The First Epistle General of Peter

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

Having put aside, then, all evil, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil speakings,

as newborn babies, desire the reasonable, unspoiled milk, so that you may grow up to salvation,

if [it] so be [that] you tasted that the LORD [is] good,

to whom coming—a living stone—having indeed been disapproved of by men, but with God—choice [and] precious,

and you yourselves are built up as living stones [into] a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For this reason, also, it is contained in the Writing: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, choice, precious, and he who is believing on Him may not be put to shame”;

to you, then, who are believing—the preciousness; but to the unbelieving, [the] stone that the builders disapproved of—this One has become the head of [the] corner,

and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense—who are stumbling at the word, being unbelieving—to which they were also set.

But you [are] a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that you may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light,

who [were] once not a people, but [are] now the people of God; who had not found mercy, but now have found mercy.

Beloved, I call on [you], as strangers and sojourners, to keep from the fleshly desires that war against the soul,

having your behavior right among the nations, so that whenever they speak against you as evildoers, seeing [your] good works, they may glorify God in [the] day of inspection.

Submission to Authorities

(Romans 13:1–7)

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the LORD, whether to a king, as the highest,

whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evildoers, and a praise of those doing good;

because, so is the will of God, doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men—

as free, and not having freedom as the cloak of evil, but as servants of God;

give honor to all; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.

Servants, be subject in all fear to the masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked;

for this [is] grace: if anyone endures sorrows because of conscience toward God, suffering unrighteously;

for what renown [is it], if sinning and being battered, you endure [it]? But if, doing good and suffering [for it], you endure, this [is] grace with God,

Christ’s Example of Suffering

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

for to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving to you an example, that you may follow His steps,

who did not commit sin, nor was guile found in His mouth,

who being reviled—was not reviling again, suffering—was not threatening, and was committing Himself to Him who is judging righteously,

who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree that having died to sins, we may live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed;

for you were as sheep going astray, but now you turned back to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow,

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold,(a) I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”(b)

For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”(c)

and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.”(d) For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities

(Romans 13:1–7)

Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme,

or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you

(e)

an example, that you should follow his steps,

who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”(f)

When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.(g)

For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer

(h)

of your souls.

Footnotes

(a)2:6 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה” or “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(b)2:6 ℘ Isaiah 28:16

(d)2:8 ℘ Isaiah 8:14

(e)2:21 TR reads “us” instead of “you”

(f)2:22 ℘ Isaiah 53:9

(g)2:24 or, stripes

(h)2:25 “Overseer” is from the Greek ἐπίσκοπον, which can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent.