1 Peter 2:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"

NIV: Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"

NASB: This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, 'A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,'

CSB: So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone,

NLT: Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.'

KJV: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

NKJV: Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”

In the previous verse, Peter continued a metaphor about God building a house. Jesus is the cornerstone—or key foundation stone—of that house, chosen and greatly valued by God. Those who trust in Him, Christ, will never be shamed or judged as guilty by God. Now in verse 7, Peter states the positive: believing in the cornerstone is an honor for Christians. Jesus is of precious value to God. As believers, He becomes our precious value, as well. Through faith, we share in His honor.

But for those who do not believe in Christ, who do not place their faith in Him, the cornerstone serves a very different purpose. Peter references Psalm 118:22 and applies it to Christ. The builders rejected the cornerstone that God chose. Those once responsible for the house of God, in Peter's metaphor, are the Jewish religious leaders—the same ones who officially rejected Jesus on behalf of Israel. Jesus Himself quoted the same verse when talking to those religious leaders in Matthew 21:42–46.

1 Peter 2:1–12 describes the spiritual house God is building. Jesus is the perfect foundation stone God has chosen for the house. Those who trust in Him are also living stones used to build the house. In addition, we individually serve as both the priests and the spiritual sacrifices, our lives offered to the builder. Thus we must live good lives, as strangers in the world preparing to go home to be with our Father, engaged in battle against our desire to sin.

Peter gets specific about what it means to live as God’s set-apart people. Christ is the foundation stone of the spiritual house God is building. We must engage in battle with our selfishness and desire to sin. This includes submitting to human authorities, no matter how evil or harsh. It means enduring suffering, as Christ did for our sake when He died on the cross. Our role is not to fight a physical war for justice here; we will be going home soon.

First Peter 1 described the glorious reality of our present and future as God’s children, by His grace and through our faith in Jesus. He called us a holy people redeemed by God for new purposes. That means believers must live differently than those in the world around us. In this chapter, Peter narrows down exactly what it means to lead a holy life, including doing battle with our own desire to sin. This also means suffering under human authorities, even unjust ones.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.