1 Peter Chapter 2
The Cornerstone
1 So, get rid of hate, deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, insults. 2 Like newborn babies, be hungry for pure spiritual milk so you can grow up to salvation— 3 if you’ve tasted how good the Lord is. 4 Come to him as to a living stone, rejected by people, but chosen and precious to God. 5 Like living stones you’re building yourselves up into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood that offers spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ. 6 So it stands in scripture,
“I’m laying a stone in Zion,
a precious cornerstone.
He won’t disappoint the ones that trust in him” [Is 28:16].
7 To you believers he’s precious, but to disbelievers he’s
“a stone the builders rejected
that has become the cornerstone” [Ps 118:22];
8 and
“a stone they trip over,
a rock that makes them fall” [Is 8:14].
They “trip” by disobeying the message—as they were allowed to do.
1 Pet 2:1-8
Living in Light of Who You Are
9 But you’re a chosen race [Is 43:20], a royal priesthood, a holy nation [Ex 19:6], a people that belongs to God. That’s so you can present to others the excellence [Is 43:21] of the One that called you out of darkness into his amazing light.
10 “You that weren’t a people at one time
are now God’s people;
you that he hadn’t shown mercy
have now received it” [Hos 2:23].
1 Pet 2:9-10
11 I urge you, like foreigners here temporarily, to stay away from physical drives that fight against the soul. 12 Keep your lifestyle good among the Gentiles so whatever they’d slander you for, when they observe the good things you do, they’ll praise God in the end.
Societal Virtues
13 Submit to human institutions for the Lord’s sake— 14 to the king in authority or his governors sent to punish the bad and praise the good. 15 God wants you to silence the ignorance of bad people by doing good. 16 You’re free, but freedom doesn’t mean you can do as you please; you’re God’s servants. 17 Respect everybody, love Christ’s family, respect God, honor the king.
1 Pet 2:11-17
18 Servants, defer to your masters with respect, not just the good and considerate ones, but the harsh ones too. 19 This pleases God: suffering unjustly and bearing it for conscience sake toward him. 20 What’s notable about suffering for sin and bearing it? But suffering for doing good and bearing it, pleases him. 21 That’s what he’s called you to. Even Christ suffered; he did it for you and left footprints for you to step in. 22 He “didn’t sin or deceive” [Is 53:9]. 23 When he was insulted, he didn’t insult back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten. He turned himself over to the One who judges justly. 24 He humbly bore your sins in his body on the cross so you would live right; his wounds healed you. 25 You were wandering off like sheep, but you’ve returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Pet 2:18-25