Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Peter 2:9

9 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 :

Ye Believers, in opposition to those Reprobates that are disobedient to the Word. He shews that those Dignities and Priviledges, which were mentioned by Moses, as belonging to their Fore-fathers, did much more belong to them; and that they had the real Exhibition in Christ, of those good Things whereof their Fathers had but a taste, and which the rest of the Iews had lost by their Unbelief.

A People chosen of God, not only out of the World, but from among the rest of your own Nation, and not only to an external Adoption, and outward Priviledges, (as the whole Body of the Nation was) but to eternal Salvation.

Or, Kingdom of Priests. He called them an holy Priesthood, v. 5. now he calls them a Royal Priesthood, to shew that they were made not only spiritual Priests, but spiritual Kings; which Priviledge they had not as Iews, but as Believers, who are all of them as Priests in respect of God to whom they are consecrated, and to whom they offer up spiritual Sacrifices; so Kings in respect both of their Enemies over whom they are victorious, and of the Kingdom they are hereafter to inherit.

Moses calls your Fathers an holy Nation, Deut. 7.6. in respect of their Separation from the Impurities of the Gentiles, their Dedication to God, and the many Laws. God gave them, obliging them to external and ceremonial Purity, whereby they were admonished of internal and real Holiness; but ye are an holy Nation in respect of that true and inward Holiness it self, whereof that ceremonial Holiness was but a Signification. He seems particularly to allude to Isa. 62.12.

Eccles. 19.5. it is a peculiar Treasure; and so the same word is rendred, Exod. 19.5. and a special People, Deut. 7.6. a peculiar People, and 14.2. The word used by the LXX implying as much, but Mal. 3.17. where we render it, Iewels; the LXX use the same word which Peter doth here, which is as much as a People of Acquisition, or which God hath acquired to himself for his peculiar Possession or Treasure. God had rescued the Israelites from their Egyptian Bondage, and taken them to be his peculiar People above all others, and claimed a Right to them, and counted them precious, as having redeemed them with a strong Hand, and got Possession of them at the expence of so much Power, and so many Miracles. This Deliverance of theirs, was the Type of Christ's delivering the Church from the Tyranny of Satan, the spiritual Pharaoh, and the World, the spiritual Egypt, and a state of Sin, the worst Bondage; upon the account whereof, God's People are called a Peculiar People, or a People thus acquired, Tit. 2.14. and a purchased Possession, Ephes. 1.14. where the same word is likewise used.

This notes the end of all these Priviledges vouchsafed them, viz. That they should glorifie God in the Enjoyment of them. He seems to refer to Isa. 43.7, 21. This People have I formed for my self, (or acquired, as the LXX hath it) they shall shew forth my Praise.

Publish, and declare both in Words and Deeds, that others may be excited to glorifie God in the like manner.

Or, Virtues, that Wisdom, Power, Goodness, Righteousness, Truth, &c. which God haht manifested in his Vouchsafements to you, and in the Acknowledgment of which he may be glorified.

By an effectual Calling, according to his purpose, Rom. 8.28.

The Darkness of Ignorance, Unbelief, Sin, and Misery. The time before the Publication of the Gospel, was a time of Darkness, Matth. 4.16. Luke 1.79.

The Light of Knowledge, Faith, Holiness, Comfort. See Ephes. 5.8. It is called marvellous, because Men see what they never saw before; wonderful Things out of God's Law, Psalm 119.18. and because it is a marvellous thing that they who sate in so gross Darkness, should be translated into so glorious a Light.

Marginal references: Rev. 1.6. and 5.10.; Or, a purchased people.; Or, virtues.; Eph. 5.8. Col. 1.13.