Christ is called a living stone—a daring metaphor (for stones do not live), but one already suggested by Jesus’ own application of Psalm 118:22 (‘the stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner’) to himself (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; cf. Peter’s own statement in Acts 4:11). Peter is about to quote three Old Testament ‘stone’ prophecies and apply them to Christ (Isa. 28:16 in v. 6; Ps. 118:22 in v. 7; Isa. 8:14 in v. 8), and his imagery here must be understood in
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