1 PETRUS 2
Die volk van God, gebou op die kosbare hoeksteen
1 Hou dan op met elke vorm van kwaad, met alle bedrog, huigelary, jaloesie en kwaadpratery. 2 Soos pasgebore kindertjies smag na melk, moet julle smag na die suiwer geestelike melk, sodat julle daardeur kan opgroei en die saligheid verkry. 3 Julle het immers ondervind dat die Here goed is.
4 Kom na Hom toe, die lewende steen, wat deur die mense afgekeur is, maar deur God vir die ereplek uitverkies is. 5 Laat julle as lewende stene opbou tot 'n geestelike huis, om 'n heilige priesterdom te wees en geestelike offers te bring wat deur Jesus Christus vir God welgevallig is. 6 Daarom staan daar in die Skrif: “Kyk, Ek lê in Sion 'n hoekklip, uitverkies vir die ereplek. Wie in Hom glo, word nooit teleurgestel nie.”t
7 Julle wat glo, deel in hierdie eer, maar vir dié wat nie glo nie, geld die woorde: “Die klip wat deur die bouers afgekeur is, juis hy het die belangrikste klip in die gebou geword”t
8 en: “'n klip waaroor 'n mens struikel en 'n rots waarteen jy jou stamp.”t Hulle struikel omdat hulle nie aan die woord gehoorsaam is nie. So het God dit ook vir hulle bestem.
9 Julle, daarenteen, is 'n uitverkore volk, 'n koninklike priesterdom, 'n nasie wat vir God afgesonder is, die eiendomsvolk van God, die volk wat die verlossingsdade moet verkondig van Hom wat julle uit die duisternis geroep het na sy wonderbare lig. 10 Julle was vroeër geen volk nie, maar nou is julle die volk van God. Julle het tóé geen barmhartigheid ontvang nie, maar nou het God aan julle barmhartigheid bewys.
Gedra julle altyd goed
11 Geliefdes, in die wêreld is julle vreemdelinge en bywoners. Daarom dring ek by julle daarop aan om nie aan sinlike begeertes toe te gee nie. Dit verwoes net 'n mens se lewe. 12 Gedra julle altyd goed onder die heidene sodat, al praat hulle kwaad van julle asof julle misdadigers is, hulle julle voorbeeldige lewe kan sien en God kan verheerlik op die dag van afrekening.
13 Omdat die Here dit wil, moet julle julle onderwerp aan elke menslike owerheid, of dit nou die keiser as hoogste gesag is 14 of die goewerneurs as sy gevolmagtigdes wat dié wat kwaad doen, moet straf, maar dié wat goed doen, moet prys. 15 Dit is die wil van God dat julle deur goed te doen, 'n einde sal maak aan die kwaad wat mense sonder begrip uit onkunde praat.
16 Julle is vry, maar moenie julle vryheid gebruik as dekmantel om kwaad te doen nie. Gebruik dit om God te dien.
17 Julle moet alle mense respekteer en julle medegelowiges liefhê. Vrees God. Eer die keiser.
Christus die voorbeeld vir dié wat ly
(Vgl. Ef. 6:5-8; Kol. 3:22-25)
18 Bediendes, onderwerp julle met die nodige ontsag aan julle werkgewers, of hulle nou goedhartig en vriendelik is, of onredelik. 19 Dit is genade as iemand die pyn van onverdiende lyding verduur omdat hy aan God getrou wil wees. 20 As julle gestraf word wanneer julle oortree het, watter verdienste is daarin as julle dit verdra? Maar om lyding te verdra wanneer julle goed doen, dit is genade van God. 21 Juis hiervoor is julle ook geroep, omdat Christus self vir julle gely en so vir julle 'n voorbeeld gestel het, sodat julle in sy voetspore kan volg.
22 “Hy het geen sonde gedoen nie en uit sy mond het daar nooit 'n leuen gekom nie.”t
23 Toe Hy beledig is, het Hy nie terug beledig nie, toe Hy gely het, het Hy nie gedreig nie, maar alles oorgelaat aan Hom wat regverdig oordeel.
24 Hy het self ons sondes in sy liggaam aan die kruis gedra. Daardeur is ons vir die sondes dood en kan ons lewe in gehoorsaamheid aan die wil van God. Deur sy wonde is julle genees.
25 Julle het immers soos skape rondgedwaal, maar nou het julle teruggekom na julle Herder en die Bewaker van julle lewe.
1 Peter 2
1 SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,3 Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord. 4 Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God’s sight. 5 [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.6 For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame. 7 To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone, 8 And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.12 Conduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspection [when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock].13 Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,14 Or to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance (punishment, justice) to those who do wrong and to encourage those who do good service.15 For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons.16 [Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God.17 Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor.18 [You who are] household servants, be submissive to your masters with all [proper] respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate and reasonable, but also to those who are surly (overbearing, unjust, and crooked).19 For one is regarded favorably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering.20 [After all] what kind of glory [is there in it] if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently? But if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God.21 For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps.22 He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips. 23 When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly.24 He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.25 For you were going astray like [so many] sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian (the Bishop) of your souls.