1 Peter 2:6-7
For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 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,”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The real power here is in the descriptor "chosen and precious." God didn't just pick a stone; He deliberately selected this one, highlighting its unique value and importance for His entire plan. This isn't just any foundation; it's the exact one God Himself ordained as indispensable.
Peter is building on his earlier point about believers being living stones, now directly connecting this to Jesus as the foundation of God's spiritual house. He cites Old Testament prophecy to show that Jesus, despite his rejection by many, is precisely who God foreordained to be the cornerstone of his people, ensuring ultimate security for all who trust him. This reinforces that salvation and belonging are found solely in Christ, not in human approval or earthly status.
Why would God call a stone 'chosen and precious'? This verse reveals Jesus as the non-negotiable bedrock of everything.
Peter quotes Isaiah 28:16, calling Jesus the 'cornerstone chosen and precious.' This isn't just any building material; it's the key stone that holds the entire structure together and ensures its stability. God Himself lays this stone in Zion (representing His people and His plan).
The Divine Choice
Jesus isn't an accidental hero. He is chosen by God, highlighting His perfect suitability for His role. He is precious, meaning highly valued and indispensable. This imagery sets Jesus apart as the absolute center of God's redemptive plan.
What does it mean to 'not be put to shame'? This promise is powerfully linked to our trust in this unique stone.
The second part of the verse offers a profound assurance: 'whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.' This isn't about earning favor; it's about the guaranteed security found in placing our trust in the One God Himself has designated.
The Outcome of Faith
'Not be put to shame' means ultimate vindication, not experiencing disgrace or failure in the end. When our lives are built on Jesus, the cornerstone, we are secure. Our hope is not in fleeting circumstances or human efforts, but in the unshakeable foundation God has provided. Those who reject this stone will face shame, but those who build upon it stand firm.
Understand the original words
Tsiyyon · Hebrew Noun
In Scripture, this refers to the site of God’s redemptive presence and the location of the Temple in Jerusalem. Prophetically and typologically, it symbolizes the Messianic kingdom and the church.
akrogōniaios · Greek Noun/Adjective
A block placed at the intersection of two walls to align and support a structure. In biblical metaphor, it refers to Christ as the foundational person upon whom the entire church is built.
pisteuōn · Greek Verb
To place one's full trust, reliance, and confidence in the person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation. It implies an active, saving faith rather than mere intellectual assent.
kataischynthē · Greek Verb
Peter directly quotes Isaiah, drawing a powerful connection between God's ancient promise of a sure foundation in Jerusalem and the person of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone whom believers must trust.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Temple Completed
King Solomon completed the First Temple in Jerusalem, a magnificent structure intended as God's dwelling place among His people.
740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah received his prophetic calling, delivering messages of judgment and hope to Judah during a time of political upheaval and spiritual decline.
c. 730 BC— this verse
Isaiah Prophesies the Cornerstone
During the Assyrian crisis, Isaiah delivered the prophecy in chapter 28 of his book, foretelling God's sovereign action in establishing a sure foundation in Jerusalem.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's Temple, and exiled much of the population, seemingly eradicating God's chosen foundation.
This is the direct Old Testament prophecy that Peter is quoting, showing Jesus as the foundational stone laid in Zion, guaranteeing security for those who trust Him.
Romans 9:33Paul echoes this same Old Testament passage, highlighting Jesus as a stone of stumbling for unbelievers but a cornerstone of faith and salvation for believers.
Acts 4:11Peter himself, speaking to the religious leaders, refers to Jesus as the 'cornerstone' rejected by them but essential for salvation, reinforcing the theme of Jesus' unique and foundational role.
Ephesians 2:20This passage describes believers as being built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone of the entire structure.
The real power here is in the descriptor "chosen and precious." God didn't just pick a stone; He deliberately selected this one, highlighting its unique value and importance for His entire plan. This isn't just any foundation; it's the exact one God Himself ordained as indispensable.
Peter is building on his earlier point about believers being living stones, now directly connecting this to Jesus as the foundation of God's spiritual house. He cites Old Testament prophecy to show that Jesus, despite his rejection by many, is precisely who God foreordained to be the cornerstone of his people, ensuring ultimate security for all who trust him. This reinforces that salvation and belonging are found solely in Christ, not in human approval or earthly status.
Peter is building on his earlier point about believers being living stones, now directly connecting this to Jesus as the foundation of God's spiritual house. He cites Old Testament prophecy to show that Jesus, despite his rejection by many, is precisely who God foreordained to be the cornerstone of his people, ensuring ultimate security for all who trust him. This reinforces that salvation and belonging are found solely in Christ, not in human approval or earthly status.
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To be disgraced or brought to public shame. In the context of faith, it is the promise that those who trust in Christ will not be disappointed or put to shame at the final judgment.
entimon · Greek Adjective
Valued highly; esteemed or of great worth. This term emphasizes the immense spiritual value God places on Christ, and by extension, on those identified with Him.
eklektos · Greek Adjective
A person who has been specially selected or elected by God for a specific purpose or relationship. This reflects the doctrine of divine election.
timē · Greek Noun
A position of high regard, distinction, or weightiness. It is the status granted to believers because they are united to the honored Christ.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Rebuilt
After the return from Babylonian exile, Jewish returnees rebuilt the Temple, a more modest structure, but one that carried the hope of God's presence.
c. 20s AD
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus began his public ministry, presenting himself as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the Messiah sent by God.
c. 40s-60s AD
Peter's Apostolic Ministry
Peter preached the gospel throughout the Roman world, encouraging believers, especially Jewish Christians facing persecution and scattered throughout the diaspora.
"For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not beli…" — The real power here is in the descriptor "chosen and precious." God didn't just pick a stone; He *deliberately selected* this one, highlighting its unique value and importance for His entire plan. Th…