I Peter 2:9: “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;”
Coming on the heels of yet another failed prophecy with respect to the timing of the rapture (last week’s lesson), recriminations from the unsaved toward Christ, Christians and Christianity were not unanticipated. One charge which struck a cord was a joke referencing our primary text, specifically underscoring what a “peculiar” people we are. While intended as a slight, what is the true meaning of this verse? Are we strange…odd…at odds with ourselves and the world? For the Biblical answers, we examine:
- Historical Context: Written between A.D. 60 and 65, 1 Peter 1:1 identifies the author of the book of 1 Peter as the apostle Peter. He was writing to the believers who had been dispersed throughout the ancient world and were under intense persecution. If anyone understood persecution, it was Peter. He was beaten, threatened, punished and jailed for preaching the Word of God. He knew what it took to endure without bitterness, without losing hope and in great faith living an obedient, victorious life. This knowledge of living hope in Jesus was the message and Christ’s example was the one to follow. Though this time of persecution was desperate, Peter reveals that it was actually a time to rejoice. He says to count it a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ, as their Savior suffered for them. This letter makes reference to Peter’s personal experiences with Jesus and his sermons from the book of Acts. Peter confirms Satan as the great enemy of every Christian but the assurance of Christ’s future return gives the incentive of hope.
- Grammatical Usage: “Chosen” or in the Greek “Eklektos” meaning, “specifically picked, a member of the elect”; “generation” or “Genos” meaning, “offspring as in family, the aggregate of many individuals of the same nature, kind, sort”; “peculiar” or “Peripoiesis” meaning, “preserved possession”; “shew forth” or “Exaggello” meaning, “to make known, declare”; “praises” or “Arete” meaning, “a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action”; “darkness” or “Skotos”, meaning, “of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, ungodliness”; “marvelous” or “Thaumastos” meaning, “worthy of pious admiration surpassing human comprehension”; “light” or “Phos” meaning (in context), “of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it.”
- Literal Application: But you are an individually elected race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a possession preserved by God for His own good pleasure, that you may declare God’s virtues by thought, word and deed of Him who called you out of ignorance regarding divine things and your associated duty into His admiration surpassing human comprehension regarding the knowledge of His truth and purity.
- Contextual Interpretation: The phrase “peculiar people” comes from the King James Version and is not seen in the more modern English translations. This is because at the time the King James Version was translated, the word “peculiar” was often used to refer to something belonging to someone, as in someone’s property. If we look up the word “peculiar” in a dictionary today we would still see that is one of several meanings this word can have.
Probably the most common usage of the word “peculiar” today is referring to someone or something that is strange, odd or uncommon which is the impetus for this lesson. Yet alternative meanings in the dictionary still tell us that this word can be used to describe something or someone that “belongs exclusively to some person, group or thing” or to refer to “a property or privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.” The original meaning of the Greek words translated “peculiar” in 1 Peter 2:9 is indeed what is meant in this passage.
In this verse, Peter is not saying that Christians are odd or unusual people, even though the world often looks at us that way. What this passage is communicating is that Christians or believers are people who belong to God, they are His own possession. Another way of saying it is that believers are “God’s own special people.”
As we compare the different English translations of this verse and consider the alternative meaning of the word “peculiar” it becomes clear that “peculiar” in this verse is referring to fact that believers are a “special people” because they were chosen from before the foundation of the earth to be “God’s own possession.” Those who are born again are different from the world around them because they are being transformed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26; Col. 1:8-10). Also they are different because, having been born again by the Spirit of God and believing in Christ for salvation, they have received “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). While it is true that believers are different, it is the believers’ standing as the adopted children of God, joint heirs with Christ Jesus and God’s own special people, that makes us “peculiar.”
- Scriptural Comparison: In combing Scripture related to our relationship with God, we come across several categories which lend themselves directly to our 1 Peter text with respect to Biblical definition as to our “peculiar” state:
Characteristics of Christianity
- A new Birth John 3:5
- A Growth 2 Peter 3:18
- A new Dress Isaiah 61:10
- A Radiant life Matthew 5:16
- A Character Building Matthew 7:24
- A Fellowship Luke 24:32
- A Sonship John 1:12
- An Education John 8:31; John 8:32
- A Service 1 Timothy 6:18
- A Sacrifice Romans 12:1
- A Walk Colossians 2:6
- A Warfare 1 Timothy 6:12
- A Race Hebrews 12:1
- A Victory 1 John 5:4
- An Assurance of Immortality John 17:3
The Calling of the Christian
- Undeserving: 1 Corinthians 1:26
- Enlightened: Ephesians 1:18
- Prisoner: Ephesians 4:1
- Engaged: Philippians 3:14
- Reflect: 1 Thessalonians 2:12
- Gain: 2 Thessalonians 2:14
- Holy: 2 Timothy 1:9
- Partaker: Hebrews 3:1
- Suffer: 1 Peter 5:10
- Practice: 2 Peter 1:10
The Christian Race
- Striving for the Prize 1 Corinthians 9:24; Galatians 2:2
- Hindrances to the Runner Galatians 5:7 ; Philippians 2:16
- Pressing toward the Goal Philippians 3:14
- Stripping for the Contest Hebrews 12:1
- The Home Stretch 2 Timothy 4:7
- The Prize Won 2 Timothy 4:8
Christlikeness: Ultimate Aim of the Christian Life
- Conform: Romans 8:29
- Reflect: 1 Corinthians 15:49
- Change: 2 Corinthians 3:18
- Fashioned: Philippians 3:21
- Renewed: Colossians 3:10
- Partaker: 2 Peter 1:4
- Sons: 1 John 3:2
- Conclusion: One of the great truths of Scripture is that before we ever had sense enough to love the Lord the Lord loved us. This is stated in the very familiar text, “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Some would like to make these words read “God so loved the elect.” God does love the elect, but that is not what the text says. God loved the world. He loved the unsaved. He loved them all. That is why He gave His Son. The love of God is mentioned often in Scripture. In 1 John 4:10, it is written: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Likewise, out of His heart of love there was a divine decision in eternity past which is referred to in our text as our being chosen. The original act in our salvation was with God, not with man. When God chose us to salvation, He did not choose us because we were lovely. He did not choose us because He saw something in us that He did not see in others. But He chose us because He loved us.
There is a mystery connected with this revelation that no one can ever completely fathom. Why did God choose us? We never will completely understand it, but the glorious fact is that He did. In Ephesians 1:4, this choice is described: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” The precious truth is that God chose us. The testimony of the Thessalonians showed clearly that they were the chosen ones of God. In 1 Thessalonians 1:4 Paul had written earlier, “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” So here again the believers at Thessalonica are reminded of God’s grace in their election and salvation…just as Peter reminds believers who had been scattered to the four winds because of persecution…all the while remaining faithful to God, witnessing of His mercy, leading others to Jesus. While hard to comprehend, may we rejoice over what God has done in our lives and, as a result, adhere to the Apostle Paul’s admonition: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).