1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation . The pronoun "ye" is emphatic. St. Peter is drawing a contrast between the disobedient and unbelieving Jews and Christian people whether Jews or Gentiles; he ascribes to Christians, in a series of phrases quoted from the Old Testament, the various privileges which had belonged to the children of Israel. The words, "a chosen generation" ( γένος ἐκλεκτόν ), are from Isaiah 43:20 , γένος μου τὸ ἐκλεκτόν . The Cornerstone is elect, precious; the living stones built thereupon are elect likewise. The whole Christian Church is addressed as an elect race, one race, because all its members are begotten again of the one Father. A royal priesthood . Instead of "holy," as in Isaiah 43:5 , St. Peter has here the epithet "royal." He follows the Septuagint Version of Exodus 19:6 ; the Hebrew has "a kingdom of priests." The word "royal" may mean that God's elect shall sit with Christ in his throne, and reign with him ( Revelation 3:21 ; Revelation 5:10 ), and that in some sense they reign with him now over their lower nature, their desires and appetites; or, more probably, the priesthood of Christians is called "royal" because it belongs to the King—"a priesthood serving Jehovah the King, just as we speak of 'the royal household'" (Weiss, quoted by Huther). An holy nation. Also from Exodus 19:6 . The Israelites were a holy nation as separated from the heathen and consecrated to God's service by circumcision. Christians of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, are one nation under one King, separated to his service, dedicated to him in holy baptism. A peculiar people . The Greek words. λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν , represent the words, הלָּגֻסְ מעַ , of Deuteronomy 7:6 , translated by the LXX . λαὸν περιούσιον , "a special people" (Authorized Version). St. Paul also has this translation in Titus 2:14 . The Hebrew word הלָּגֻסְ in Ma 3:17 is rendered by the LXX . εἰς περιποίησιν , by the Authorized Version "my jewels." The children of Israel are called הוָחֹיְ תלַּגֻסְ , as the peculium, the private, special, treasured possession of God. God says of them, in Isaiah 43:21 , "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise;" rendered by the LXX . λαόν μου ὂν περιεποιησάμην τὰς ἀρετάς μου διηγεῖσθαι , God hath now chosen us Christians to be the Israel of God; the Christian Church is his peculium, his treasure, "a people for God's own possession" (Revised Version). The literal meaning of the Greek words used by St. Peter is "a people for acquisition," or "for keeping safe," the verb having the sense of "gaining, acquiring," and also that of "preserving, keeping for one's self" with his own blood"). That ye should show forth the praises of him. That ye should tell out, publish abroad. The verb is found nowhere else in the New Testament. The word translated "praises" ( ἀρετάς , literally, "virtues"), so very common in classical writers, occurs in the New Testament only here, 2 Peter 1:3 , 2 Peter 1:5 , and Philippians 4:8 . Here St. Peter is quoting from the Septuagint Version of Isaiah 43:21 (the word is similarly used in Isaiah 42:12 and Isaiah 63:7 ). Perhaps the best rendering is that of the Revised Version, "excellencies." Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. He had chosen them before the foundation of the world; he called them when they received the gospel: "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called." He called them out of the darkness of ignorance and sin. The Gentiles walked in utter darkness, in less measure the Jews also. The light of his presence is marvelous, wonderful; those who walk in that light feel something of its irradiating glory.