1 Peter 2-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
2 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.(A) 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation(B)— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.[a](C)
4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5 like living stones let yourselves be built[b] into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(D) 6 For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”(E)
7 This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,[c]
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner,”(F)
8 and
“A stone that makes them stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.(G)
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,[d] in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.(H)
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.(I)
Live as Servants of God
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.[e](J) 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.[f](K)
13 For the Lord’s sake be subject to every human authority,[g] whether to the emperor as supreme(L) 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16 As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.(M) 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers.[h] Fear God. Honor the emperor.(N)
The Example of Christ’s Suffering
18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all respect,[i] not only those who are good and gentle but also those who are dishonest. 19 For it is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God.(O) 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.(P)
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.(Q) 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,[j] so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds[k] you have been healed.(R) 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.[l](S)
Wives and Husbands
3 Wives, in the same way, be subject to your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct,(T) 2 when they see the purity and respect of your conduct. 3 Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;(U) 4 rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.(V) 5 It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by being subject to their husbands. 6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.(W)
7 Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman—though the weaker vessel,[m] they are joint heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.(X)
Suffering for Doing Right
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.(Y) 9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.(Z) 10 For
“Those who desire to love life
and to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
11 let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right,[n] you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear,[o] and do not be intimidated,(AA) 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you,(AB) 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned,[p] those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.(AC) 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered[q] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you[r] to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,(AD) 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight lives, were saved through water.(AE) 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for[s] a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AF) 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.(AG)
Good Stewards of God’s Grace
4 Since, therefore, Christ suffered in the flesh,[t] arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin),(AH) 2 so as to live for the rest of your time in the flesh no longer by human desires but by the will of God.(AI) 3 You have already spent enough time in doing what the gentiles like to do, living in debauchery, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.(AJ) 4 They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme.[u](AK) 5 But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.(AL) 6 For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.
7 The end of all things is near;[v] therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.(AM) 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.(AN) 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.(AO) 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.(AP)
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.(AQ) 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,[w] which is the Spirit of God,[x] is resting on you.[y](AR) 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker.[z](AS) 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.[aa] 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(AT) 18 And
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust their lives to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
Footnotes
- 2.3 Or kind
- 2.5 Or you yourselves are being built
- 2.7 Other ancient authorities read obey
- 2.9 Gk a people for his possession
- 2.11 Or one’s life
- 2.12 Gk God on the day of visitation
- 2.13 Or every authority ordained for humans
- 2.17 Gk Love the brotherhood
- 2.18 Or fear
- 2.24 Or carried up our sins in his body to the tree
- 2.24 Gk bruise
- 2.25 Or lives
- 3.7 Or body
- 3.14 Or for righteousness’ sake
- 3.14 Gk their fear
- 3.16 Other ancient authorities read when they malign you as evildoers
- 3.18 Other ancient authorities read died
- 3.18 Other ancient authorities read us
- 3.21 Or a pledge to God from
- 4.1 Other ancient authorities add for us or for you
- 4.4 Or they malign you
- 4.7 Or is at hand
- 4.14 Other ancient authorities add and of power
- 4.14 Or spirit of glory and of God
- 4.14 Other ancient authorities add On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified
- 4.15 Meaning of Gk uncertain
- 4.16 Other ancient authorities read in this respect
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.