26.4

Images for the Church in 1 Peter (Box 26.4)

• the Dispersion—exiles on earth, separated from the true home in heaven (1:1, 17; 2:11)
• the new Israel—a chosen race and a holy nation (2:9; cf. Deut. 7:6; 10:15; Isa. 43:20); God’s own people (2:9; cf. Exod. 19:5; Isa. 43:21)
• a priesthood of all believers—a holy priesthood (2:5); a royal priesthood (2:9; cf. Exod. 19:6)
• a living temple—a spiritual house made of living stones where spiritual sacrifices are offered (2:5; cf. 1 Cor. 3:16)
• a flock of sheep—tended by pastors (= shepherds) with Christ as chief shepherd (2:25; 5:3–4; cf. John 10:11; 21:15–19; Acts 20:28; Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:12)
• a woman—“your sister church in Babylon” (5:13), referring to an individual congregation as a woman (literally, “she who is in Babylon”; cf. 2 John 1)