1 Peter 2

Chosen as Living Stones

1 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,2 like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,3 if you have tasted that the Lord is kind,t4 to whom you are drawing near, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God.5 And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For it stands in scripture,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”t
7 Therefore the honor is for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe,“The stone that the builders rejected,
this one has become the cornerstonet,”
8 and“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,”t
who stumble because they disobey the word to which also they were consigned.9 But you are a chosen race,t a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,

10 who once were not a people, but now are the people of God, the ones who were not shown mercy, but now are shown mercy.t
11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires which wage war against your soul,

12 maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in the things in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to Established Authority

13 Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a kingt as having supreme authority,14 or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.15 For the will of God is as follows: by doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people.16 Live as free persons, and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.

17 Honor all people, love the community of believers, fear God, honor the king.t
18 Domestic slaves, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unjust.19 For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God.21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps,22 who did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth,t23 who when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly,24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed.

25 For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

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.