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So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Living Stones for God’s House

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.[a] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,[b]
    chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”[c]

Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.[d] But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.”[e]

And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
    the rock that makes them fall.”[f]

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[g] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”[h]

11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.[i]

Respecting People in Authority

13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.[j] Fear God, and respect the king.

Slaves

18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.[k] Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[l] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22 He never sinned,
    nor ever deceived anyone.[m]
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
    in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds
    you are healed.
25 Once you were like sheep
    who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
    the Guardian of your souls.

Footnotes

  1. 2:5 Greek holy priesthood.
  2. 2:6a Greek in Zion.
  3. 2:6b Isa 28:16 (Greek version).
  4. 2:7a Or Yes, for you who believe, there is honor.
  5. 2:7b Ps 118:22.
  6. 2:8 Isa 8:14.
  7. 2:9 Greek a royal priesthood.
  8. 2:10 Hos 1:6, 9; 2:23.
  9. 2:12 Or on the day of visitation.
  10. 2:17 Greek love the brotherhood.
  11. 2:18 Or because you fear God; Greek reads in all fear.
  12. 2:21 Some manuscripts read died.
  13. 2:22 Isa 53:9.

Our Inheritance Through Christ’s Blood

Therefore, (A)laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, (B)as newborn babes, desire the pure (C)milk of the word, that you may grow [a]thereby, if indeed you have (D)tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People(E)

Coming to Him as to a living stone, (F)rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

(G)“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who [b]are disobedient,

(H)“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

and

(I)“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”

(J)They stumble, being disobedient to the word, (K)to which they also were appointed.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of (L)darkness into His marvelous light; 10 (M)who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Living Before the World

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts (N)which war against the soul, 12 (O)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, (P)they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Government(Q)

13 (R)Therefore submit yourselves to every [c]ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 (S)as free, yet not (T)using liberty as a cloak for [d]vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear (U)God. Honor the king.

Submission to Masters(V)

18 (W)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is (X)commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For (Y)what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For (Z)to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for [e]us, (AA)leaving [f]us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who(AB) committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

23 (AC)who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but (AD)committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 (AE)who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, (AF)that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—(AG)by whose [g]stripes you were healed. 25 For (AH)you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned (AI)to the Shepherd and [h]Overseer of your souls.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:2 NU adds up to salvation
  2. 1 Peter 2:7 NU disbelieve
  3. 1 Peter 2:13 institution
  4. 1 Peter 2:16 wickedness
  5. 1 Peter 2:21 NU you
  6. 1 Peter 2:21 NU, M you
  7. 1 Peter 2:24 wounds
  8. 1 Peter 2:25 Gr. Episkopos

信徒像活石被建造成靈宮

所以要除去一切惡毒、一切詭詐、虛偽、嫉妒和一切毀謗的話, 像初生嬰孩愛慕那純淨的靈奶,好叫你們靠它長大,進入救恩; 因為你們已經體驗過主是美善的。 主是活石,雖然被人棄絕,卻是 神所揀選所珍貴的;你們到他面前來, 也就像活石,被建造成為靈宮,作聖潔的祭司,藉著耶穌基督獻上蒙 神悅納的靈祭。 因為經上記著:

“看哪,我在錫安放了一塊石頭,

就是所揀選所珍貴的房角石,

信靠他的人,必不致失望。”

所以這石頭,對你們信的人是寶貴的,但對那不信的人,卻是

“建築工人所棄的石頭,

成了房角的主要石頭。”

它又

“作了絆腳的石頭,

使人跌倒的磐石。”

他們跌倒是因為不順從這道,他們這樣是必然的。

然而你們是蒙揀選的族類,是君尊的祭司,是聖潔的國民,是屬 神的子民,為要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。

10 “你們從前不是子民,

現在卻是 神的子民;

從前未蒙憐恤,

現在卻蒙了憐恤。”

應當品行端正

11 親愛的,我勸你們作客旅和寄居的人,要禁戒肉體的私慾,這私慾是與靈魂爭戰的。 12 你們在教外人中,應當品行端正,使那些人,雖然毀謗你們是作惡的,但因為看見你們的好行為,就要在鑒察的日子頌讚 神。

13 你們為主的緣故,要順服人的一切制度,無論是至尊的君王, 14 或是君王所派賞善罰惡的官員; 15 因為這是 神的旨意,要藉著你們的善行,塞住糊塗無知人的口。 16 你們是自由的人,但不要用自由來掩飾邪惡,總要像 神的僕人。 17 要尊重眾人,愛護弟兄,敬畏 神,尊敬君王。

基督受苦的榜樣

18 你們作僕人的,要凡事敬畏順服主人,不單是對善良溫和的,就是乖僻的也要順服。 19 因為人若在 神面前為良心的緣故,忍受冤屈的苦楚,是有福的。 20 你們若因犯罪受責打而能忍耐,有甚麼可誇的呢?但你們若因行善而受苦,能忍耐,在 神看來,這是有福的。 21 你們就是為此蒙召,因基督也為你們受過苦,給你們留下榜樣,叫你們跟隨他的腳蹤行。

22 “他從來沒有犯過罪,

口裡也找不到詭詐。”

23 他被罵的時候不還嘴,受苦的時候也不說恐嚇的話;只把自己交託給那公義的審判者。 24 他在木頭上親身擔當了我們的罪,使我們既然不活在罪中,就可以為義而活。因他受的鞭傷,你們就得了醫治。 25 你們從前好像迷路的羊,但現在已經回到你們靈魂的牧人和監督那裡了。

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

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

As you come to him, the living Stone(F)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(G) and precious to him— 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) 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)

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)

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)

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)