Keraia
1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:8

The Living Stone and Chosen People · 1 Peter 2:1–12
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Translations

Modern
…and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
Traditional
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Literal
…and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
Latin
…et lapis offensionis, et petra scandali, his qui offendunt verbo, nec credunt in quo et positi sunt.

Original

Greek
English
…and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

Notes

1 Peter 2:8

to this they were appointed: It is not clear whether God appointed these people to unbelief, or whether God appointed them to suffer condemnation because they refused to believe.

1 Peter 2:6–8

These verses include three quotations from the Old Testament. Each one describes Christ as a kind of stone:

  • The first quotation calls him the cornerstone on which God builds the new temple (2:6).

  • The second quotation calls him the cornerstone that people rejected, but God raised up to become the most important stone in his plan to save the world (2:7).

  • The third quotation calls him the stone that makes people stumble when they refuse to believe (2:8).

Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 in Matthew 21:42. Paul quotes both Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 in Romans 9:33. These three Old Testament passages were likely brought together very early in the church. Early believers probably used them as a combined witness to the identity and importance of Jesus the Messiah.

1 Peter 2:4–10

Throughout this letter, Peter encourages suffering believers by reminding them of the great honor they have from God. In this paragraph, he describes the Christian community as a new temple that is built on Christ. He also shows that they share in the blessings God promised to his covenant people.

Parallels

Isaiah 28:14–22 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 Ephesians 2:19–22

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Build, Building Cornerstone Offend, Offense Peter, First Letter of Saints

Topics

Christ is God: As Jehovah of Hosts Jesus, the Christ: Divinity of Jehovah of Hosts Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Rock of Offense Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Stone of Stumbling Jesus, the Christ: Rejected Jesus, the Christ: Unclassified Scriptures Relating to the Divinity of Offense: The Wicked Take, At: Christ, As the Corner-Stone Prophecies Respecting Christ: His Being a Stone of Stumbling to the Jews: Fulfilled Rocks: Christ As a Stumbling Stone to the Wicked Stones of Temptation, |Stone of Stumbling| The Scriptures: The Wicked: Stumble At Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning Word of God: Unbelief In