[HarleyD]

If my Greek lexicon is correct, "etethesan" is a variation of the root word "tithemi" which means to "to set, fix establish, to set forth, to establish, ordain". That being said and given your interpretation, how would you interpret:

"...to them who stumble at the word, whereunto also they are set." (1 Peter 2:8)

Against the following contrasting verses:

"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 marvellous light: Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1Pe 2:9-10

[annalex]

Yes, that's the word. Its simplest form is "theto", "I put". We have the word "thesis" derived from it. "Appoint" stratches the meaning away from placing one thing on top of another and toward a directive to do something, and the incorrect grammar parsing delivers that comical image of God saying to heretics, "I appoint you to go to that rock and stumble there". None of it was intended by St. Peter; all he is saying that both the faithful and heretics are on the same rock, -- there is no other.

The next verse is not contrasting in any sense. God calls out of darkness; he does not call into darkness, and he does not appoint to stumble, marry five wives and start a church of England, or invent TULIP theologies.