1 Peter 2

(1)  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
(2)  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
(3)  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
(4)  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
(5)  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
(6)  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
(7)  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
(8)  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
(9)  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(10)  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
(11)  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
(12)  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
(13)  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
(14)  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
(15)  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
(16)  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
(17)  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
(18)  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
(19)  For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
(20)  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
(21)  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us 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, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
(24)  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
(25)  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Study Questions

read more

1. What five things are to be “stripped off” or laid aside by the one described in 1 Peter 1:23 as the “born again” person? Verse 1.

2. What is the newborn babe to “yearn for,” and why is he to desire it? Verse 2.

3. What should prompt the newborn babe to return again and again to “the sincere milk of the word”? Verse 3.

4. What figure is used to describe Christ? Who rejected him and who chose him? Verse 4.

5. What is the spiritual house, who are the priests, and who is the high priest through whom we offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God? Verse 5.

6. Who or what is the chief corner stone of the spiritual house and when was it laid? What is the advantage to those who believe on him? Verse 6.

7. Who were the builders and who or what was the stone they disallowed or rejected? Verse 7.

8. Were those who stumbled, and were said to be “appointed” to such, predestined by arbitrary and immutable decree or by the consequences of their own unbelief? Verse 8.

9. How do the four terms describing believers form a contrast with those who rejected Christ? Why has God called us out of darkness into light? Verse 9.

10. Who is it that were not a people but are now the people of God and what other passages make the answer plain? Verse 10.

11. In what way are Christians "strangers” and “pilgrims”? Verse 11.

12. What will be the results of abstaining from fleshly lusts and having an honest manner of life? Verse 12.

13. What is the Christian’s obligation toward the state when the laws of God and the laws of government authorities are not in conflict? Verses 13-14.

14. How were Christians to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men? Verse 15.

15. How is it that they were described as free and also as servants? Verse 16.

16. Why honor all men? What is the brotherhood? What kind of fear are we to have toward God? Can we obey these precepts even if we don’t have a king? Verse 17.

17. What prompted such orders being given to Christians who were slaves? What would be the characteristics of a “froward” master? Verse 18.

18. What is thank-worthy about a servant enduring grief and suffering wrongfully? Verse 19.

19. When and under what circumstances does patiently enduring punishment bring glory to God? Verse 20.

20. Does this have application to Christian slaves only or does it have a general application? Verse 21.

21. Can you name other passages that affirm the sinless character of Jesus? Since he did no sin and no guile was found in his mouth, what can we say about him? Verse 22.

22. Why would this instruction be especially pertinent to Christian slaves? Verse 23.

23. What two benefits of Christ’s death for believers are mentioned here? Is the healing used figuratively for salvation of the soul or healing for the body? Verse 24.

24. What two relationships of Christ to Christians are mentioned here? Verse 25.