1 Peter · Chapter 2
1 Peter 2
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain · Source credits
The Living Stone and Chosen People
(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)
1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,
5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For it stands in Scripture:“See, I lay in Zion a stone,a chosen and precious cornerstone;and the one who believes in Himwill never be put to shame.”*
7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,“The stone the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone,”*
8and,“A stone of stumblingand a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.*
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.*
11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Submission to Authorities
(Romans 13:1–7)
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.*
18Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.*
19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Christ’s Example of Suffering
(Isaiah 53:1–8)
21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
22“He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in His mouth.”*
23When they heaped abuse on Him,He did not retaliate;when He suffered, He made no threats,but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
24He Himself bore our sinsin His body on the tree,so that we might die to sinand live to righteousness.“By His stripes you are healed.”*
25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.*
Source notes
- 2:6 Isaiah 28:16 (see also LXX) Read Isaiah 28:16
- 2:7 Psalms 118:22 Read Psalms 118:22
- 2:8 Isaiah 8:14 Read Isaiah 8:14
- 2:10 Hosea 2:23 Read Hosea 2:23
- 2:17 Literally Love the brotherhood
- 2:18 Or in all fear
- 2:22 Isaiah 53:9 Read Isaiah 53:9
- 2:24 Isaiah 53:4 (see also LXX) Isaiah 53:5 Read Isaiah 53:4 Read Isaiah 53:5
- 2:25 Isaiah 53:6 Read Isaiah 53:6
Old Testament references
References from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Text from the Berean Standard Bible.
Isaiah 28:16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
Psalms 118:22The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Isaiah 8:14And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
Hosea 2:23And I will sow her as My own in the land, and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”
Isaiah 53:9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Isaiah 53:4Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:5But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 2:20In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold— the idols they made to worship.
Isaiah 30:22So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”
Ezekiel 18:31Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 18:32For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!
Psalms 32:2Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalms 34:13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
Job 36:13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
1 Samuel 18:8And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”
1 Samuel 18:9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
Psalms 37:1Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
Psalms 73:3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Proverbs 3:31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;