1 Peter 2

King James Version

Full text for 1 Peter Chapter 2

1¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3If 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,

5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6Wherefore 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.

7Unto 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,

8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9But 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:

10Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12Having 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;

14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

17Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

18Servants, [be] subject to [your] masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

19For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20For 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.

21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

24Who 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.

25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

First Peter chapter two exhorts believers to shed evil and desire spiritual growth, presenting Christ as the living cornerstone, rejected by men but precious to God. Believers, as a chosen people and royal priesthood, are called to live honorably among Gentiles and submit to human authorities for the Lord's sake. The chapter concludes by urging patient endurance of suffering, following Christ's sinless example, who bore their sins and returned them to the Shepherd of their souls.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with an appeal for believers to cast off malice, deceit, and envy, desiring the pure spiritual milk of the word for growth, having tasted God's grace. It establishes Christ as the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious to God, with believers as 'lively stones' forming a spiritual house and holy priesthood. This chosen generation is called out of darkness to declare God's praises, having obtained mercy. Believers are instructed to abstain from fleshly lusts and maintain honorable conduct among non-believers, so their good works may glorify God. Furthermore, they are to submit to human authorities, not using liberty as a cloak for maliciousness, but as God's servants. The chapter concludes by exhorting servants to be subject to masters, even the difficult ones, enduring wrongful suffering with patience. This is exemplified by Christ, who suffered for sins, leaving an example for believers, who are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.

Long Summary

First Peter chapter two opens with an earnest appeal for believers to put away all forms of malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking, and instead, like newborn babes, to crave the pure spiritual milk of the word for growth, having tasted the Lord's graciousness. The apostle then presents Jesus Christ as the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious to God. Believers are likewise described as 'lively stones' being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable through Christ. This cornerstone is precious to those who believe but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to the disobedient, to whom they were appointed. The chapter emphasizes the unique identity of believers as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, called out of darkness into God's marvelous light to declare His praises, having transitioned from 'not a people' to 'the people of God' and from unmerciful to having obtained mercy. Peter then transitions to practical exhortations, urging the 'dearly beloved' as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. They are to maintain honest conduct among the Gentiles, so that even when accused as evildoers, their good works may lead others to glorify God. Furthermore, believers are commanded to submit to every human ordinance for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme or to governors, understanding this to be God's will for silencing foolish men. This submission is to be exercised as free individuals, not using liberty as a cloak for maliciousness, but as servants of God, honoring all, loving the brotherhood, fearing God, and honoring the king. The chapter concludes with specific instructions for servants to be subject to their masters with all fear, not only the good and gentle but also the froward, noting that enduring wrongful suffering for conscience toward God is commendable. This patient suffering is exemplified by Christ, who suffered for humanity, leaving a perfect example, committing no sin, reviling not when reviled, and bearing sins on the tree, that believers might die to sin and live unto righteousness, having been healed by His stripes and returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.

Core Concepts

  • Spiritual GrowthBelievers are exhorted to lay aside all malice and deceit, desiring the 'sincere milk of the word' like newborn babes, that they may grow thereby.
  • Christ as CornerstoneJesus is identified as the 'living stone,' disallowed by men but chosen of God and precious. He is the chief cornerstone upon which believers, as 'lively stones,' are built into a spiritual house.
  • Believers' Identity and PurposeBelievers are a 'chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,' called out of darkness into God's light to show forth His praises, having obtained mercy.
  • Submission to AuthorityChristians are commanded to submit to every human ordinance, including kings and governors, for the Lord's sake, as it is God's will to silence foolish men through well-doing.
  • Honorable ConductAs strangers and pilgrims, believers are to abstain from fleshly lusts and maintain honest conversation among Gentiles, so their good works may lead others to glorify God.
  • Suffering RighteouslyEnduring wrongful suffering for conscience toward God is deemed 'thankworthy' and acceptable, with Christ's sinless suffering serving as the ultimate example to follow.
  • Christ as Shepherd and BishopBelievers, who were once like straying sheep, are now returned to Jesus, who is called the 'Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,' having borne their sins and healed them.