1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12
Chapter 2
for you tested the goodness of the Lord.
He is the living stone rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him; draw near to him,
so that you, too, become living stones built into a spiritual temple, a holy community of priests offering spiritual sacrifices that please God through Jesus Christ.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation—a people owned by God—to proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
At one point, you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Christian Vocation and the Example of Christ
Beloved, while you are strangers and exiles, I urge you not to indulge in selfish passions that wage war on the soul.
Live a blameless life among the Gentiles; so, when they falsely accuse you of any wrong, they may see your good works and give glory to God on the day he comes to them.
Commentaries
Christ the Living Stone.
From the “spiritual milk” of the Word of God that nourishes the community of newborns, the disciple progresses to another image rich in biblical significance: the stone, which can be the ‘cornerstone’ (cf. Is 28:16) that the believer relies on in faith, or the ‘keystone’ (cf. Ps 118:22), which serves as the key and capstone of the building (cf. Zec 4:7). The development and application of this image form the core of the letter and one of the most beautiful teachings of the New Testament on the Christian community.
Christian Vocation and the Example of Christ.
A good Christian will always be a responsible citizen. The disciple offers clear guidelines for civic behavior, emphasizing the higher motivation that should guide all believers: “for the Lord’s sake” (13), “this is God’s will” (15), “with your minds set on God” (19), but above all, “as free men (and women)” (16), aware that we are primarily servants of God (16), because that is what their freedom involves. So far, he has addressed Christians who generally live peacefully with pagans, but it is during times of unjust persecution that the ultimate witness of faith must be demonstrated, and when the Christian calling to follow the Crucified One reaches its highest expression. The powerful example of Christ’s passion presented by the disciple in verses 21-25 forms the core message of the entire letter.