1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
you also
This phrase emphasizes the inclusion of the readers, who are primarily Gentile believers, into the spiritual heritage of Israel. The Greek word "kai" (also) signifies a continuation and connection to the previous verse, where Christ is described as the living stone. This inclusion reflects the unity of believers in Christ, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries, and highlights the universal call to holiness and service.

like living stones
The imagery of "living stones" is rich with meaning. In Greek, "lithoi zōntes" suggests stones that are not inert but vibrant and full of life. This metaphor draws from the Old Testament, where stones were used to build altars and temples. Here, believers are likened to stones that are alive, signifying their active role in the spiritual edifice God is constructing. This concept challenges believers to see themselves as integral parts of God's ongoing work, contributing to the spiritual vitality of the Church.

are being built
The passive voice in the Greek "oikodomeisthe" indicates that this building process is God's work. Believers are not constructing themselves but are being shaped and placed by God into His divine architecture. This ongoing process reflects the sanctification journey, where God continually molds and refines His people, fitting them perfectly into His spiritual house.

into a spiritual house
The term "spiritual house" (Greek: "oikos pneumatikos") contrasts with the physical temple of the Old Testament. This new temple is not made of bricks and mortar but is a living, dynamic community of believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This concept underscores the shift from a localized, physical worship space to a global, spiritual community where God's presence dwells among His people.

to be a holy priesthood
The phrase "holy priesthood" (Greek: "hierateuma hagion") evokes the Old Testament priesthood, which was set apart for service to God. In Christ, all believers are called to this priestly role, offering themselves in service and worship. This priesthood is characterized by holiness, a life set apart for God's purposes, reflecting His character and mediating His presence to the world.

offering spiritual sacrifices
"Spiritual sacrifices" (Greek: "thusias pneumatikas") refers to offerings that are not physical but are acts of worship and service inspired by the Holy Spirit. These sacrifices include praise, prayer, acts of love, and obedience. They are the fruit of a life transformed by the Spirit, pleasing to God and reflective of Christ's ultimate sacrifice.

acceptable to God
The Greek word "euprosdektos" means well-pleasing or acceptable. This acceptance is not based on human merit but on the work of Christ. Believers' sacrifices are made acceptable through their relationship with Jesus, who sanctifies and perfects their offerings. This assurance encourages believers to live lives of worship, knowing their efforts are valued by God.

through Jesus Christ
This phrase underscores the centrality of Christ in the believer's life and worship. It is through Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, that believers have access to God and their sacrifices are made acceptable. This highlights the grace and sufficiency of Christ's work, reminding believers that their spiritual life and service are rooted in His redemptive work.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle of Jesus Christ, traditionally believed to be the author of this epistle, addressing early Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor.

2. Living Stones
A metaphor for believers, indicating their role in the spiritual structure of the Church.

3. Spiritual House
Represents the collective body of believers, the Church, as a dwelling place for God's presence.

4. Holy Priesthood
Refers to the role of believers as mediators who offer spiritual sacrifices to God.

5. Jesus Christ
The cornerstone and foundation of the spiritual house, through whom believers' sacrifices are made acceptable to God.
Teaching Points
Identity in Christ
As living stones, believers find their identity and purpose in being part of God's spiritual house. This identity calls for a life of holiness and service.

Role of the Church
The Church is not a physical building but a spiritual community where God's presence dwells. Each believer contributes to this spiritual structure.

Priestly Duties
Every believer is part of a holy priesthood, tasked with offering spiritual sacrifices. This includes worship, service, and living a life pleasing to God.

Foundation on Christ
Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. Our lives and spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God only through Him.

Unity and Growth
As living stones, believers are interconnected. Spiritual growth and unity are essential for the Church to function effectively as God's dwelling place.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding yourself as a "living stone" change your perspective on your role in the Church?

2. In what ways can you actively participate in building up the "spiritual house" mentioned in 1 Peter 2:5?

3. What are some practical examples of "spiritual sacrifices" you can offer in your daily life?

4. How does the concept of a "holy priesthood" influence your understanding of your relationship with God and others?

5. Reflect on how Jesus being the cornerstone impacts your faith and actions. How can you ensure that He remains the foundation of your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Ephesians 2:19-22
This passage also speaks of believers being built together into a dwelling place for God, emphasizing unity and the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone.

Romans 12:1
Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, which aligns with the concept of offering spiritual sacrifices.

Hebrews 13:15-16
Encourages believers to continually offer a sacrifice of praise and to do good, which are considered spiritual sacrifices.

Exodus 19:6
God’s declaration of Israel as a kingdom of priests, which Peter echoes in describing the Church as a holy priesthood.

Isaiah 28:16
Prophecy about the cornerstone, which is fulfilled in Christ and referenced by Peter in the surrounding context.
Spiritual SacrificesAlexander Maclaren1 Peter 2:5
Temple, Priest, SacrificeA. Maclaren 1 Peter 2:5
The Lively Stones. Rev. W. Morley PunshonKnowles King1 Peter 2:5
Newborn Babes and the Higher IsraelR. Finlayson 1 Peter 2:1-10
Christ a Living StoneR. S. MacArthur.1 Peter 2:4-5
Christ DisallowedJohn Rogers.1 Peter 2:4-5
Christians are PriestsR. M. McCheyne.1 Peter 2:4-5
Cohesion in God's Spiritual HouseG. G. Findlay.1 Peter 2:4-5
Coming -- Always ComingC. H. Spurgeon.1 Peter 2:4-5
Living StonesA. Maclaren 1 Peter 2:4, 5
Living StonesW. Skinner.1 Peter 2:4-5
Living StonesJ. Ruskin.1 Peter 2:4-5
Living StonesHours of Exercise on the Alps.1 Peter 2:4-5
Mind the Temple is not Built Without YouA. Maclaren.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Christian PriesthoodAbp. Leighton.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Christian's SacrificesJohn Rogers.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Church the Priesthood of GodD. Thomas, D. D.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Church the Temple of GodD. Thomas, D. D.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Doctrine of SacrificeA. Mursell.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Living StoneJ. C. Jones D. D.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Priesthood of the LaityCanon Body.1 Peter 2:4-5
The True Priesthood, Temple and SacrificeC. H. Spurgeon.1 Peter 2:4-5
The Spiritual Temple, Priesthood, and SacrificesJ.R. Thomson 1 Peter 2:4-6
The Soul-Temple, and Soul-ServiceU.R. Thomas 1 Peter 2:4-8
Christian Life Crowned with Wonderful HonorC. New 1 Peter 2:4-10
People
Peter
Places
Asia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Pontus, Zion
Topics
Acceptable, Built, Christ, Holy, Lively, Making, Offer, Offering, Offerings, Order, Pleasing, Priesthood, Priests, Sacrifices, Spirit, Spiritual, Stones, Yourselves
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Peter 2:5

     1680   types
     5489   rank
     6603   acceptance, divine
     6606   access to God
     6745   sanctification, nature and basis
     7027   church, purpose
     7142   people of God, NT
     7414   priesthood, NT
     7434   sacrifice
     7438   sanctuary
     7470   temple, significance
     7769   priests, NT types
     7770   priests, NT tasks
     7942   ministry

1 Peter 2:4-5

     2030   Christ, holiness
     5240   building
     5317   foundation
     7382   house of God

1 Peter 2:4-6

     2212   Christ, head of church
     6641   election, responsibilities

1 Peter 2:4-7

     5207   architecture
     5403   masons

1 Peter 2:4-8

     1240   God, the Rock
     4366   stones
     5269   cornerstone
     6512   salvation, necessity and basis

1 Peter 2:5-7

     7024   church, nature of

Library
Under the Shepherd's Care.
A NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS. "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 25. "Ye were as sheep going astray." This is evidently addressed to believers. We were like sheep, blindly, willfully following an unwise leader. Not only were we following ourselves, but we in our turn have led others astray. This is true of all of us: "All we like sheep have gone astray;" all equally foolish, "we have turned every one to his own way." Our first
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue

The Jewish Rebellions
1 PETER ii. 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. I think that you will understand the text, and indeed the whole of St. Peter's first Epistle, better, if I explain to you somewhat the state of the Eastern countries of the world in St. Peter's time. The Romans, a short time before St. Peter was born, had conquered all the nations round them, and brought them under law and regular government. St. Peter now tells those
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

Christ the Exemplar
'For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.'--1 Peter ii. 21. These words are a very striking illustration of the way in which the Gospel brings Christ's principles to bear upon morals and duty. The Apostle is doing nothing more than exhorting a handful of slaves to the full and complete and patient acceptance of their hard lot, and in order to teach a very homely and lowly lesson to the squalid minds of a few captives,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Transcriber's Note:
List of corrections and amendments made: Ephesians: Page 36: added closing quote after "the event of our inheritance" (line 3) 102: "gentle words ot" to "to" 154: "it" added in "what it is to hear" 263: [Preached on Whitsunday] was a footnote. 286: (R.V.) to (R.V.). for consistency with other references. 286: "please to understand" to "do" 287: "we shoud be entitled" to "should" 391: added -- and changed Ephes. to Eph. for consistency with other headings 391: added colon after "Mark its
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Spiritual Sacrifices
'... Spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.'--1 Peter ii. 5. In this verse Peter piles up his metaphors in a fine profusion, perfectly careless of oratorical elegance or propriety. He gathers together three symbols, drawn from ancient sacrificial worship, and applies them all to Christian people. In the one breath they are 'temples,' in the next 'priests,' in the third 'sacrifices.' All the three are needed to body out the whole truth of the relationship of the perfect universal
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Mirrors of God
... That ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness ...'--1 Peter ii. 9. The Revised Version, instead of 'praises,' reads excellencies--and even that is but a feeble translation of the remarkable word here employed. For it is that usually rendered 'virtues'; and by the word, of course, when applied to God, we mean the radiant excellencies and glories of His character, of which our earthly qualities, designated by the same name, are but as shadows. It is, indeed,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Living Stones on the Living Foundation Stone
'To Whom coming, as unto a living stone ... ye also, as living stones, are built up.'--1 Peter ii. 4, 5. I wonder whether Peter, when he wrote these words, was thinking about what Jesus Christ said to him long ago, up there at Caesarea Philippi. He had heard from Christ's lips, 'Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church.' He had understood very little of what it meant then. He is an old man now, years of experience and sorrow and work have taught him the meaning of the words, and he
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Christ Precious to Believers
This remark is uttered by way of introduction, it may seem egotistical, but that I cannot help. I must give glory to God in the midst of the great congregation, and pay my vows to the Lord now in the midst of all his saints, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. My text states a positive fact, namely, that Christ is precious to believers. This shall be the first part of our discourse; then in the second we will try to answer the question, why is Jesus Christ so precious to his believing people? And
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Coming to Christ
"To whom coming."--1 Peter 2:4. IN THESE three words you have, first of all, a blessed person mentioned, under the pronoun "whom"--"To whom coming." In the way of salvation we come alone to Jesus Christ. All comings to baptism, comings to confirmation, comings to sacrament are all null and void unless we come to Jesus Christ. That which saves the soul is not coming to a human priest, nor even attending the assemblies of God's saints; it is coming to Jesus Christ, the great exalted Saviour, once slain,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

The Lively Stones. Rev. W. Morley Punshon.
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."--1 PETER ii. 5. There is a manifest reference in the fourth verse to the personage alluded to in Psalm cxviii. 22, 23: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes." And this passage is applied by Christ to himself in Matthew xxi. 42: "Jesus saith unto them, Did
Knowles King—The Wesleyan Methodist Pulpit in Malvern

The Sin-Bearer.
A COMMUNION MEDITATION AT MENTONE. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 24, 25. THE SIN-BEARER. THIS wonderful passage is a part of Peter's address to servants; and in his day nearly all servants were slaves. Peter begins at the eighteenth verse: "Servants, be subject
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

That the Grace of God Doth not Join Itself to those who Mind Earthly Things
"My Son, precious is My grace, it suffereth not itself to be joined with outward things, nor with earthly consolations. Therefore thou oughtest to cast away all things which hinder grace, if thou longest to receive the inpouring thereof. Seek a secret place for thyself, love to dwell alone with thyself, desire the conversation of no one; but rather pour out thy devout prayer to God, that thou mayest possess a contrite mind and a pure conscience. Count the whole world as nought; seek to be alone
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

"For Hereunto were Ye Called; Because Christ Also Suffered for You...
"For hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow in his steps." It was Friday morning and the Rev. Henry Maxwell was trying to finish his Sunday morning sermon. He had been interrupted several times and was growing nervous as the morning wore away, and the sermon grew very slowly toward a satisfactory finish. "Mary," he called to his wife, as he went upstairs after the last interruption, "if any one comes after this, I wish you would
Charles M. Sheldon—In His Steps

Defective Learning.
"He that believeth on Him shall not be confounded."--1 Peter ii. 6. St. Paul declares that faith is the gift of God (Ephes. ii. 8). His words, "And that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God," refer to the word "faith." A new generation of youthful expositors confidently assert that these words refer to "by grace are ye saved." The majority of them are evidently ignorant of the history of the exegesis of the text. They only know that the pronoun "that" in the clause "and that not of yourselves"
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

From Gallienus to the End of the Last Persecution (Ad 261-313)
Valerian, who had treated the Christians so cruelly, came to a miserable end. He led his army into Persia, where he was defeated and taken prisoner. He was kept for some time in captivity; and we are told that he used to be led forth, loaded with chains, but with the purple robes of an emperor thrown over him, that the Persians might mock at his misfortunes. And when he had died from the effects of shame and grief, it is said that his skin was stuffed with straw, and was kept in a temple, as a remembrance
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus Christ;
SHEWING, TRUE GOSPEL-HOLINESS FLOWS FROM THENCE; OR, MR. FOWLER'S PRETENDED DESIGN OF CHRISTIANITY, PROVED TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN TO TRAMPLE UNDER FOOT THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD; AND THE IDOLIZING OF MAN'S OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS AS ALSO, HOW WHILE HE PRETENDS TO BE A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, HE OVERTHROWETH THE WHOLESOME DOCTRINE CONTAINED IN THE 10TH, 11TH, AND 13TH, OF THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES OF THE SAME, AND THAT HE FALLETH IN WITH THE QUAKER AND ROMANIST, AGAINST THEM. BY JOHN BUNYAN
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Justification by an Imputed Righteousness;
OR, NO WAY TO HEAVEN BUT BY JESUS CHRIST. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of those ten excellent manuscripts which were found among Bunyan's papers after his decease in 1688. It had been prepared by him for publication, but still wanted a few touches of his masterly hand, and a preface in his characteristic style. He had, while a prisoner for nonconformity, in 1672, published a treatise upon this subject, in reply to Mr. Fowler, who was soon after created Bishop of Gloucester; but that was
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

God's Peace Obtained in Answer to Prayer
GOD'S PEACE OBTAINED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER ". . . Let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -- Phil. 4:6, 7. When we make our requests known unto God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we are assured of receiving His peace through Christ Jesus. When we enter into the sacred Presence of the Prince of Peace, we enter into the place of perfect peace. The house of prayer is the sanctuary
T. M. Anderson—Prayer Availeth Much

The First Wall.
Let us, in the first place, attack the first wall. It has been devised, that the Pope, bishops, priests and monks are called the Spiritual Estate; Princes, lords, artificers and peasants, are the Temporal Estate; which is a very fine, hypocritical device. But let no one be made afraid by it; and that for this reason: That all Christians are truly of the Spiritual Estate, and there is no difference among them, save of office alone. As St. Paul says (1 Cor. xii.), we are all one body, though each member
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

Some Other Writers of the New Testament
[Illustration: (drop cap L) Ancient engraving of man reading scroll] Let us now look at the rest of the books which make up the New Testament. In the days when Paul preached at Athens, the old capital of Greece, much of the ancient splendour and power of the Greek people had passed away, for the Romans had conquered their country, and they were no longer a free nation. Yet, although the Greeks had been forced to yield to Rome, their conquerors knew that the Grecian scholars and artists were far
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

Of the Primacy of the Romish See.
1. Brief recapitulation. Why the subject of primacy not yet mentioned. Represented by Papists as the bond of ecclesiastical unity. Setting out with this axiom, they begin to debate about their hierarchy. 2. Question stated. An attempted proof from the office of High Priest among the Jews. Two answers. 3. Arguments for primacy from the New Testament. Two answers. 4. Another answer. The keys given to the other apostles as well as to Peter. Other two arguments answered by passages of Cyprian and Augustine.
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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