To this point, the second chapter of Peter’s letter has been very encouraging to his readers. That trend will continue with these two verses, encouraging believers to live their lives to bring glory to God.

You can read this for yourself in 1 Peter 2:11-12.

When Peter wrote his letters, as with all the biblical writings, they did not break them down into chapters and verse. It was all one long letter, perhaps with space between the paragraphs, perhaps not. That makes it somewhat difficult to determine the context of a passage at times.

This week’s passage is an example of that dilemma. The NIV, among other translations, places this paragraph as the summary of the preceding passages, seeing it as more encouragement to live as chosen people. However, it may just as easily fit into the coming text about submitting to the governing authorities. It almost makes more sense to approach it this way than otherwise. In the remainder of this chapter, Peter addresses how to live in relation to the government, how slaves are to relate to their masters, and how husbands and wives are to relate to one another. In all of these cases, the emphasis is drawn to Christians relating to non-Christians.

In light of that, this passage takes on a whole new depth, as Peter asks his readers to abstain from sinful desires and allow the light of God to shine through their lives. In fact, his opening phrase, “Dear friends,” almost seem to indicate a change in focus in his writing, suggesting that this is a new thought.

Peter states again that believers are aliens and strangers in this world. We do not belong here; we are just passing through on our way to our eternal home. His description is reminiscent of Genesis 23:4, where Abraham describes himself in the same manner, while living among the Hittites. Peter’s point here is clear. We are strangers and exiles upon this earth. Our citizenship is elsewhere.

In Peter’s first letter to the church in Asia Minor, he spends a significant amount of time calling believers to holiness. And in perhaps the most encouraging passage in the entire epistle, he makes a statement that rings with identity for the church. It is my favorite passage in this letter.

See it for yourself in 1 Peter 2:9-10.

In these two beautiful verses, Peter gives some very specific and very encouraging descriptions of the people of God. This passage stands in direct contrast with those who do not believe, and who will stumble over the cornerstone that is Christ. Here, Peter describes the church in some of the most descriptive of terms, and does so using imagery drawn from the Old Testament, from the nation of Israel, who was also God’s chosen people.

Peter uses five phrases here, which we will look at in turn, drawn from two passage of the Old Testament, Exodus 19:6 and Isaiah 43:20-21. These are both passages that Jewish Christians would have been very familiar with, but Peter’s main audience may not have been, being primarily Gentile. Both of these passages speak of God’s great desire to redeem his people, and provide for his people, in return for their faithfulness and obedience. Peter ties them both to the people of the church, and does so beautifully.

Peter has just given support for his premise by using Old Testament Scripture to make his point, in verse six. In this week’s passage, he adds two more Old Testament passages.

Take a look for yourself in 1 Peter 2:7-8.

In verse six, Peter began to use Old Testament passages to reinforce his point, and described Christ as the cornerstone of the foundation of our faith. He continues to do so with a couple more passages, that drive home his point even further.

Where verse six speaks to those who believe, these two verses speak to those who do not. Peter first quotes Psalm 118:22, a text he was probably familiar with because Jesus quoted it in Matthew 21:42. In fact, Peter has used this passage before himself, in Acts 4:11, when he stood before the Sanhedrin. His point, in both uses, is that the stone that has been rejected, both by Jews and by non-Christians elsewhere, has become the main piece of the foundation, the cornerstone.

The NIV uses the word “capstone” here, because the Greek is different. But a capstone, or a keystone from an arch, would be difficult to stumble over, as Peter’s imagery depicts, so the meaning is probably still focused on the idea of a cornerstone in a foundation.

Next, Peter uses another passage from Isaiah, this time from chapter eight, verse 14. This stone, rejected by the builders, will cause them to stumble and fall. Peter is very clear here. They stumble because they disobeyed the word of God. This illustration is very riveting: the very stone that the construction workers or builders discarded has become something that they continue to stumble over. And, perhaps even more accurately, the cornerstone, which God inserted into place, is a projection that they continue to trip over.

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.

As Peter gets into the swing of his letter, he uses several metaphors to capture the mind of his readers. That is exactly what he does in this passage, using the metaphor of living stones, being built into a house.

You can see his imagery for yourself in 1 Peter 2:4-5.

This is one of the only sections of 1 Peter that is declarative, along with 1:1-12, while the rest of Peter’s letter is built around exhortations or imperatives. What this means is that this passage, along with the beginning of the chapter one, provide the foundation for the entire letter.

This section, examining the fact that the believers are God’s chosen people, is elemental to the rest of Peter’s encouragement to his first century audience, as well as later readers. This fact provides some immense motivation and encouragement as we understand our identity as God’s chosen people.

Peter begins this entire section (verses 4-10) with the imagery of stones and buildings. This is probably inspired by Psalm 118:22, which Jesus quoted, probably within Peter’s hearing. As a common tradesman, such imagery would have likely stuck in his head, and he uses it here to make his point clear.

Not only does he begin this word picture, but he takes it a step further by adding Jesus in as the “living” stone. And, in verse 5, he will include us in that description as well. That is encouraging, because, just like Jesus, Peter’s readers in Asia Minor were rejected by men, and yet were chosen by God and precious in his sight.

Peter begins the second chapter of his letter with some practical application of what he has instructed in the previous verses. This is directly connected to the previous section with the word “therefore,” and provides sort of a summary of all that has gone before.

Take a look at this week’s passage for yourself in 1 Peter 2:1-3.

In these three verses, Peter gives some instruction on how we are to “love one another deeply,” as he instructed in verse 22 of the first chapter. One of the best ways to do this is by removing those attitudes and actions that destroy relationships.

Peter’s argument is based on the thought that, since we are born again, due to the living and enduring word of God, then we should live as such, and remove anything that gets in the way of living holy lives. In doing so, he gives us five examples of what kinds of things we should strive to avoid.