Translated by Qwen

Denis the Carthusian's Commentary on 1 Peter 2:4-10

1 Pet 2:4 "To whom coming, a living stone..."

Explanation: To whom coming—that is, to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the living stone—literally coming by believing, desiring, and simply requesting His gracious assistance and illumination, according to that word in the Psalm: "Come to Him and be enlightened" (Psalm 33:6). And in Hebrews 4: "Let us approach with confidence the throne of His grace, that we may obtain mercy."

Indeed, we come to God, who is present everywhere, not by the steps of our feet, but by the desires of our hearts and the acts of our virtues.

Christ is called a "stone" by reason of His firmness and foundation. He is also a living stone because according to His divinity He is essentially living, and Life itself, just as He says: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Likewise: "As the Father has life in Himself, so He has given also to the Son to have life in Himself" (John 5:26).

Moreover, according to His assumed human nature, He is living: the life of human nature in its highest degree; the life of grace in its supreme state; the life of glory at the terminus of excellence possible to a created mind. All life proceeds from Him.

1 Pet 2:4 (continued) "...rejected indeed by men but chosen by God and honored..."

Explanation: Coming therefore to this stone: rejected first by men—indeed by the unbelieving Jews, who vomited forth many blasphemies against Christ, saying: "He has a demon and is mad" (John 10:20); "a gluttonous man and a wine-drinker" (Matthew 11:19); "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons" (Matthew 12:24). And at the Passion, when they said: "We found this man perverting our nation..." (Luke 23:2).

Then He was rejected by philosophers, tyrants, and other rulers.

But chosen by God according to His assumed nature, that through Him He might save the human race. Of whom Isaiah 42 speaks, saying: "Behold my servant, I will uphold Him; my elect, in whom my soul is well pleased" (Isaiah 42:1). Indeed, Christ is called the Elect of God antonomastically (i.e., preeminently), as the Savior and Head of all the elect. He received the Spirit not by measure (John 3:34); by His merit others obtain the effects of election.

And honored: God the Father honored Christ in many ways—He made Him worthy of honor and demonstrated this, saying to Him: "You are My beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17); preferring Him above all things; insinuating His excellence also through the prophets and apostles and through miracles; on the day of His Ascension also, placing Him above all heavens at His right hand.

1 Pet 2:5 "And you yourselves also as living stones are built upon, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Explanation: And you, O faithful ones, as living stones—spiritually alive in faith and charity, you who in the time of your unbelief and impiety were like hard and dead stones (for which reason also the Lord said through Ezekiel: "I will take away from you the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh," Ezekiel 36:26)—be built up as spiritual houses.

That is: upon Christ, who is the true foundation of the Church, be built up into spiritual houses, so that you may be the house or dwelling place of Christ, who through the gifts of His grace may dwell in you. For Christ, as Paul says, "dwells in our hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:17).

This means: so conduct yourselves that through the charisms of His graces He may make you His houses or dwelling places; and you, by living well, make yourselves dwelling places of the Savior. Indeed, by progressing more and more in every good, become increasingly dwelling places of God.

For Christ is the foundation of the Church, upon which each one ought to build, found, and establish himself through faith, hope, charity, other virtues, and their acts and progress. For which reason it is written in 1 Corinthians 3: "Let each one take heed how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus" (1 Corinthians 3:10-11).

And just as there are many particular churches which all are one universal Church, militant in the world, pilgrim, consisting of all peoples, so there are many particular spiritual houses which all are one general house and city of God. Whence in Hebrews 3 it is read: "Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, but Christ as a Son in His own house, whose house we are" (Hebrews 3:5-6). And Paul speaks to Timothy: "That you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God" (1 Timothy 3:15).

1 Pet 2:5 (continued) "...a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Explanation: Be built up also in this manner: a holy priesthood—that is, into priests of God, so that you may be spiritually God's priests—to offer spiritual sacrifices: that is, prayers, holy affections, almsgiving, good works, not the carnal sacrifices of the Law—acceptable to God, that is, pleasing to Him and meritorious of eternal life, because they proceed from charity.

Acceptable through Jesus Christ, by whose grace and merit we are built up in the manner aforesaid, and we perform works pleasing to God. For which reason Christ asserts in John 15: "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4). And again, in the same place: "Without Me," He says, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Therefore, at the end of the Church's oblations and prayers it is commonly said: "Through our Lord Jesus Christ..." because through Him our oblations and prayers are pleasing or acceptable to God; and through His perfection and merit our imperfection is supplied—provided that we humbly acknowledge it and wisely unite our acts to the merit of the acts and passion of Christ our Head through faith and charity, asking God that by the virtue and merit of the life and passion of Christ He may piously receive our acts in this age and pardon our imperfection.

Finally, just as Christ according to His humanity is the temple of God, and pontiff or priest, and victim—the temple because in Him dwells all the fullness of the divinity according to Paul (Colossians 2:9); priest because, as it is said in Hebrews 9, "through the Holy Spirit He offered Himself immaculate to God" (Hebrews 9:14)—so the faithful are the house, temple, and dwelling place of God, insofar as through grace He dwells in them. For which reason it is said to the Corinthians: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).

They are also priests and victims of God insofar as they offer themselves to God. Whence in Romans 12 it is written: "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). Therefore, what was said—"a holy priesthood"—refers to all the faithful existing in charity, not only to those who are marked with the sacrament of holy orders, as some expound. For which reason the Venerable Bede says: "He calls the whole Church a holy priesthood, a name and office which only the house of Aaron held under the Law of Moses, because we all are members of the supreme Head and consist anointed with holy oil in baptism."

1 Pet 2:6 "Wherefore the Scripture contains: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and whoever believes in Him shall not be confounded.'"

Explanation: Wherefore, because Christ is the living stone and because you ought to come to Him, God testifies in Isaiah 28: "Behold, I will lay in Zion..."—that is, in the Church contemplating heavenly things (for Zion is interpreted as "contemplation"). Whence in Hebrews 12 it is written: "You have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God" (Hebrews 12:22).

"A chief stone": for among those who are called stones by reason of solidity and constancy, Christ is the highest, who is King of all the saints. Of whom it is had in Daniel 2: "A stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it became a great mountain and filled the whole face of the earth" (Daniel 2:35).

"Angular": Christ is called the cornerstone because just as in an angular stone two walls meet and are connected, so in Christ two peoples have come together, are united, and have been made one people through faith and charity. For which reason Paul says: "Christ is our peace, who has made both one... that He might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross" (Ephesians 2:14-16). Hence in Zechariah 6 it is predicted of Christ: "Behold a man, the Orient is His name, and He shall build a temple to the Lord... and the counsel of peace shall be between them both" (Zechariah 6:12-13).

"Elect": according to His assumed nature, as Redeemer of all. Of whom the spouse confesses in the Song of Songs: "My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands" (Song of Songs 5:10).

"Precious": indeed most worthy, because Christ according to His divinity is of altogether incomparable and immense dignity. But according to His assumed humanity, as united to the eternal Word and adorned with every fullness of graces, He is more worthy than the whole universe.

"And whoever believes in Him"—with faith formed by charity and perseveres to the end—"shall not be confounded": that is, when he is presented at the divine tribunal, he shall not be rejected by the supreme Judge, although in this world he may be confounded, reproached, and judged by wicked men, just as the just confess in the Psalm: "You have made us a byword to the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. All day long my shame is before me, and the confusion of my face has covered me" (Psalm 43:14-15).

Whence it is said in the Psalm: "Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be confounded" (Psalm 33:6). This is what the Savior says of Himself in John 6: "Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him shall not die forever" (cf. John 6:40, 50). Whence the Apostle John exhorts in his canonical epistle: "Abide in Him, that when He appears we may have confidence and not be confounded by Him at His coming" (1 John 2:28).

1 Pet 2:7-8 "To you therefore who believe is honor; but to those who do not believe, 'the stone which the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner,' a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal..."

Explanation: To you therefore, O believers, is honor: because by believing in Christ you merit to be promoted to heavenly glory and to be honored by God in heavenly things—namely, to be associated with the angels. For this reason Christ asserts in John 12: "If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him" (John 12:26). For honor is due to virtue.

Hence the faithless, the reprobate, and the wicked will say on the Day of Judgment: "We fools esteemed their life madness... How is it that they are numbered among the sons of God and their lot is among the saints?" as is introduced in Wisdom 5 (Wisdom 5:4-5).

But to those not believing—that is, to others persisting in their unbelief, unwillingly or against their will—"the stone which the builders rejected": that is, Christ, whom the doctors and priests of the Jews, instructing the common people and thereby spiritually building them up, persecuted in words and deeds, according to that word of Jeremiah 5: "They have denied the Lord and said: He is not" (Jeremiah 5:12).

"This has become the head of the corner": that is, the principal cornerstone in which two peoples have come together, as has been explained.

And "a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal": Christ became this not directly nor by His own fault, but occasionally—to those who stumble, that is, to obstinate Jews and all unbelievers blaspheming Christ.

"And who do not believe, in which also they have been appointed": that is, according to the true sense of Scripture they do not believe, although they were made and appointed to believe. Because the Scripture of the Law and the Prophets was dispositive toward Christ and given so that through it the Jews might be prepared for faith in Christ and His Law. For which reason the Lord says in Galatians 3: "The Law was our pedagogue unto Christ" (Galatians 3:24).

To these blinded Jews Christ says in the Gospel: "If you believed Moses, you would perhaps believe also Me; for he wrote of Me" (John 5:46). And again: "Search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). Of whom also it is predicted in Daniel 9: "His people shall deny Him" (cf. Daniel 9:26). Also in Isaiah 43: "Who is blind but My servant? or who is deaf but those to whom I have sent My messengers?" (Isaiah 43:19, paraphrased).

Thus Christ was to them occasionally a stone of stumbling and rock of scandal. For by their own perversity they stumbled and dashed against Christ, and from His benefits, instructions, and rebukes they became worse and more damnable. Whence they are often read in the Gospel as scandalized in Christ. And in John 15 Christ says: "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin" (John 15:22).

Finally, scandal taken actively, directly, and properly is always sin, since it is a word or deed less than right, offering to another an occasion of ruin. And in this way Christ was not a stone of stumbling or rock of scandal. But scandal taken occasionally, indirectly, and as it were passively, is not sin. For in this way scandal is some good word or work from which, by one's own abuse and disorder, some take occasion of ruin and sin. In this way Christ was a stone of stumbling and rock of scandal. For which reason Paul says: "But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:23). Whence also in Wisdom 2 the wicked say: "He is grievous to us even to behold, because his life is not like other men's" (Wisdom 2:15).

Lastly, what was said—"a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal"—is taken from the eighth chapter of Isaiah, where it is had: "Sanctify the Lord of hosts... and He shall be to you for a sanctification; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of scandal to the two houses of Israel" (Isaiah 8:13-14).

1 Pet 2:9

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of acquisition, that you may proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His admirable light."

Explanation: The Prince of the Apostles, having thus rejected the unbelieving Jews, sets forth the sublime praise of the faithful Jews and of all believing in Christ:

"But you"—you who have been converted to Christ—"are a chosen generation": that is, preordained by God to special grace above others, namely, called and led to the Catholic faith, the other virtues, and the ecclesiastical sacraments. "For not all have faith" (2 Thessalonians 3:2). And that word from the Psalm can be said of you: "He has not done so for every nation" (Psalm 147:20).

"A royal priesthood": that is, royal or kingly priests—namely, assimilated and incorporated unto Christ, the supreme King and Priest, and belonging to Him. Indeed, as was said, just as Christ the man is the temple of God, priest, and victim, so the Christian faithful are temple, priest, and victim of God. And because He is priest of the supreme King and His priesthood is ordered to the heavenly kingdom, He is deservedly called a royal priest.

Finally, all the faithful are called kings by ruling themselves through reason, overcoming passions and vices. They are also called priests by offering to the Lord the sacrifice of praise, the sacrifice of prayer, the gifts of almsgiving, and other spiritual exercises and virtuous works. For which reason the Apostle confesses: "Christ has made us a kingdom and priests to God and His Father" (Revelation 1:6; 5:10).

"A holy nation": deputed to the divine worship, cleansed in baptism, adorned with virtues. And just as the Law of Christ is the law of all perfection, so true Christians, splendidly observing Christ's Law, are rightly called a holy nation above all peoples. And such especially were the Christians in the primitive Church, whom Paul in his epistles so frequently names "saints."

"A people of acquisition": that is, rescued, liberated, obtained by the blood of Christ from the hand of the enemies of human salvation. For the Son of Man came "to seek and to save that which was lost," as He Himself testifies in the Gospel (Luke 19:10), which again says: "Rejoice with Me, because I have found My sheep which was lost" (Luke 15:6). Whence in Acts 20 Paul says: "Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, in which the Holy Spirit has placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28). And in Hebrews 10 it is said: "We are not of withdrawal unto perdition, but of faith unto the acquisition of souls" (Hebrews 10:39).

Moreover, Moses introduced this praise to the Jewish people in Deuteronomy 4 (cf. Deuteronomy 4:6-8), which much more excellently befits the Christian people, to whom greater charisms of graces have been bestowed.

Some expound these things specially concerning the priests of the Evangelical Law, who are called:

• A chosen generation: that is, consecrated and assumed for the consecration of the Body and Blood of Christ above others, to whom a very singular dignity, supernatural power, and admirable order have been conferred, to whom belongs the confecting and administration of the ecclesiastical sacraments. For since Moses says to the Levites in Numbers 16: "Does it seem but a small thing to you that the Lord God of Israel has separated you from the people and joined you to Himself, that you might serve Him in the worship of the tabernacle?" (Numbers 16:9), much more may this be said to the priests of Christ.

• Also to the priests and Levites of the Old Testament King Hezekiah said in 2 Chronicles 29: "Do not neglect: the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him and to minister to Him, to worship Him and burn incense" (cf. 2 Chronicles 29:11).

• Much more sublimely, therefore, those constituted in the sacred orders of the Evangelical Law can be called a chosen generation, who are also a royal priesthood: that is, priests of Christ the most high King.

• And a holy nation: because to them especially belongs perfect life and exemplary conduct.

Moreover, what follows applies fittingly to either exposition:

"That you may proclaim the virtues of Him..."

Explanation: That you may proclaim the virtues of God Almighty—His charity, piety, wisdom, justice, power—praise and preach them, or recount them to one another; who called you out of darkness into His admirable light: that is, from the fog of ignorance, sin, and infidelity to the splendor of faith, the light of grace and virtues; indeed, to the light of glory and to the beatific vision of His uncreated light—which He Himself is, "who dwells in inaccessible light" (1 Timothy 6:16)—He invites you.

For Christ promises this to His faithful ones, who in John 17 says: "Father, those whom You have given Me, I will that where I am, they also may be with Me; that they may see My glory" (John 17:24). And elsewhere: "I will manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21).

CONTINUE

ALTERNATE