Matthew Poole Commentary - 1 Peter 2:9 - 2:9

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Matthew Poole Commentary - 1 Peter 2:9 - 2:9


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But ye; ye believers, in opposition to those reprobates that are disobedient to the word. He shows that those dignities and privileges, which were mentioned by Moses as belonging to their forefathers, did much more belong to them; and that they had the real exhibition in Christ, of those good things whereof their fathers had but a taste, and which the rest of the Jews had lost by their unbelief.



Are a chosen generation; a people chosen of God, not only out of the world, but from among the rest of your own nation, and not only to an external adoption, and outward privileges, (as the whole body of the nation was), but to eternal salvation.



A royal priesthood; or, kingdom of priests. He called them an holy priesthood, 1Pe_2:5, now he calls them a royal priesthood, to show that they were made not only spiritual priests, but spiritual kings; which privilege they had not as Jews, but as believers, who are all of them as priests in respect of God, to whom they are consecrated, and to whom they offer up spiritual sacrifices; so kings in respect both of their enemies, over whom they are victorious, and of the kingdom they are hereafter to inherit.



An holy nation; Moses calls your fathers an holy people, Deu_7:6, in respect of their separation from the impurities of the Gentiles, their dedication to God, and the many laws God gave them, obliging them to external and ceremonial purity, whereby they were admonished of internal and real holiness; but ye are a holy nation in respect of that true and inward holiness itself, whereof that ceremonial holiness was but a signification. He seems particularly to allude to Isa_62:12.



A peculiar people: Exo_19:5, it is a peculiar treasure; so the same word is rendered, a special people, Deu_7:6, and, a peculiar people, Deu_14:2; the word used by the LXX. implying as much; but Mal_3:17, where we render it jewels, the LXX. use the same word which Peter doth here, which is as much as, a people of acquisition, or which God hath acquired to himself for his peculiar possession or treasure. God had rescued the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage, and taken them to be his peculiar people above all others, and claimed a right to them, and counted them precious, as having redeemed them with a strong hand, and got possession of them at the expense of so much power, and so many miracles. This deliverance of theirs was the type of Christ’s delivering the church from the tyranny of Satan, the spiritual Pharaoh, and the world, the spiritual Egypt, and a state of sin, the worst bondage; upon the account whereof God’s people are called a peculiar people, or a people thus acquired, Tit_2:14, and a purchased possession, Eph_1:14, where the same word is likewise used. That ye should show forth, &c.: this notes the end of all these privileges vonchsafed them, viz. that they should glorify God in the enjoyment of them. He seems to refer to Isa_43:7,21: This people have I formed for myself, ( or acquired, as the LXX. hath it), they shall show forth my praise.



Show forth; publish and declare, both in words and deeds, that others may be excited to glorify, God in the like manner. The praises of him; or virtues, that wisdom, power, goodness, righteousness, truth &c., which God hath manifested in his vouchsafements to you, and in the acknowledgment of which he may be glorified.



Who hath called you; by an effectual calling, according to his purpose, Rom_8:28.



Out of darkness; the darkness of ignorance, unbelief, sin, and misery. The time before the publication of the gospel, was a time of darkness, Mat_9:16 Luk_1:79.



Into his marvellous light; the light of knowledge, faith, holiness, comfort: see Eph_5:8. It is called marvellous, because men see what they never saw before, wonderful things out of God’s law, Psa_119:18; and because it is a marvellous thing, that they who sat in so gross darkness should be translated into so glorious a light.