1 Peter 2

Renouncing all evil attitudes

Therefore laying aside all malice, and all deceit, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,

2:1 Eph 4:25, 29, 31; Col 3:5-10. All such things are of the old nature and must have no place in the believer’s life (Gal 5:19-21).⚜

Growing by feeding on the Word of God

2 as newborn infants desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow by it, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The living Stone and living stones

4 Coming to him, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 And so it is contained in the Scripture,

See, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone,

chosen, precious;

and he who believes on him

will not be put to shame.

2:6 Verse 4; Isa 28:16; Zech 1:4; Eph 2:20.⚜

7 Therefore to you who believe he is precious, but to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner, 8 and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.

For they stumble at the Word, being disobedient. Also they were appointed to this.

2:8 Isa 8:14; Rom 9:33. Those who do not want to obey God’s truth will stumble over the truth. And this truth is Christ (Luke 2:34). Those who want Him will rise; those who do not will fall.⚜

Who and what believers are

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, so that you may declare the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, 10 you who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, you who had not obtained mercy, but have now obtained mercy.

2:10 Before believing in Christ it was true of both individual Jews and Gentiles that they were not God’s spiritual people – Hos 1:9-10; 2:23; Rom 9:24-26; Eph 2:11-12. In calling people from darkness into His light God acts in pure mercy (Titus 3:5).⚜

What believers are to do

11 Dearly loved ones, I plead with you as foreigners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly desires, which war against the soul. 12 And have your conduct among the Gentiles so beautiful that, although they speak against you as evildoers, seeing your good deeds they will glorify God because of them, in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves, for the Lord’s sake, to every institution for governing men, whether it is to the king, as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him to punish evildoers and to praise those who do well. 15 For such is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Be as free men, not using your liberty as a cloak for evil, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all respectful fear, not just to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is praiseworthy, if a man suffers wrongfully and endures grief because of his conscience toward God. 20 For what glory is it, if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do well and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

2:20 Compare 1 Pet 4:15-16.⚜

21 For you have been called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps.

The example Jesus set for us

22 He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was insulted he gave no insults in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

2:23 Isa 53:7; Matt 26:63; 27:12-14; Luke 23:8-9. We should behave in the same way. The one “who judges righteously” is God.⚜

24 He himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, should live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.

2:24 Here is one of the clearest statements in the Bible that Christ suffered in our place, as our substitute. See also 1 Pet 3:18; Isa 53:5; Matt 20:28; John 1:29; 10:11, 14; Rom 3:25; 2 Cor 5:14, 21; Heb 9:28. See here the purpose of Christ’s sufferings and death. Compare Rom 14:9; 2 Cor 5:15.⚜

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