Welcome to the first of many blogs over one of the greats of the early church, yeah we are gonna examine Peter's first letter. Why? That seems so random doesn't it, and I can totally feel you. With how much I talk about Acts, Matthew, and James you'd think that one of those would be the first book I would write about. Nope, I want to do one over 1st Peter, for the SOLE INTENT that this letter has almost everything I am going through right now in my life. Peter was Saul's Mentor for a reason, he really knew his stuff, but his first writing isn't about rebuking or correcting so much as it is, living in Christ. How to be without fear in your persecutions, and how to live with believers and be joyous, and he also had a wife..... Something many don't know about him. According to the tradition of roman persecution he had to watch her get crucified, but here was Peter's strength; that while this happened he encouraged her to "Remember the Lord..." He was killed by being crucified upside down, for the extenet that he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord...(A.D. 68)...... Peter had came along way from his apostleship with Christ hadn't he? Ok, let's get started the first part; 1st Peter 2: 4-9
4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you 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. 6For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame."[a] 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,[b]"[c] 8and,
"A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall."[d] They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Ok, so there is some intensely awesome stuff here. But breaking it down, WON'T BE EASY. Interesting note: Peter's first letter uses the Old Testament passages 12 times, and 7 times alone in his 2nd chapter.... Just a thought.
Ok 2:4- As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—
Interpretted as: Peter wrote interestingly, he used the old testament tons, and in his second writing stresses the danger of false teachings of scripture. Which is funny, cause he often writes metaphorically; WHILE using PARADOXES.... which is an incredibly difficult form of writing for the user to accurately interpret. I want everything from here on out to be taken with a grain of salt. Not much of this is actually literal, but a spiritual metaphor. When he says "come to him" This is seen as such an idea of coming=remaining where you are at. Basically to remain where you are at in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, that he came to you (Look at Some 1st John 15:5-15) and right afterwards you see "the Living Stone": This is a metaphor for God, and is a paradox on a certain passage in the Old Testament (look at verse 6-8) and is calling Christ the "capstone", and "the stumbling stone," pretty much emphasizing his divinity in the resurrection as the he is alive, not dead. And then going further to indicate how he saved us. (1st Corinthians 15:45 baby).... Now you come to the phrase "rejected by men but chosen" and you go on down to verse 7 and get a good idea to the messianic prophecies cred, that the "religious leaders" of the day would reject him (did reject him) but guess what? Jesus Christ was God's Noble Elect Son, proven in his resurrection. (Oh man look at any of the following Psalms 2:10 and 11, matthew 3:17, Acts 2:23 24 and 32.) Haha verse 4 a doosie? We are JUST GETTING STARTED :) (I learned alot....... Trust me, this is getting pretty thrown together throughout the last week.)
Verse 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.
Interpretted as: again lots of metaphors and paradoxes in his writing's.... Peter saying "you also, like living stones," This is describing us and our likeness in Christ, we are literally one in the same on a spiritual level, and that Christ in exsisting inside of us, united in us, that this very precious life is now within believers as well :) (look up some Galatians 2:20; or Colossians 3:3 and 4)... The phrasing "spiritual house" is described again metaphorically (way to go Peter...) God is building a house, and using us as the stones for its building. In a sense that God makes a spiritual house, puts us all together to become THE HOUSE, all stones put together to form the house, become the house, we are the house, integrated with each other and in our liveliness in Christ that this house is eternal... Builds alot on fellowship if you ask me <- My interpretation and don't take it to literal but I don't think this hurts the concept at all (verses backying me are Hebrews (3:6)) Next Phrase is "holy priesthood," Ok in the Old Testament; the Priests was sort of an elect, (Exodus 28:1 NT John 15:16) Priests were cleansed of sins (Leviticus 8:6-36, NT Titus 2:14) Priests are to Walk with God (Malachi 2:6, NT Galatians 5;16 and 17) Priests are the human messengers of God (Malachi 2:7, NT Matthew 29:19, 20) But the greatest privilege that Priests had, was having personal access to God... That means if Christ lives inside of us, we are priests by right of passage, and holy cause he, who is God, lives within. That gives me goosebumps! Ok next up is the phrasing "spiritual sacrifices" which is our works; done through the Holy Spirit whom is given upon Christ entering your life, done only to honor/praise God, and built upon the foundation fo the Word of God..... OK! I think that those 2 verse got ripped up good enough for you, and hope that many who read will liken to themselves a little more of what they have and what has been given to them upon Christ entering their life! This is why I wanted to START with 1st Peter, that was 2 verses.... lol but wasn't that good? Comment or leave me a kiss! I am totally ok with either, lol and maybe 2 updates a week, since I am really into this letter right now! LATERS!
