1 Peter 2:5
Read 1 Peter 2:5 Using Other Translations
What does 1 Peter 2:5 mean?
Ye also, as lively stones
Saints likewise are compared to stones; they lie in the same
quarry, and are the same by nature as the rest of mankind, till
dug out and separated from thence by the powerful and efficacious
grace of God, when they are hewn, and made fit for the spiritual
building; where both for their ornament, beauty, and strength,
which they receive from Christ, they are compared to stones, and
are lasting and durable, and will never perish, nor be removed
out of the building: and because of that life which they derive
from him, and have in him, they are called "lively", or "living
stones"; the spirit of life having entered into them, a principle
of life being implanted in them, and coming to Christ, the living
stone, they live upon him, and he lives in them; and his grace in
them is a well of living water, springing up into eternal life.
It was usual with poets and philosophers to call stones, as they
lie in the quarry before they are taken out of it, "living" ones:
so Virgil F16, describing the seats of the
nymphs, says, "intus aquae dulces vivoque sedilia saxo, nympharum
domus", &c. but here the apostle calls such living stones,
who were taken out from among the rest: the stones which
Deucalion and Pyrrha cast over their heads after the flood are
called F17 (zwoyentev liyoi) , "quickened stones", they becoming
men, as the fable says. "Are built up a spiritual house"; these
living stones being laid, and cemented together, in a Gospel
church state, become the house of God in a spiritual sense, in
distinction from the material house of the tabernacle, and temple
of old, to which the allusion is; and which is built up an
habitation for God, by the Spirit, and is made up of spiritual
men; such as have the Spirit of God, and savour the things of the
Spirit, and worship God in Spirit and in truth; among whom
spiritual services are performed, as prayer, praise, preaching,
and hearing the word, and administering ordinances. Some read
these words in the imperative, as an exhortation, "be ye built up
as lively stones; and be ye spiritual temples and holy priests",
as the Syriac version. A synagogue with the Jews is called
(ygxwr tyb) , "a spiritual
house" F18; and so is the third temple which
the Jews expect in the times of the Messiah; of which one of
their writers
F19 thus says:
``it is known from the ancient wise men, that the future redemption, with which shall be the third (ynxwr) , "spiritual" sanctuary, is the work of God, and will not be as the former redemptions: "I will fill this house with glory"; this is (ynxwr) , "a spiritual" one, for even the walls shall be (Myynxwr) , "spiritual"--for even all this "house" shall be "spiritual"; for that which was then built, which is the second, shall be turned into another a "spiritual" one:''and which has been already done, and is what the apostle means here, the church, under the Gospel dispensation, or the Gospel church state, in opposition to the worldly sanctuary, and carnal worship of the Jews.
An holy
priesthood;
in allusion to the priests under the law, who were set apart, and
sanctified for that office; but now, under the Gospel, all the
saints are priests unto God, and are all appointed and
directed
to offer up
spiritual sacrifices;
their whole selves, souls, and bodies, as a holy, living, and
acceptable sacrifice; their prayers and praises, and all good
works done in faith, and from love, and to the glory of God;
particularly acts of kindness and beneficence to poor saints;
these are called spiritual, in distinction from legal sacrifices,
and because offered in a spiritual manner, under the influence,
and by the assistance of the Spirit of God, and with their
spirits. So the Jews speak of spiritual sacrifices, as distinct
from material ones:
``the intellectual sacrifice (they say F20) is before the material sacrifices, both in time and excellency.--Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the earth, and behold the intellectual attention did not agree with it, which is (ynxwrh Nbrq) , "the spiritual sacrifice".''Now such are
acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ;
through whom they are offered up; for it is through him the
saints have access to God, present themselves to him, and their
services; and both persons and services are only accepted in
Christ, and for his sake, and in virtue of his sacrifice, which
is always of a sweet smelling savour to God.
F16 Aeneid. l. 1.
F17 Eustathius in Homer. Iliad. 1.
F18 Neve Shalom apud Caphtor, fol. 14.
1.
F19 R. Alshech. in Hagg. ii. 7, 8, 9,
10.
F20 Neve Shalom apud Caphtor, fol. 88. 2.
Vid. Raziel. fol. 33. 1.
