| Geneva Study Bible {8} But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (8) On the other hand, he describes the singular excellency of the elect, and also lest any man should doubt whether he is chosen or not, the apostle calls us back to the effectual calling, that is, to the voice of the gospel sounding both in our ears and minds by the outward preaching and ordinances, by which we may certainly understand that everlasting decree of our salvation (which otherwise is most secret and hidden) and that through the only mercy of God who freely chooses and calls us. Therefore only this remains, faith, that by all means possible we set forth the great goodness of the most mighty God. People's New Testament 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation. An elect race (Revised Version). God's chosen race, like ancient Israel. Christians are now the chosen people (Isa 43:21). A royal priesthood. See Ex 19:6. The Hebrew passage which Peter refers to means a kingdom of priests. Either this is its meaning, or that all in it, anointed ones like Christ, are in some sense like him, priest-kings. An holy nation. Set apart to God. A peculiar people. A people for God's own possession (Revised Version). Differing from the world in life. That ye should shew forth. They differ from the world that their holy lives may shine as a light and honor God. Out of darkness. In this verse and 1Pe 2:10 Peter surely has in mind Gentile Christians. Wesley's Notes 2:9 But ye - Who believe in Christ Are - In a higher sense than ever the Jews were. A chosen or elect race, a royal priesthood - Kings and priests unto God, Rev 1:6. As princes, ye have power with God, and victory over sin, the world, and the devil: as priests, ye are consecrated to God, for offering spiritual sacrifices. Ye Christians are as one holy nation, under Christ your King. A purchased people - Who are his peculiar property. That ye may show forth - By your whole behaviour, to all mankind. The virtues - The excellent glory, the mercy, wisdom, and power of him, Christ, who hath called you out of the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery. King James Translators' Notes peculiar: or, purchased praises: or, virtues Scofield Reference Notes [1] priesthood The New Testament priesthood, Summary: (1) Until the law was given the head of each family was the family priest Gen 8:20 26:25 31:54. (2) When the law was proposed, the promise to perfect obedience was that Israel would be unto God "a kingdom of priests" Ex 19:6. but Israel violated the law, and God shut up the priestly office to the Aaronic family, appointing the tribe of Levi to minister to them, thus constituting the typical priesthood Ex 28:1. (3) In the dispensation of grace, all believers are unconditionally constituted a "kingdom of priests" 1Pet 2:9 Rev 1:6 the distinction which Israel failed to achieve by works. The priesthood of the believer is, therefore, a birthright; just as every descendant of Aaron was born to the priesthood Heb 5:1. (4) The chief privilege of a priest is access to God. Under law the high priest only could enter "the holiest of all," and that but once a year Heb 9:7, but when Christ died, the veil, type of Christ's human body Heb 10:20 was rent, Song that now the believer-priests, equally with Christ the High Priest, have access to God in the holiest Heb 10:19-22. The high Priest is corporeally there Heb 4:14-16 9:24 10:19-22. (5) In the exercise of his office the New Testament believer-priest is (1) a sacrificer who offers a threefold sacrifice: (a) his own living body. Rom 12:1 Phil 2:17 2Tim 4:6 1Jn 3:16 Jas 1:27 (b) praise to God, "the fruit of the lips that make mention of His name" (R.V.), to be offered "continually" Heb 13:15 Ex 25:22 "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat"); (c) his substance Heb 13:16 Rom 12:13 Gal 6:6 3Jn 1:5-8 Heb 13:2 Gal 6:10 Ti 3:14. (2) The N.T. priest is also an intercessor 1Tim 2:1 Col 4:12 Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 9. Contrast in the privileges and destinies of believers. Compare the similar contrast with the preceding context. chosen-"elect" of God, even as Christ your Lord is. generation-implying the unity of spiritual origin and kindred of believers as a class distinct from the world. royal-kingly. Believers, like Christ, the antitypical Melchisedec, are at once kings and priests. Israel, in a spiritual sense, was designed to be the same among the nations of the earth. The full realization on earth of this, both to the literal and the spiritual Israel, is as yet future. holy nation-antitypical to Israel. peculiar people-literally, "a people for an acquisition," that is, whom God chose to be peculiarly His: Ac 20:28, "purchased," literally, "acquired." God's "peculiar treasure" above others. show forth-publish abroad. Not their own praises but His. They have no reason to magnify themselves above others for once they had been in the same darkness, and only through God's grace had been brought to the light which they must henceforth show forth to others. praises-Greek, "virtues," "excellencies": His glory, mercy (1Pe 2:10), goodness (Greek, 1Pe 2:3; Nu 14:17, 18; Isa 63:7). The same term is applied to believers, 2Pe 1:5. of him who hath called you-(2Pe 1:3). out of darkness-of heathen and even Jewish ignorance, sin, and misery, and so out of the dominion of the prince of darkness. marvellous-Peter still has in mind Ps 118:23. light-It is called "His," that is, God's. Only the (spiritual) light is created by God, not darkness. In Isa 45:7, it is physical darkness and evil, not moral, that God is said to create, the punishment of sin, not sin itself. Peter, with characteristic boldness, brands as darkness what all the world calls light; reason, without the Holy Spirit, in spite of its vaunted power, is spiritual darkness. "It cannot apprehend what faith is: there it is stark blind; it gropes as one that is without eyesight, stumbling from one thing to another, and knows not what it does" [Luther]. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 2:1-10 Evil-speaking is a sign of malice and guile in the heart; and hinders our profiting by the word of God. A new life needs suitable food. Infants desire milk, and make the best endeavours for it which they are able to do; such must be a Christian's desires after the word of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ is very merciful to us miserable sinners; and he has a fulness of grace. But even the best of God's servants, in this life, have only a taste of the consolations of God. Christ is called a Stone, to teach his servants that he is their protection and security, the foundation on which they are built. He is precious in the excellence of his nature, the dignity of his office, and the glory of his services. All true believers are a holy priesthood; sacred to God, serviceable to others, endowed with heavenly gifts and graces. But the most spiritual sacrifices of the best in prayer and praise are not acceptable, except through Jesus Christ. Christ is the chief Corner-stone, that unites the whole number of believers into one everlasting temple, and bears the weight of the whole fabric. Elected, or chosen, for a foundation that is everlasting. Precious beyond compare, by all that can give worth. To be built on Christ means, to believe in him; but in this many deceive themselves, they consider not what it is, nor the necessity of it, to partake of the salvation he has wrought. Though the frame of the world were falling to pieces, that man who is built on this foundation may hear it without fear. He shall not be confounded. The believing soul makes haste to Christ, but it never finds cause to hasten from him. All true Christians are a chosen generation; they make one family, a people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle, and practice; which they could never be, if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. Their first state is a state of gross darkness, but they are called out of darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that they should show forth the praises of the Lord by their profession of his truth, and their good conduct. How vast their obligations to Him who has made them his people, and has shown mercy to them! To be without this mercy is a woful state, though a man have all worldly enjoyments. And there is nothing that so kindly works repentance, as right thoughts of the mercy and love of God. Let us not dare to abuse and affront the free grace of God, if we mean to be saved by it; but let all who would be found among those who obtain mercy, walk as his people. | 
