How does 1 Peter 2:6 connect with Isaiah 28:16 and its prophecy?

Foundation Stone Foretold

Isaiah 28:16: “Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.’”

Key truths from Isaiah 28:16

- God is the One placing the stone; it is His initiative, not humanity’s.

- The stone is “tested,” “precious,” and “sure,” underscoring reliability and eternal worth.

- A clear promise is attached: whoever believes is kept safe, unshaken, unashamed.

Cornerstone Fulfilled in Christ

1 Peter 2:6: “For it stands in Scripture: ‘See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’”

How Peter connects the prophecy

- Direct quotation: Peter lifts Isaiah 28:16 almost verbatim, signaling conscious fulfillment.

- Identification of the stone: “Him” points unmistakably to Jesus, making the prophecy Messianic and literal.

- Continuity of the promise: the believer’s security (“never be put to shame”) remains unchanged, proving God’s Word consistent across covenants.

Supporting Scriptures that reinforce the Cornerstone theme

- Psalm 118:22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

- Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10–11; Luke 20:17—Jesus applies Psalm 118 to Himself, linking rejection and exaltation.

- Acts 4:11—Peter, filled with the Spirit, repeats the cornerstone motif before the Sanhedrin.

- Ephesians 2:20—Paul describes the household of God as “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.”

Implications for believers today

- Absolute reliability: God’s prophetic word in Isaiah proves trustworthy; its fulfillment in Jesus validates every other promise.

- Unshakable assurance: faith anchored in Christ removes all fear of ultimate shame or disappointment.

- Distinct choice: those who accept the cornerstone find life; those who reject stumble (1 Peter 2:7–8 echoes Isaiah 8:14).

Summary

1 Peter 2:6 openly declares that Isaiah 28:16 has come to pass in the person of Jesus Christ. The same cornerstone God promised to set in Zion now stands as the secure foundation for all who believe, confirming both the literal accuracy of prophecy and the steadfast hope offered in the gospel.