St. Peter ended chapter 1 of his first Epistle by calling the Church to live in the love of God toward one another. He begins chapter 2 encouraging the Church to lay aside all things that hinder us from loving one another. St. Peter then moves to remind us of who we are as individuals in Christ, but equally as important, who we are as the Body of Christ. He teaches us that Christ is the Cornerstone, the Apostles are the foundation, and we are are the Living Stones built upon that foundation to be the Temple of God through which God intends to glorify Himself and offer His life to the world.