What Does It Mean To Be Peculair
What does it mean to be peculiar? It is an interesting question, for I have seen people who dress strange, and act strange. They say they are being peculiar, God’s peculiar people. Is this what it means when the Bible says in I Peter 2:9; “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 marvelous light” (Authorized King James Version).
The New King James puts it another way where instead of using “peculiar” it says His own special people.” To further muddy the water the English Standard Version renders the same text as, “a people for his own possession.”
It all seems very confusing and makes it almost appear from one translation to another that the Bible is contradicting itself. When it doubt, it is necessary to examine each occurrence where the word is used and see if a consensus can be arrived upon. But it is also important to look back at what the original Greek word meant. The Greek word in question is peripoiesis which is pronounced per ee poy ay sis. It has five occurrences in the Bible and has the meaning of “purchased possession or to obtain,” It is also translated as “saving once and when coupled with the untranslated word eisice the word peculiar means a preserving, a preservation. Possession, one’s own property. An obtaining.”
In conclusion, the text should read, But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood an holy nation a people that have become the possession of God because he purchased you at a price, therefore ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness.
Don’t know about you, but I am overjoyed to be part of this peculiar people that are possession of God because Christ paid the price when he died upon the cross and rose again from the grave. So then, how can I keep quiet for he has called me out of the darkness and into his marvelous light. Amen.
The Bible In Your Hand 