In this week’s passage, Peter finally quotes the Old Testament passage that he has been building his argument upon in the previous verses. It is found in Isaiah 28:16, and Paul also quotes it in Romans 9:33.

You can see it for yourself in 1 Peter 2:6.

The next few verses give Peter’s readers the background for the living stone imagery that he has been describing in this second chapter of his letter.

In the Greek translation of the passage from Isaiah, we see the word akrogoniaios, which is commonly rendered as “cornerstone.” Today, when we think of a cornerstone, we envision a stone that is inserted into a building once it is largely completed, and is cosmetic in nature.

In the ancient world, this was not the case. A cornerstone was critical to the structure of a building. This stone formed a part of the foundation, and from it, the walls and corners would receive their angles and direction. These stones were the first to be laid, and could be as large as fourteen feet in length. The entire building was dependent upon the cornerstone.

Some have suggested that this is more of a keystone than a cornerstone. But a keystone is found near the top of a building. That doesn’t fit the illustration Peter uses, or Isaiah for that matter, since unbelievers will stumble over it. Placing this on the ground as a cornerstone is much more likely to be the meaning of this very uncommon word.

Of course, the emphasis Peter places here is upon the preciousness and importance of the cornerstone, and the preciousness and importance of Jesus.

In this verse, Peter expresses the value of such a living cornerstone for those who believe in him. In the next couple of verses, he will expose the threat posed to those who reject Christ.

Peter makes it very clear. Christ is the foundational part, the cornerstone, of his church. Paul expresses this thought in Ephesians 2:20 as well. And as such, the reality of Christ is something that cannot be dismissed lightly. Either he is the Messiah, in whom we must place our trust, or he is a stumbling block over which we trip. Either way, he must be acknowledged.

Who is he to you?

Question: What have you done with Christ the cornerstone? Do you view his as precious and place your trust in him? Or is he a stumbling block to you? You can leave a comment by clicking here.