1 Peter 2:4-10 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones - Λιθοι ζωντες· Living stones; each being instinct with the principle of life, which proceeds from him who is the foundation, called above λιθον ζωντα , a living stone. The metaphor in this and the following verse is as bold as it is singular; and commentators and critics have found it difficult to hit on any principle of explanation. In all metaphors there is something in the natural image that is illustrative of some chief moral property in the thing to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:6

Behold, I lay in Sion - This intimates that the foundation of the Christian Church should be laid at Jerusalem; and there it was laid, for there Christ suffered, and there the preaching of the Gospel commenced. A chief corner stone - This is the same as the foundation stone; and it is called here the chief corner stone because it is laid in the foundation, at an angle of the building where its two sides form the ground work of a side and end wall. And this might probably be designed to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:7

Unto you therefore which believe - You, both Jews and Gentiles. He is precious - Ὑμιν ουν ἡ τιμη τοις πιστευουσιν· The honor is to you who believe; i.e. the honor of being in this building, and of having your souls saved through the blood of the Lamb, and becoming sons and daughters of God Almighty. Them which be disobedient - The Jews, who continue to reject the Gospel; that very person whom they reject is head of the corner - is Lord over all, and has all power in the heavens... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:8

A stone of stumbling - Because in him all Jews and Gentiles who believe are united; and because the latter were admitted into the Church, and called by the Gospel to enjoy the same privileges which the Jews, as the peculiar people of God, had enjoyed for two thousand years before; therefore they rejected the Christian religion, they would have no partakers with themselves in the salvation of God. This was the true cause why the Jews rejected the Gospel; and they rejected Christ because he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:9

Ye are a chosen generation - The titles formerly given to the whole Jewish Church, i.e. to all the Israelites without exception, all who were in the covenant of God by circumcision, whether they were holy persons or not, are here given to Christians in general in the same way; i.e. to all who believed in Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles, and who received baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Israelites were a chosen or elected race, to be a special... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:10

Which in time past were not a people - This is a quotation from Hosea 1:9 , Hosea 1:10 ; Hosea 2:23 , where the calling of the Gentiles, by the preaching of the Gospel, is foretold. From this it is evident, that the people to whom the apostle now addresses himself had been Gentiles, covered with ignorance and superstition, and now had obtained mercy by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:4

Verse 4 To whom coming, is not to be referred simply to God, but to him as he is revealed to us in the person of Christ. Now, it cannot be but that the grace of God must powerfully draw us to himself and inflame us with the love of him by whom we obtain a real perception of it. If Plato affirmed this of his Beautiful, of which a shadowy idea only he beheld afar off, much more true is this with regard to God. Let it then be noticed, that Peter connects an access to God with the taste of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:5

Verse 5 5.Ye also, as lively or living stones, are built up The verb may be in the imperative as well as in the indicative mood, for the termination in Greek is ambiguous. But in whatever way it is taken, Peter no doubt meant to exhort the faithful to consecrate themselves as a spiritual temple to God; for he aptly infers from the design of our calling what our duty is. We must further observe, that he constructs one house from the whole number of the faithful. For though every one of us is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:6

Verse 6 6Wherefore also it is contained in Scripture; or, Wherefore also the Scripture contains (20) They who refer the verb “contain” ( περιέχειν) to Christ, and render it “embrace,” because through him all these unite together, wholly depart from the meaning of the Apostle. No better is another exposition, that Christ excels others; for Peter simply intended to quote the testimony of Scripture. (21) He then shews what had been taught by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, or, which is the same... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:7

Verse 7 7.Unto you therefore which believe God having pronounced Christ to be a precious and a chosen stone, Peter draws the inference that he is so to us. For, no doubt, Christ is there described such as we apprehend him by faith, and such as he proves himself to be by real evidences. We ought, then, carefully to notice this inference: Christ is a precious stone in the sight of God; then he is such to the faithful. It is faith alone which reveals to us the value and excellency of Christ. But... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:7

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