What does it mean that we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)?

Answer

In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter makes a significant statement that states, “you are a royal priesthood.” To comprehend Peter’s intended meaning and whether we should consider ourselves a royal priesthood today, it is beneficial to understand Peter’s original audience. Peter directs his first letter to believers he refers to as “aliens” because they were living in Gentile territories «Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, », (1 Peter 1:1). He later describes them as “aliens and strangers” and urges them to “maintain good conduct among the Gentiles” «having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. », (1 Peter 2:12), indicating that Peter is addressing Jewish believers in Christ.

After explaining to his audience that Jesus was the foretold stumbling stone and the rock of offense «and A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. », (compare 1 Peter 2:8 with Isaiah 8:14 and Matthew 16:18), Peter reminds his Jewish readers that they are a chosen generation or ethnicity, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s possession «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: », (1 Peter 2:9). In this passage, Peter references Old Testament descriptions that were originally applied to the nation of Israel.

Peter uses the present tense to emphasize that God still has a plan for the Jewish people. He clarifies that Jewish believers in Christ do not lose their Jewish identity (even though one’s ethnicity does not determine righteousness—righteousness is always by grace through faith, as shown in Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:4, and Ephesians 2:8-9). Peter reminds his audience of God’s purpose in choosing them, “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” «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: », (1 Peter 2:9b). Just as the nation of Israel in the Old Testament was meant to display God’s glory, Jewish believers in Christ today also carry that responsibility. Therefore, Peter encourages them to maintain an “excellent” conduct among non-Jews to bring glory to God «having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. », (1 Peter 2:12b).

Although Peter addresses Jewish believers, non-Jewish believers may also ponderThey are a royal priesthood, or whether that pertains only to the Jewish people. God introduces the idea of a royal priesthood, describing Israel as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation «and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. », (Exodus 19:6), and later John writes to the churches explaining that we (the church) are a kingdom of priests also «and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. », (Revelation 1:6). The four living creatures echo this in Revelation 5:9–10, singing that God had redeemed people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and they add that this ethnically diverse multitude is a kingdom of priests (similar to the royal priesthood concept that Peter references). It is important to recognize that the chosen ethnicity and national aspects are not applied to anyone but Jewish people, indicating God’s enduring plan for and chosen-ness of the Jewish people, while it is evident (because of the references in Revelation) that God intends for all those who believe in Him to be a kingdom (as those who will one day rule with Him) and priests (or mediators who introduce people to God).

So, while Peter is addressing Jewish believers specifically in 1 Peter 2:9 when he says, “You are a royal priesthood,” we discover that all believers will one day participate in God’s kingdom that will one day come to earth and that we are all serving as priests in the sense that we are proclaiming God’s excellencies. In that sense, we can say that we are a kind of royal priesthood and, if not that exactly, then certainly a kingdom of priests—priests now, citizens of a kingdom that will one day come to earth Colossians 3:1-4 passage.