1 Peter 2:10 (ASV)

Passage

who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 2:8 and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God`s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1 Peter 2:10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;

1 Peter 2:12 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "time", "past", "people", and "obtained". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "time", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 9's "But ye are a elect race a..." into verse 11's "Beloved I beseech you as sojourners and...", so "mercy" and "time" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mercy" and "time" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.