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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 Peter 2:5 - 2:5
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Ye also as living stones (kai autoi hōs lithoi zōntes). Peter applies the metaphor about Christ as the living stone to the readers, “ye yourselves also.”
Are built up a spiritual house (oikodomeisthe oikos pneumatikos). Present passive indicative second person plural of oikodomeō, the very verb used by Jesus to Peter in Mat 16:18 (oikodomēsō) of building his church on the rock. If the metaphor of a house of living stones seems “violent” (Vincent), it should be remembered that Jesus employed the figure of a house of believers. Peter just carried it a bit farther and Paul uses a temple for believers in one place (1Co 3:16) and for the kingdom of God in general (Eph 2:22), as does the author of Hebrews (Heb 3:6). This “spiritual house” includes believers in the five Roman provinces of 1Pe 1:1 and shows clearly how Peter understood the metaphor of Christ in Mat 16:18 to be not a local church, but the church general (the kingdom of Christ).
To be a holy priesthood (eis hierateuma hagion). Late word (from hierateuō, to serve as priest, Luk 1:8 alone in N.T.), in lxx (Exo 19:6), in N.T. only here and 1Pe 2:9, either the office of priest (Hort) or an order or body of priests. At any rate, Peter has the same idea of Rev 1:6 (hiereis, priests) that all believers are priests (Heb 4:16) and can approach God directly.
To offer up (anenegkai). First aorist active infinitive (of purpose here) of anapherō, the usual word for offering sacrifices (Heb 7:27). Only these are “spiritual” (pneumatikas) as pictured also in Heb 13:15.
Acceptable (euprosdektous). Late (Plutarch) double compound verbal adjective (eu, pros, dechomai) as in 2Co 6:2.