By calling Christians a "royal priesthood" and "a people for His own possession," the apostle thereby reminds them of the chief task of the Church, which...
By calling Christians a "royal priesthood" and "a people for His own possession," the apostle thereby reminds them of the chief task of the Church, which, as we can see, consists first of all in bearing witness to the reality of the Kingdom that has already entered our world and is transforming it. Of course, the "excellence of the One who called you" refers to Christ Himself; otherwise this expression cannot be understood. But if witness to Christ is genuine, it will inevitably be first of all witness to the Kingdom that He brought into the world. Properly speaking, as Christians we could not bear witness to the world about anything else.
Of course, each of us will surely have something connected with our own tradition, cultural and religious. But witness to our tradition will no longer be our witness as Christians. It may be our witness as Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, or representatives of one more among the many religions that grew out of Christianity. Yet such witness has no direct relation to Christ or to the Kingdom. At best it can only be our historical and cultural interpretation of Christianity.
But Jesus does not offer us any interpretations. He offers us only Himself and the Kingdom that He brought into the world. And if we truly are, according to the apostle's word, "a holy people," that is, people who have a relation to this Kingdom, then only Christ and the Kingdom can and must be the meaning of our witness. Otherwise we will very quickly cease to be what the apostle calls us to be.
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2:1 Wherefore laying aside - As inconsistent with that pure love. All dissimulation - Which is the outward expression of guile in the heart.
2:2 Desire - Always, as earnestly as new born babes do, Pe1 1:3.The milk of the word - That word of God which nourishes the soul as milk does the body, and which is sincere, pure from all guile, so that none are deceived who cleave to it. That you may grow thereby - In faith, love, holiness, unto the full stature of Christ.
2:3 Since ye have tasted - Sweetly and experimentally known.
2:4 To whom coming - By faith. As unto a living stone - Living from eternity; alive from the dead. There is a wonderful beauty and energy in these expressions, which describe Christ as a spiritual foundation, solid, firm, durable; and believers as a building erected upon it, in preference to that temple which the Jews accounted their highest glory. And St. Peter speaking of him thus, shows he did not judge himself, but Christ, to be the rock on which the church was built. Rejected indeed by men - Even at this day, not only by Jews, Turks, heathens, infidels; but by all Christians, so called, who live in sin, or who hope to be saved by their own works. But chosen of God - From all eternity, to be the foundation of his church. And precious - In himself, in the sight of God, and in the eyes of all believers.
2:5 Ye - Believers. As living stones - Alive to God through him. Are built up - In union with each other. A spiritual house - Being spiritual yourselves, and an habitation of God throughthe Spirit. An holy priesthood - Consecrated to God, and "holy as he is holy." To offer up - Your souls and bodies, with all your thoughts, words, and actions, as spiritual sacrifices to God.
2:6 He that believeth shall not be confounded - In time or in eternity. Isa 28:16.
2:7 To them who believe, he is become the head of the corner - The chief corner stone, on which the whole building rests. Unbelievers too will at length find him such to their sorrow, Mat 21:44. Psa 118:22.
2:8 Who stumble, whereunto also they were appointed - They who believe not, stumble, and fall, and perish for ever; God having appointed from all eternity, "he that believeth not shall be damned."
2:9 But ye - Who believe in Christ Are - In a higher sense than ever the Jews were. A chosen or elect race, a royal priesthood - "Kings and priests unto God," Rev 1:6. As princes, ye have power with God, and victory oversin, the world, and the devil: as priests, ye are consecrated to God, for offering spiritual sacrifices. Ye Christians are as one holy nation, under Christ your King. A purchased people - Who are his peculiar property. That ye may show forth - By your whole behaviour, to all mankind. The virtues - The excellent glory, the mercy, wisdom, and power of him, Christ, who hath called you out of the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery.
2:10 Who in time past were not a people - Much less the people of God; but scattered individuals of many nations.The former part of the verse particularly respects the gentiles; the latter, the Jews.