On this page you will find Bible Commentaries on 1 Peter 2: 9.
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Read this Verse in its Context
Loading ...But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
6 Bible Commentaries on 1 Peter 2: 9
1)There is no discussion of Jesus’ coming & building an earthly kingdom in this verse.The Jews anticipated Messiah to be a political leader building an earthly kingdom for them.Even the disciples of Jesus expected that.Read Luke 24:21;Acts 1:6.
2)In Psalm 110:4,we read”Thou art a priest after the order of Melchizedec.”
This is a Messianic prophecy.Melchisedec held the dual offices of priest & king.Read Gen.14:18;Heb.7:3.Jesus Christ became the Eternal High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.Read Heb.7:17,20.
3)Ps.110:4 states,”The Lord said unto my Lord,Sit thou at my right hand,
until I make thy enemies thy footstool.”In Acts 2:36,Peter said,”Therefore let all thine house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus,whom ye have crucified,both Lord & Christ.”Jesus Christ has completed the atonement work as High Priest & sat down on the right hand of God.
(Heb.1:3,13;8:1;10:12;12:2)as Priest & King -making intercession for us
(Rom.8:34;1 John 2:1;4:10)& occupying the exalted position of honor,power,
authority & majesty.(Eph.1:20-23;Col.3:1).
4)The believers in Christ are also kings-priests.Rev.1:5,6;5:10.As we have wonderful privileges,we have responsibilities also.Refer commentary(2) for v5 for some information regarding the spiritual sacrifices to be offered by us as priests.The souls we win for Christ by sharing His Gospel also become sacrifices acceptable to God.Rom.15:16.
5)Believers are called by the Gospel of Christ.2 Thes.2:13,14.Believers are delivered from the power of darkness&from the power of satan-into His marvelous light & into the kingdom of His Son.Read Col.1:13;Acts 26:18;
Heb.2:14.
6)The believers have to declare the wonderful deeds & display the virtues of God.(Amp.version).Praises=virtues.Note the word virtue in Phil.4:8;2 Pet.1:3,5.
Commentary by Alexander
Posted on:
9/15/2008 11:16 am 
1)1Pet.2:9.(Amp)But you are a chosen race,a royal priesthood,a dedicated nation,God’s own purchased,special people,that you may set forth the wonderful deeds & display the virtues & perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.(Ex.19:5,6).
2)Please refer commentary No.1 of Hebrews 10:1 in this web site for some more information.
3)Simonus has given a brief & good comment covering some important points,
but he has wrongly mentioned Paul as the writer of this Epistle by mistake.
4)In this verse Peter applies four important titles to the believers in Christ.Church attendance does not save a person.The blood of Jesus Christ washes our sins.We become part of the Church when we are saved.
i)A chosen generation:In the Old Covenant,the people of Israel were the chosen people of God.Deut 10:15.They were the covenant people of God.After the inauguration of the New Covenant with the shedding of blood of Jesus Christ(Matt.26:28),those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are the chosen generation.Read Gal.3:26-29;Rom.10:12;1 Cor.12:13.
ii)A Royal Priesthood:The nation of Israel was the kingdom of priests as per the Old Covenant.Ex.19:6;is.61:6;66:21.In the New Testament,those who are washed from the sins by the blood of Christ-those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ are made kings & priests.1Pet2:5,9;Rev.1:5,6;5:9,10.
Read Rev.20:6.
iii)An Holy nation(A dedicated nation).Under the Old Covenant,the people of Israel were called an holy nation & set apart for God.Ex.19:6;Lev.20:24;
Deut.7:6;Is.62:12.Under the New Covenant God calls people from all over the world through the Gospel.Those who accept the Gospel are set apart to live for Him.1 Thes.4:3;5:23.
iv)A peculiar people{God’s own,purchased,special people):Under the Old Covenant,the people of Israel were a peculiar treasure unto God.Ex.19:5;
Is.43:1.Under the New Covenant,those who are redeemed by Jesus Christ,who gave Himself for us,are a peculiar people zealous of good works.Tit.2:14.
Read Acts 20:28;1 Cor.6:19,20;Heb.9:12;1Pet.1:18,19.
5)Those who are washed by the blood of Christ of their sins have to worship Him & witness Him.He is our great High Priest.He is king of kings & Lord of Lords.Praise God for the wonder privileges we have.
Commentary by AlexanderPosted on:
9/9/2008 00:47 am
Look at the larger context, starting from verse 4, and you will see he is saying that the church is the temple of God. Do not believe those who teach that Jesus will build a 3rd physical temple in the land of Israel. He will not. The church is the 3rd and last temple. Not only are the members of the church living stones that make up the living temple of God, but they also are a God’s new priesthood which do not serve by killing animals or pouring drink offerings, but by praising him who called them out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Commentary by joshPosted on:
9/7/2008 03:59 am 
Linda, in this Bible verse the apostle Paul takes up again the metaphor about the priesthood that he used in verse 5 (“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”).
In this Bible verse we can see that Paul is applying the same titles that were used in the old covenant. These titles are now applied to all Christians whether they are Jews or Gentiles. We are a people of priests, God is the King and Christ is our Great High Priest.
Commentary by SimonusPosted on:
8/9/2008 23:51 pm 
Can you please explain to me what Peter is saying in 1 Peter 2:9….
and how to apply this to our lives….
Thank you
Commentary by LindaPosted on:
8/8/2008 15:58 pm 
I found some commentary of Luther about priesthood (The Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520)):
“Therefore we are all priests, as many of us as are Christians. But the priests, as we call them, are ministers chosen from among us. All that they do is done in our name; the priesthood is nothing but a ministry”
“Let everyone, therefore, who knows himself to be a Christian, be assured of this, that we are all equally priests, that is to say, we have the same power in respect to the Word and the sacraments. However, no one may make use of this power except by the consent of the community or by the call of a superior. For what is the common property of all, no individual may arrogate to himself, unless he is called.”
Luther‘s argument in these texts is quite familiar to Lutherans. All Christians have been made priests in their baptism. They are priests in the sense that Christians have been made people
who deny themselves on behalf of their neighbor. In so doing they crucify (sacrifice) their old natures. It is this sacrifice which makes them priests.
Since all Christians are priests, all share the same gifts and tasks. The ministry of Word and sacrament belongs to all. However, if every Christian preached and administered the sacraments there would be chaos. Thus Luther‘s commitment to good order in the church demanded that certain individuals be set aside to carry out these tasks. Preaching and administering the sacraments are tasks that belong to all Christians. Yet the ordained minister is the one called to carry hese tasks out publicly for the good of the congregation.