1 Peter 2

Live as God’s Chosen People

1 So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander.2 Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation.

3 Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!
4 You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God.5 You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ.

6 That is why Scripture says,
“I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion,and the person who believes in himwill never be ashamed.”7 This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe:“The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone,8 a stone that people trip over,a large rock that people find offensive.”The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

10 Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.
11 Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents in the world, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you.

12 Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.

Respect the Authority of Others

13 Place yourselves under the authority of human governments to please the Lord. Obey the emperor. He holds the highest position of authority.14 Also obey governors. They are people the emperor has sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.15 God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right.16 Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God.

17 Honor everyone. Love your brothers and sisters in the faith. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, place yourselves under the authority of your owners and show them complete respect. Obey not only those owners who are good and kind, but also those who are unfair.19 God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering.

20 What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you.
21 God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps.22 Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully.23 Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly.24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God’s approval. His wounds have healed you.

25 You were like lost sheep. Now you have come back to the shepherd and bishopt of your lives.

1 Peter 2

1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,2 as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;3 if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious:4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

7 For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

8 and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;12 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.19 For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24 who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.25 For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.