Page 46 - General Epistles (James through Jude) Textbook

The purpose of on-going building up is to be a holy priesthood. The work of priests in the Old Testament
was to offer sacrifice for themselves and those of others for the forgiveness of sins. Karen H. Jobes’
observation on the function of priesthood deserves a worthy hearing.

The priesthood of all believers is not a reference to ecclesial authority. Rather, believers are to (1) reflect
the holiness of God and that of their high priest (1:15; Heb. 7:26; 10:10), (2) offer spiritual sacrifices
(here; Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15; the NT also refers to offerings that include money of material goods [Phil
4:18; Heb 13:16]), (3) intercede for others before God (Rom. 12:12; 14:30-31; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; 1
Thess. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:1; Jas. 5:16; Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4), and (4) represent God to others (2:12; Acts 13:47;
Rom. 15:9, 16).
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Peter quoted 1 Peter 2:6 from Isaiah 28:16. “Therefore, this is what the sovereign master, the Lord, says:

“Look, I am layinga stone in Zion, an approved stone, set in place as a precious cornerstone for the
foundation. The one who maintains his faith will not panic.” Then, a cornerstone was the most
important stone in the whole building. As a result, builders would start laying a cornerstone before they
could lay other stones in a straight line. Now, cornerstones are still significant. If one wants to be a
respectable builder, he/she must be able to lay a cornerstone (or be able to perfectly lay blocks/bricks)
in corners of the house. In most cases (if not all), a building with twisted sides is expected to have
crooked corners also. Just like a cornerstone which is important to any building, so is Christ to a
household of God. So, the importance of Jesus Christ as a cornerstone deserves trust from everyone.
Whoever trust in Jesus Christ will never be put to shame. Some interpret the phrase “never be put to
shame” to mean that Christians will never suffer, lack, get sick, etc. Roger M. Raymer notes that “The
Greek double negative ou mē used here in the subjunctive mood indicates an emphatic negative
assertion referring to the future: never indeed will they be shamed. So, Peter encouraged his readers
with a sure scriptural promise of ultimate victory for those who trust Christ.”
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For those who believe in the cornerstone, Jesus Christ is precious. But for those who do not believe, that
cornerstone causes them to stumble and make them fall. Why? It is because they did not obey the
Cornerstone. Israel stumbled over Jesus because they were disobedient to the Word. Gary Derickson’s
summary on 1 Peter 2:8 deserves a fair hearing.

This relates to the original command to long for the pure milk of the Word. If believers do not desire
God’s Word more than anything else, they will ultimately disobey it and likewise “stumble” over Jesus.
Peter’s choice of the verb apeitheō, translated as being disobedient, includes the idea of a willful refusal
to believe. This involves a conscious rejection of God’s Word. God’s hand in judging the rebellious is
seen in that He has appointed them to stumble. Here the stumbling does not refer to failing to believe,
but to experiencing the consequences of their choice to disbelieve. This is not describing election
(double predestination), but temporal judgment on those who rejected Christ as the chief cornerstone
and so disobeyed the word.
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Unlike those who stumble and fall, Peter’s recipients are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, God’s special possession for one purpose; to declare the praises of him who called them out of
darkness into his wonderful light. John D. Barry et al note that those terms do the following below.

Describes the people of God—those who place their trust in Christ—using language formerly used of
Israel. In the OT, beginning with the exodus narrative, the people of Israel are often described as a
nation chosen by God to serve as a priesthood (see Exod. 19:5–6; Deut. 4:20; 7:6; 14:2; Isa. 43:20–21).

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