Pastor Jim’s Personal Notes© – Lesson 9

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I Peter Chapter 2

Chapter Two Outline

Since Salvation v 1-3

Stones that are Alive v. 4-10

Strangers in an Alien Land v. 11-12

Submit to Civil Authority v. 13-17

Servants to the Silently Suffering and Sinless Shepherd or Our Soul v 18-25

Daily Reading

Monday – I Peter 2

Tuesday – 2 Samuel 22:31-34

Wednesday – 2 Samuel 23:2 - 5

Thursday – Psalm 31

Friday -- Isaiah 17:10

V. 4-5

It is possible that Peter was thinking of his own name given to him by Jesus. (Peter means Stone or Little Stone). Jesus is the is the “living stone.” He is our living rock. The stress here is that Jesus is a life. We do not worship a dead martyr but rather a living life giving “tested” (see verse 6 comments) Rock of all ages.

The “living stone’ may have been rejected by Jews and may be rejected by men today but he is none the less the living stone who is reproducing believers in His likeness. The Christians are to allow themselves to be built up.

V. 5

What are the spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God? Are they not a surrendered body willing to allow the Lord to do as He pleases? (Romans 12:1) Are they not minds and hearts totally in love with Him? Are they not actions of faith and obedience?

Comments by Others*

As unto a living stone. Since Peter had become very familiar with the Greek Old Testament and the striking continuity between its prophecies of the Messiah and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ on the one hand, and between the people of God in the Old Testament and believers in his own era on the other hand, he is here taken up completely with the beauty of metaphor and allusion. He is thinking now of God’s people as a building and of Jesus Christ as the living stone, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 28:16, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” Christ is called a living stone because, although He is a part of the figure, He is also a real person. Likewise, those who have come to Christ and have received life through Him are called living stones. Since Christ had been rejected by the chief priests and leaders of the Jews, Matthew (21:42) saw this as a fulfillment of the Old Testament. Paul also (I Cor 3:11) looked upon his preaching of Christ as laying a foundation upon which others might build. For Paul too, the church was a “building” (I Cor 3:9).

5. Peter uses the same figure that Paul had used and says, ye also, as lively stones or “and like living stones you are yourselves being built into a spiritual house so that you may be a holy priesthood.” The preposition used in the original language here implies that the purpose for which these Gentile Christian stones are being selected, trimmed, and built into a structure is that they might function as a holy priesthood. With this, Peter again changes the figure momentarily from buildings and stones to the priesthood. Since the priesthood in the Old Testament had the function of offering animal sacrifices acceptable to God, in the metaphor the church as the new priesthood offers sacrifices through Jesus Christ, but they are spiritual sacrifices. The author of Hebrews (13:15) also uses the same figures but more specifically names the sacrifices as those of praise and confessing His name.

V. 6

Isaiah records the word of the Lord “Behold, I am laying in Zion, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed . . .” (28:16). A tested stone is one that is known to be true, a stone that you might build on without worry of failure.

Recently an earthquake shook the city of Seattle. It was a reminder that although their foundations were deep and their buildings strong, they were none-the-less built upon shaky ground. The believer does not need to fear because his new life is built upon the solid Rock that is firm.

Comments by Others*

6. Another reference to the chosen and valuable cornerstone, Jesus Christ applies this statement also, he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. The word confounded (Gr kataischynoµ) comes from a textual variation in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 28:16 which is quoted by the New Testament writers. Paul, in Romans 9:33 and 10:11, seems to define quite well the meaning of being confounded, or being “put to shame”; it means to “fail to be saved.” Whatever the meaning in the Old Testament, the meaning of the quotation in the New Testament and here is, “the person who believes in Him will certainly not fail to be saved.”

V. 7

This precious truth is of great value to the believer – especially when we find ourselves overwhelmed with troubles and problems. Again, it is worthy to repeat that Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was preparing his readers for the problems that lie ahead.

Although we might not face the exact test and troubles that earlier readers faced shortly after the completion of this letter, we will none the face troubles within our own time. Faith that is built on the Solid Rock will not be shaken because our Rock is firm!

This, however, is not the case with those that do not believe. The Rock is an offence and even a major stumbling block. I believe we are seeing this more and more today. Jesus – even the name – has offensive and distasteful to many unbelievers today. They do not want his name in public places, nor public schools, and with many if granted their desires would not have his name uttered at all. Unless there is a real revival in much of the world, especially the USA, I believe that distaste for Jesus and therefore for his followers will intensify. With that shadow overhead, Peter’s encouragement and instruction is really very relevant for us today.

Comments by Others*

7–8. Christianity is a matter of one’s attitude toward Jesus Christ. He uses the quotations from Isaiah to show that while believers consider this choice stone to be valuable in that they honor, respect, and worship Him, to the unbelievers and disobedient on the other hand Christ has become a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. According to the Old Testament prophecy and Peter’s view of its fulfillment, the “chief cornerstone” and foundation of salvation for some, has become the cause of destruction for others who refuse to believe in Him.

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*Notes from:

Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994.