
5 introduces the concept of Christians being a spiritual house made up of
living stones
·
Verse
9 introduces the concept of Christians being a select people with a special
relationship with God
Verse 4
“And
coming to Him as to a living stone…” – This is the third time Peter uses the word “living”
in this brief letter. In 1:3 he speaks
of our “living hope” and in 1:23 he speaks of the “living … word of God.” Now he refers to Jesus as a “living
stone” and in the following verse to His followers as “living
stones.” The repeated use of the word “living” is a reminder
that Christianity is not a static religion.
Instead, the essence of being a Christian is having a living, dynamic,
growing relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.
“rejected
by men” –
There is a recurring theme running through this passage regarding our
relationship with Jesus. Basically,
Peter says that for some, Jesus is the foundation of their lives. For those who accept Him (see Romans 10:9;
Acts 16:31), He gives life abundant and life eternal (see John 10:10). However, for others—for those who reject or
refuse to believe in Him—Jesus becomes a stumbling block.
Peter draws from a familiar O.T. concept in describing
Jesus as a living stone…
--the O.T. passage quoted in v.6
describing Christ as cornerstone of building is taken from the prophecy of
Isaiah...
--the O.T. passage quoted in v.7
describing Christ as stone rejected by builders is from Psalm 118...(Peter
quoted this verse in Acts 4:11 in his famous statement to the Jewish Sanhedrin
Court
There was a legend
among the Jews about something that happened when the Temple was being built by
Solomon...because they did not want the Temple site to be defiled by the noise
of construction, the stones were cut and shaped in other places, dragged to the
Temple mount, and put together like a jigsaw puzzle...there was one rather
oddly shaped stone which didn’t look useful, so the workers laid it aside...in
the months that followed it became overgrown with weeds and was forgotten...
but as they began to put the pieces together, they discovered they couldn’t lay
the foundation because a crucial piece was missing... someone remembered the
stone they had set aside and discovered it was the missing piece...it was the
chief corner stone on which everything else rested and without which
construction was impossible...
And the point of all that is the key to
being reconciled to our Creator (which is the very thing our hearts cry out for)
is relationship with Jesus. He is the
foundation upon which spiritual life and vitality rests. Just as a building rests upon the
cornerstone, so our spiritual lives rests upon what God has done for us in the Christ
event.
Verse 5
“…as
living stones…”
– Bob Utley writes, “The NT uses several
corporate metaphors to describe the church: (1) a vine (John 15:5); (2) a flock
(John 10:16); (3) a bride (i.e. a family), (Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:7, 21:9); (4) a
body (Eph. 1:22–23, I Cor. 12); (5) a family (Rom. 8:15–17; I Tim. 3:15); (6) a
city (Heb. 11:10, 16; 12:22, 13:14; Rev. 2:2, 10); and here, a temple (cf. I
Cor. 3:9, 16; 6:19).”[1]
“…being
put together into a spiritual house…” - This passage is a reminder that Christians are
part of a larger whole. The true church
is not just a local body that comes together at a particular place and particular
time; it is a spiritual institution being built person by person by God. As part of God’s family, we are like stones
being put together into a large spiritual building.
“…for
a royal priesthood…”
– (See comments on verse 9)
“…to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…” – This statement is similar to
Romans 12:1-2.
Verses 6-7, which have been mentioned
earlier, provide the Old Testament foundation for the metaphor of Jesus being a
living stone upon which God builds His church.
Some have suggested that Peter may have had in mind the discourse of
Jesus at Caesarea Philippi (See Matthew 16:13-20 where he told Peter you are petros—little stone/rocky—but on this petra—large rock I will build my
church.)
Verse 8
“…and
to this doom they were appointed…”
– Bob Utley writes, “Calvinists use this
verse and Rom. 9:22 to assert that God chose some to salvation and some to
damnation. However, verses like John 3:16; I Tim. 2:4; II Pet. 3:9 show this
cannot be true. God’s election is primarily for holiness (cf. Eph. 1:4; 2:10);
for Christlikeness (cf. Rom. 8:29).
This verse reminds me of Isa.
6:9–13. God’s covenantal people had the light they needed to respond
appropriately to Him, but they would not. This continual rejection issued in
hard hearts that could not respond. Only judgment was possible. The God of time
and history knows what humans will do but allows them to do it and then He
affirms and recognizes the consequences of their temporal/eternal choices”.[2]
Verse 9 - In my opinion, this verse
contains the most important statement in New Testament concerning the identity
of people of God. Each phrase of the
verse is packed with meaning. It is significant that in this verse Peter
uses Old Testament phrases--phrases once used to describe nation Israel‑‑and
applies them in new way to those who enter into a faith relationship with Jesus
Christ. It is as if saying, "Remember
how in times past God established special relationship with nation Israel? Well, now he has established that relationship
with the people who have entered relationship with God through faith commitment
to Jesus Christ. God's people in world
today‑‑‑chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, special possession‑‑not old
Israelites identified by race or geographic location. God's people in world
today are new Israelites identified by spiritual relationship with God through
his Son."
“But
you…” – As opposed
to those who have rejected Christ who are destined for doom…
“Chosen
Race” means
we have a special relationship with God.
He is uniquely our God amd we uniquely his people.
“Royal
Priesthood” -
Warren Wiersbe points out that “In the O.T. period, God’s people had
a priesthood; but today, God’s people are a priesthood.” [Wiersbe, p.49] The primary function of a priest in the Jewish
system was to stand between God and humanity.
The priest spoke to God on behalf of the people and spoke to the people
on behalf of God. This phrase means two
things:
·
We
each have free access to God with no need for a human mediator.
·
We
each have priestly function to perform in world.
“Holy
nation”
means we're to be set apart, dedicated to God and His ways. The basic idea behind the word “holy”
is to be set aside and consecrated to God.
“God’s
own possession”
means have unique value and worth because we belong to God.
Notice that the second part of v.9 begins with the
word "that." In the
context of this verse, that is an important word. It means "because
of"..."for purpose of"..."so that." In other words, God has made us everything
listed in first part of verse‑‑”chosen race, royal priesthood, holy
nation, special people”‑‑for purpose...and that purpose is "...that you may proclaim the
excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous
light."
Every physical building has a purpose. And this spiritual building constructed by
God, built on the living foundation of Christ consisting of the living stones
of God’s people, also has a purpose. The
last part of v.9 clearly states that purpose.
That mission is "proclaiming the
excellencies of God." The word
translated "excellencies" means “praise...wondrous
deeds...marvelous works.” In
other words, it is the task of God’s people to proclaim to the world the good
news of salvation in Christ.
Verse
10 sums up
this passage. The thought of this verse
is taken from the Old Testament prophecy of Hosea. One of Hosea’s sons was named Lo-ammi (meaning not my people) and his daughter’s name was Lo-Ruhamah (meaning no compassion).
William Barclay
tells of a certain Spartan king who was showing a visiting monarch around the
city of Sparta...the king began to brag about the walls of Sparta and the
visitor, who could see no walls, said, “Where are these wall about which you speak and boast so much?”...and
the Spartan king pointed to his magnificent soldiers and said, “These are the walls of Sparta, and every
man of them a brick.”
[1]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (228). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
[2]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (229). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
