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1 Peter 2
Legacy Standard Bible

As Living Stones, God’s Chosen Family

2 Therefore, (A)laying aside all [a]malice and all deceit and [b]hypocrisy and [c]envy and all [d](B)slander, 2 (C)like newborn babies, long for the [e](D)pure [f]milk of the word, so that by it you may (E)grow [g]in respect to salvation, 3 if you have (F)tasted [h](G)the kindness of the [i]Lord.

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been (H)rejected by men, but is [j]choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 (I)you also, as living stones, [k]are being built up as a (J)spiritual house for a holy (K)priesthood, to (L)offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in [l]Scripture:

“(M)Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a (N)precious corner stone,
And he who believes upon [m]Him will not be put to shame.”

7 (O)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“(P)The stone which the builders (Q)rejected,
This has become the chief corner stone,”

8 and,

“(R)A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”

(S)They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, (T)and to this stumbling they were also appointed.

9 But you are (U)a chosen family, a royal (V)priesthood, a (W)holy nation, (X)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (Y)out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 (Z)for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 (AA)Beloved, (AB)I urge you as (AC)sojourners and exiles to abstain from (AD)fleshly lusts which wage (AE)war against the soul, 12 (AF)by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they (AG)slander you as evildoers, they may [n]because of your good works, as they observe them, (AH)glorify God (AI)in the day of [o]visitation.

Be Subject to Authority

13 (AJ)Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent [p]by him (AK)for the punishment of evildoers and the (AL)praise of those who do good. 15 For [q](AM)such is the will of God that by doing good you may (AN)silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as (AO)free people, and [r]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as (AP)slaves of God. 17 (AQ)Honor all people, (AR)love the [s]brethren, (AS)fear God, (AT)honor the [t]king.

18 (AU)Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and (AV)considerate, but also to those who are [u]crooked. 19 For this finds [v]favor, if for the sake of (AW)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if (AX)when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this finds favor with God.

Christ, Our Example

21 For to this (AY)you have been called, (AZ)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (BA)an example that you should follow in His steps, 22 who (BB)did no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 who being (BC)reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. 24 Who Himself [w](BD)bore our sins in His body on the (BE)tree, so that (BF)having died to [x]sin, we might live to righteousness; (BG)by His [y]wounds you were (BH)healed. 25 For you were (BI)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the (BJ)Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:1 Or wickedness
  2. 1 Peter 2:1 Plural nouns
  3. 1 Peter 2:1 Plural nouns
  4. 1 Peter 2:1 Plural nouns
  5. 1 Peter 2:2 Or unadulterated
  6. 1 Peter 2:2 Or spiritual (Gr logikos) milk
  7. 1 Peter 2:2 Or up to salvation
  8. 1 Peter 2:3 Lit that the Lord is kind
  9. 1 Peter 2:3 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 34:8
  10. 1 Peter 2:4 Or elect; lit chosen
  11. 1 Peter 2:5 Or allow yourselves to be built up, build yourselves up
  12. 1 Peter 2:6 Or a scripture
  13. 1 Peter 2:6 Or it
  14. 1 Peter 2:12 Or as a result of
  15. 1 Peter 2:12 Christ’s coming again in judgment
  16. 1 Peter 2:14 Lit through
  17. 1 Peter 2:15 Lit so
  18. 1 Peter 2:16 Lit not having
  19. 1 Peter 2:17 Or brotherhood
  20. 1 Peter 2:17 Or emperor
  21. 1 Peter 2:18 Or unreasonable
  22. 1 Peter 2:19 Or grace
  23. 1 Peter 2:24 Or carried...up to the cross
  24. 1 Peter 2:24 Lit sins
  25. 1 Peter 2:24 Or bruise; lit wound
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1 Peter 2
New Catholic Bible

Chapter 2

1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all deceit, hypocrisy, and envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may advance on the path to salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Mystery of the Church.[a] 4 Come to him, a living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious. 5 You, too, are like living stones, being built up into a spiritual temple and a holy priesthood[b] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it states in Scripture,

“See, I am laying a stone in Zion,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious.
Whoever believes in it
    will not be put to shame.”

7 Therefore, it is precious to you who believe. However, for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone that makes them stumble,
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the word—for this they were born.[c]

9 But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people claimed by God as his own possession,” so that you may proclaim the praise of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10 Once you were not a people,
    but now you are God’s people.
Once you had not received mercy,
    but now you have received mercy.

God’s People in a Hostile World[d]

11 Lead a Good Life amidst Pagans.[e] Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles not to succumb to the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles so that, although they now malign you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation.

13 Christianity Is Not a Subversive Group.[f] For the Lord’s sake, submit to every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme 14 or of governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do good works. 15 For it is the will of God that by doing right you should silence the ignorant talk of fools.

16 As servants of God, behave as free people, but do not use your freedom as a means to cover up wrongdoing. 17 Give due honor to everyone. Love your fellow believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18 Recommendations for Slaves.[g] Slaves, submit to your masters with due respect, not only to those who are kind and forbearing but also to those who are harsh. 19 It is a sign of grace if you endure the pain of unjust suffering because of your awareness of God.

20 What credit do you deserve if you are patient when you are beaten for doing wrong? However, if you are patient when you do what is right and suffer for it, you have earned merit with God.

21 [h]This, in fact, is what you have been called to do, because Christ himself suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in his footsteps.

22 He committed no sin,[i]
    and no deceit was found on his lips.

23 When he was abused, he did not retaliate. When he suffered, he made no threats, but he placed his trust in the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live in righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep who had gone astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.[j]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:4 The following terms—spiritual temple, chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people claimed by God as his own possession—were coined by the Old Testament to express Israel’s awareness of itself as a people called upon to carry out God’s plan. The Church regards herself as chosen by God and called to act in such a way that human life itself becomes a worship of God. This passage can be more profoundly understood by reflecting upon 1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:20-22. In verses 9 and 10 citations from the Old Testament occur in this order: Isa 43:20-21; Ex 19:5-6; Hos 1:6-9; 2:23-24. These are reminiscences more than citations.
  2. 1 Peter 2:5 Holy priesthood: all who are united with Christ by faith share in the priesthood of Christ (see note on Heb 8:6-13).
  3. 1 Peter 2:8 For this they were born: the author states that by rejecting the Gospel, the people of the former Covenant have lost their prerogatives, which have now been given to the people of the New Covenant, i.e., Christians. The Scripture references in vv. 6-10 reflect the concern of early Christianity to explain Israel’s unbelief in light of the Old Testament itself.
  4. 1 Peter 2:11 The author sets forth a few practical implications of what it means to be God’s people in a hostile world. Christians are to be submissive to others—to civil authority, to masters, and to spouses in imitation of Christ’s submissiveness. He ends up citing five virtues from Christ’s life that should be of help to all.
  5. 1 Peter 2:11 Christians are to be on their best behavior in the midst of pagans even if for a time they are greeted with criticism and hostility because they do not accept the morals of the age. On the day of the Lord’s arrival, everything will be made clear. While they wait for that day, Christians are on earth as a pilgrim people, i.e., they do not put their stamp of approval on any society and any culture.
  6. 1 Peter 2:13 Christianity is not subversive and does not oppose the organization of society on principle. The first persecutions were based on such accusations, and it is one more reason to stress their loyalty but also their sense of freedom. Political power has its ultimate foundation in God the Creator of human society, and not in the personality of those who govern (see Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1). In the Book of Revelation, the Christian attitude toward the imperial power will be less serene.
  7. 1 Peter 2:18 The first generations of Christians have above all the concern to spread the Gospel as the response to desire for salvation on the part of all people. The believers are only a handful. It would be a mistake to attribute to them the plan to develop a critique of the structures of society. But they themselves model new human and social relations. Many of them are slaves; in the Church, they are recognized as full Christians. This is one more reason not to lay oneself open to the accusation of insubordination that is leveled at these new communities. Hence, for the present moment, here is a way of living with service, even in conditions of injustice. The example of Christ imposes itself; it is interpreted here in magnificent terms by means of one of the great texts about the Servant of God (Isa 53:5-12). We should not interpret this text as presenting a doctrine of resignation. It calls for an attitude that refuses to respond to injustice with hatred or duplicity (see Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:22-25; 1 Tim 6:1-2; Tit 2:9-10).
  8. 1 Peter 2:21 The example of Christ is obvious; it is here interpreted in grandiose terms by means of the great text on the Servant of God in Isa 53:5-12.
  9. 1 Peter 2:22 He committed no sin . . .: Christ was absolutely sinless (see Acts 3:14; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1 Jn 3:5).
  10. 1 Peter 2:25 The shepherd and guardian of your souls: the sheep had wandered from their shepherd (Christ), but now they have returned to him. Thus, the Suffering Servant, vindicated in the Resurrection (see Isa 52:13; 53:11), becomes the Good Shepherd (see Jn 10:11; 13:10). For “shepherd” in the Old Testament, see Ps 23; Isa 40:11; Ezek 37:24.
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1 Peter 2
New International Version

2 Therefore, rid yourselves(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander(B) of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,(C) so that by it you may grow up(D) in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(E)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4 As you come to him, the living Stone(F)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(G) and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built(H) into a spiritual house[a](I) to be a holy priesthood,(J) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(K) 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(L)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](M)

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(N)

“The stone the builders rejected(O)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](P)

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](Q)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(R)

9 But you are a chosen people,(S) a royal priesthood,(T) a holy nation,(U) God’s special possession,(V) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(W) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(X) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(Y) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(Z) to abstain from sinful desires,(AA) which wage war against your soul.(AB) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(AC) and glorify God(AD) on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(AE) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(AF) and to commend those who do right.(AG) 15 For it is God’s will(AH) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(AI) 16 Live as free people,(AJ) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(AK) live as God’s slaves.(AL) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(AM) fear God, honor the emperor.(AN)

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(AO) not only to those who are good and considerate,(AP) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(AQ) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(AR) 21 To this(AS) you were called,(AT) because Christ suffered for you,(AU) leaving you an example,(AV) that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,(AW)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e](AX)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(AY) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(AZ) Instead, he entrusted himself(BA) to him who judges justly.(BB) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(BC) in his body on the cross,(BD) so that we might die to sins(BE) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(BF) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[f](BG) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(BH) and Overseer of your souls.(BI)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
  5. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  6. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)
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