New Testament · 1 Peter

1 Peter 2

The Living Stone and Chosen People

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

1So put away all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure rational milk, so that by it you may grow — 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4As you come to Him — a living stone rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious — 5you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual^a house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua Messiah. 6For it stands in the scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame."^b

7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"

8and "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of stumbling block"; they stumble because they disobey the word^d, as they were destined to do.^c

9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the fleshly^e desires, which wage war against your soul^g.^f 12Keep your conduct among the nations honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities

(Romans 13:1–7)

13Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the king as supreme, 14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15For this is the will^h of God, that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish people.

16Live as free people, yet not using your freedom as a cover for evil, but living as servants of God. 17Honor everyone; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is graceⁱ — if, because of conscience toward God, one bears up under sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is grace before God.

Messiah’s Example of Suffering

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

21For to this you have been called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps —

22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth;
23when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to the One who judges justly.^j
24He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness^k; by His wounds you have been healed.

25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls^l.