1 Peter 2
Expanded Bible
Jesus Is the Living Stone
2 So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all ·lying [deceit], hypocrisy, ·jealousy [envy], and ·evil speech [slander; C all traits that destroy relationships; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 4:25–32; Col. 3:8]. 2 As newborn babies want milk, you should want the ·pure [sincere; unadulterated] and ·simple [or spiritual] ·teaching [L milk; C probably referring to the word of God; see 1:23–25]. By it you can ·mature [grow; reach maturity] in your salvation, 3 because you have already ·examined and seen [L tasted] how good the Lord is [Ps. 34:8].
4 Come to the Lord Jesus, the ·“stone” that lives [L a living stone; C Jesus is the most important stone in the spiritual temple described in v. 5]. ·The people of the world did not want this stone, but he was the stone God chose, and he was precious [L …rejected by people, but chosen and precious/valuable to God]. 5 You also are like living stones, so let yourselves be used to build a spiritual ·temple [house]—to be holy priests who offer spiritual sacrifices that are ·acceptable [pleasing] to God ·through [or because they are mediated by] Jesus Christ. 6 The Scripture ·says [L contains]:
“[L See; Look,] I will ·put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem [L lay a stone in Zion; C Zion is a poetic term for Jerusalem].
·Everything will be built on this important and precious rock [L a chosen and precious cornerstone; C the stone that supports the others].
Anyone who ·trusts [believes; has faith] in him
will never be ·disappointed [L put to shame; Is. 28:16].”
7 ·This stone is worth much to you who believe [or You who believe see the honor/value/preciousness of the stone; L The honor is to you who believe]. But to the people who do not believe,
“the stone that the builders rejected
has become ·the cornerstone [L head of the corner; C the precise meaning is uncertain, but clearly refers to the most important stone in a building; Ps. 118:22; compare Mark 12:10–11; Acts 4:11; Eph. 2:20–22].”
8 ·Also, he is [L And]
“a stone that causes people to stumble,
a rock that ·makes them fall [trips them; snares them; causes them to sin; offends them; Is. 8:14; Rom. 9:32–33].”
They stumble because they do not obey ·what God says [the message/word], which is what God ·planned to happen to [destined/appointed for] them.
9 But you are a chosen ·people [or generation; Is. 43:21], royal ·priests [L priesthood], a holy nation, a people ·for God’s own possession [who belong to God; Ex. 19:5–6]. You were chosen to ·tell about the wonderful acts of God, who [proclaim the praises/virtues of him who] called you out of darkness into his ·wonderful [marvelous] light. 10 At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had ·never [L not] received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy [Hos. 2:23].
Live for God
11 ·Dear friends [L Beloved], I ·beg [urge; exhort] you as ·foreigners [strangers; sojourners; resident aliens; 1:17] and ·strangers in this world [exiles; temporary residents; refugees; foreigners; 1:1; Gen. 23:4] to ·avoid [abstain from] the ·evil things your bodies want to do [L fleshly/worldly desires] that fight against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among unbelievers [L the Gentiles/pagans] that, even though they might ·say that you are doing wrong [slander you; accuse you of doing evil], they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God ·on the day when Christ comes again [when Christ comes to judge; L on the day of visitation].
Yield to Every Human Authority
13 For the Lord’s sake, ·yield [submit; be subject] to ·the people who have authority in this world [or every human institution/creation; Rom. 13:1–7; Titus 3:1]: the ·king [or emperor], who is the ·highest [supreme] authority, 14 and the ·leaders [governors] who are ·sent [commissioned] by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 [L For; Because] It is ·God’s desire [L the will of God] that by doing good you should ·stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you [L silence the ignorant talk of foolish people]. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an ·excuse [cover-up; pretext] to do evil. Live as ·servants [slaves] of God. 17 ·Show respect for [Honor] all people: Love the ·brothers and sisters of God’s family [community of believers; brotherhood], ·respect [fear] God [Prov. 1:7], honor the king [or emperor; Rom. 13:1].
Follow Christ’s Example
18 ·Slaves [Servants; C the term refers to household slaves], ·yield [submit; be subject; C put the other person’s interests first] to the authority of your masters with all ·respect [fear; deference; Eph. 6:5–9; Col. 3:22—4:1], not only those who are good and ·kind [gentle; considerate], but also those who are ·dishonest [or cruel; L crooked]. 19 A person might have to suffer even when it is ·unfair [unjust], but if ·through awareness of God [or because of his God-given conscience] he endures the ·pain [grief], ·God is pleased [or this is commendable; L this is favor/credit/grace]. 20 If you are beaten for ·doing wrong [sin], ·there is no reason to praise you [what credit/honor is that for you…?] for ·being patient in your punishment [enduring it]. But if you suffer for doing good, and you ·are patient [endure it], ·then God is pleased [this is commendable to God; L this is favor/credit/grace from God]. 21 [L For] This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you ·and gave you [leaving you] an example to follow. So you should ·do as he did [L follow in his footsteps].
22 “He ·had never sinned [committed no sin],
and ·he had never lied [L no deceit was found in his mouth; Is. 53:9].”
23 People ·insulted [abused; reviled] Christ, but he did not ·insult [abuse; revile] them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. ·He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him [L He delivered/entrusted himself to the One who judges justly/rightly]. 24 Christ [L himself] ·carried [bore] our sins in his body on the ·cross [L tree; Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13] so we would ·stop living for [die to] sin and start living for ·what is right [righteousness]. And you are healed ·because of [by] his wounds. 25 [L For] You were like sheep that wandered away [Is. 53:6], but now you have come back to the Shepherd and ·Overseer [Guardian] of your souls.
1 Peter 2
King James Version
2 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.
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