1 Peter 2:9–10
Peter calls a "holy nation" those who once were not a people
Study it word by word9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10you who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy.
In its context
7To you then who believe is the honor; but to those who do not believe, The stone that the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner,
8and A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble because they disobey the word, and to this they were also destined.
…
11Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from the fleshly desires which wage war against the soul.
12keeping your conduct among the nations good, so that, in what they speak against you as evildoers, by observing your good works they may glorify God on the day of visitation.
Its words in the original
- γένοςgenos· kind, race
Kind, sort; also family, descendants, a people.
- ἐκλεκτόνeklekton· chosen
Chosen, elect.
- βασίλειονbasileion· royal
Royal, belonging to a king; "royal palaces".
- ἱεράτευμαhierateuma· priesthood
Priesthood: a body of priests.
- ἔθνοςethnos· nation
Nation, people; in the plural, often the peoples who are not Israel.
- ἅγιονhagion· holy
Holy: set apart for God, pure, belonging to him.
- λαὸςlaos· people
People. Often the people of Israel.
- περιποίησινperipoiēsin· possession, acquiring
Possession, what someone acquires and keeps as his own; also the act of acquiring or keeping.
- ἀρετὰςaretas· virtue, excellence
Virtue, moral excellence; also excellent deeds.
- ἐξαγγείλητεexangeilēte· proclaim
Tell out, proclaim.
- σκότουςskotous· darkness
Darkness.
- καλέσαντοςkalesantos· call
Call; name; invite.
- θαυμαστὸνthaumaston· marvelous
Marvelous, astonishing.
- φῶςphōs· light
Light.
- ποτεpote· once, formerly
Once, formerly; ever, at some time.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- ἠλεημένοιēleēmenoi· have mercy
Show mercy, take pity; in the passive, receive mercy.