I Peter 2: 4-10 for study group, part 2-The Orthodox Study Bible
Part 2 of preparation for leading a church home group, bible study, next week. Non-exhaustive.
Part 1 from Friday...
Our church uses the English Standard Version (ESV), so I will use that English version of I Peter 2: 4-10.
I Peter 2: 4-10
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[a] 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Footnotes a 1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the corner
This study bible uses the New King James Version (NKJV)
In regards to 2: 4-10, this academic bible states that the Apostle Peter is comparing the New Testament Church to the Old Testament temple. (553). Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Bible Law which included (includes) priesthood, sacrifice and worship. (553). Christ is the fulfillment of this Old Testament imagery. (553). Therefore, as in verse 5, Christians become living stones (regenerate Christians, John 3, Titus 3, 1 Peter 1: 3, my add), a spiritual house (indwelled with the Holy Spirit, John 20, Acts 2, my add), a holy priesthood (replacing the Old Testament covenant, see Hebrews, Luke 22, my add), to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (this through the applied atoning and resurrection work for believers in justification and sanctification, being saved by grace through faith alone, for good works, Ephesians 1-2, my add).
Barclay, correctly in my view, understands Jesus Christ as the stone, referencing Psalm 118: 22 (194). He opines that in the original Psalms context, Israel was the cornerstone, but in the New Testament, the cornerstone is Christ. (194).
Psalm 118:22 English Standard Version (ESV)
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[a] Footnotes Psalm 118:22 a Hebrew the head of the corner
In Jesus Christ, and his applied salvation (my add), Christians are a chosen people (198), again supporting the concept of predestination discussed in Part 1. The promises made to Israel are being fulfilled by the Church, opines Barclay. (198). Barclay calls the Church the New Israel. (198). Regardless of biblically and theologically how one interprets this complex issue of Israel versus the Church, I can opine with certainty that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation (John 14: 6) and this takes place in the context of the Christian Church.
ἐκλεκτὸν (chosen) (eklekton) from both 1 Peter 2: 4 and 9
Therefore, according to Barclay, Christians are a royal priesthood (199). Clearly, the New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant (Hebrews, Luke 22, as already noted) and the results of this are described in 2: 4-10 as God's people are spiritually in Jesus Christ.
In his commentary, G. J. Polkinghorne writes that this section provides two analogies. One, the Church as Temple (1555) with Jesus Christ as the principal stone (1555). This scholar opines that cornerstone comes from Isaiah 28: 16 (He also references Ephesians 2: 20) (1555). Notably, Polkinghorne uses a different Hebrew Bible reference than did Barclay. Both seem correct.
Isaiah 28:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid[a] as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ Footnotes Isaiah 28:16 Dead Sea Scroll I am laying
In this building, Christians are 'living stones made alive in Christ' (1555). Two, the Christian Church as Priesthood (1555). There is a new priesthood with Christ as the High Priest as seen in Hebrews (1555).
Jesus Christ is the High Priest of this Priesthood. Christians are 'the spiritual heir of God's ancient people' (1555).
The Orthodoxy text describes these people as living stones, a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, that are 'the people of God who have obtained mercy.' (553). 'This is salvation in all its fullness.' (553).
BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.
BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
PAYNE DAVID F. (1986) '2 Peter' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
POLKINGHORNE, G.J. (1986) '1 Peter' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT (1993) Stuttgart, United Bible Societies.
THE ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE, NEW TESTAMENT AND PSALMS (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Nashville, Tennessee, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
