1 Peter 2
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · AD 62 – AD 65 · The early church · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
25 verses · 547 words · ~3 min read · ~4 min listen
The Living Stone and Chosen People
1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in Godʼs sight, 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture:
7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
8and,
They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Godʼs own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Submission to Authorities
13Submit yourselves for the Lordʼs sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is Godʼs will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
18Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable. 19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. 20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Christʼs Example of Suffering
21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Footnotes (10)
- a v6 Isaiah 28:16(see also LXX)
- b v7 Psalm 118:22
- c v8 Isaiah 8:14
- d v10 Hosea 2:23
- e v17 Literally Love the brotherhood
- f v18 Or in all fear
- g v22 Isaiah 53:9
- h v24 Isaiah 53:4(see also LXX)
- i v24 Isaiah 53:5
- j v25 Isaiah 53:6
Study notes on this chapter · 7
A kingdom of priests and a holy nation
At Sinai God calls Israel his treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Peter applies this language to the church, both Jewish and Gentile believers, and Revelation says Christ has made his people a kingdom and priests.
When: Sinai (traditionally c. 1446 or c. 1250 BC); 1 Peter, c. AD 60–65; Revelation, c. AD 90s.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
The temple destroyed and raised
After Jesus drives out the traders he says, 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up', and John explains that he spoke about the temple of his body. The New Testament elsewhere says the church, or each believer, is God's temple, a dwelling built of living stones.
When: Solomon's temple, c. 960 BC; Jesus' temple cleansing, c. AD 27–30.
Ways people read this (3)
- Jesus' resurrected body replaces the temple as the place where God and humanity meet.
- The church as a community is the new temple (Ephesians 2, 1 Peter 2), and individual believers are also called temples (1 Corinthians 6:19).
- Some also see in this a hope of a rebuilt temple in a future age; others see the temple as fulfilled in Christ.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
The stone the builders rejected
A psalm of thanksgiving in which the stone rejected by builders becomes the cornerstone. Jesus applies it to himself, and Peter repeats it before the council.
When: A pilgrimage psalm from the period of the temple; quoted by Jesus, c. AD 30–33.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
A precious cornerstone laid in Zion
God lays a tested stone as a sure foundation, and 'whoever believes will not be in haste'. Paul and Peter apply this to Christ.
When: Isaiah, c. 700 BC; cited by Paul c. AD 57 and by Peter c. AD 62–64.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
The suffering servant
A servant despised and rejected, wounded for the transgressions of others, silent like a lamb before its shearers, who bears the sin of many and is 'numbered with the transgressors'. The New Testament quotes or alludes to this passage more than any other to explain Jesus' death: healing (Matthew 8), silence before accusers (Acts 8), substitutionary suffering (1 Peter 2), being counted among criminals (Luke 22).
When: Isaiah 40–55 (composition dated to c. 700 BC by some scholars, c. 540 BC by others); quoted in the New Testament c. AD 30–95.
Ways people read this (3)
- Christian reading: a prophecy of Jesus' atoning death.
- Traditional Jewish reading: the servant is Israel, suffering for the nations.
- Some scholars see both an original corporate meaning and a later individual reading.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
He took our infirmities
After Jesus heals many at Capernaum, Matthew says this fulfilled Isaiah's words about the servant bearing infirmities and diseases. Matthew applies the verse to Jesus' healing ministry, while other writers (such as Peter) apply the same chapter to his death for sin.
When: Isaiah, c. 700–540 BC; Jesus' healings in Galilee, c. AD 28–30.
Ways people read this (2)
- Matthew applies the verse to physical healing during Jesus' ministry; others see healing as a foretaste of what the cross secures.
- Some traditions teach that physical healing is guaranteed in the atonement; many others say complete healing awaits the resurrection.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
Not my people will be called my people
Hosea's children were named 'Not my people' and 'No mercy' as a sign of judgment, and then promised restoration as 'my people' and 'mercy shown'. Paul applies this to Gentiles who are now called God's people, and Peter applies it to the church as a whole.
When: Hosea, c. 750–722 BC; Romans, c. AD 57; 1 Peter, c. AD 60–65.
Ways people read this (2)
- Paul applies to Gentiles a promise first given to rebellious Israel, by analogy: God calls those who were not his people.
- Some think Paul sees the promise as reaching both the remnant of Israel and the Gentiles together.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.