1 Peter 2

A Living Stone and a Holy People

1 Therefore, a laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 b as newborn babes, desire the pure c milk of the word, that you may grow 1 thereby, 3 if indeed you have d tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, e rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
f "Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 2

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who 3 are disobedient,
g "The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone," 4

8 and
h "A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense." 5
i They stumble, being disobedient to the word, j to which they also were appointed.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of k darkness into His marvelous light; 10 l who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts m which war against the soul, 12 n having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, o they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

13 p Therefore submit yourselves to every 6 ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - 16 q as free, yet not r using liberty as a cloak for 7 vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear s God. Honor the king.

18 t Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is u commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For v what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For w to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for 8 us, x leaving 9 us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who y committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 10
23 z who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but a committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 b who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, c that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - d by whose 11 stripes you were healed. 25 For e you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned f to the Shepherd and 12 Overseer of your souls.

  1. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:1
    Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 18:3
    And said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
    Matthew 19:14
    But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
    Mark 10:15
    "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
    Luke 18:17
    "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
    1 Corinthians 14:20
    Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
  3. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 3:2
    I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 34:8
    Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
    Titus 3:4
    But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared.
    Hebrews 6:5
    And have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 118:22
    The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
  6. Cross References
    Isaiah 28:16
    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.
    Romans 9:32
    Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
    Romans 9:33
    As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.
    Romans 10:11
    For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.
    1 Peter 2:8
    And "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 118:22
    The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
    Matthew 21:42
    Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes' ?
    Luke 2:34
    Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against
  8. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:14
    He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
  9. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:23
    But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.
    Galatians 5:11
    And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
  10. Cross References
    Romans 9:22
    What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.
  11. Cross References
    Isaiah 9:2
    The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
    Isaiah 42:16
    I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
    Acts 26:18
    'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
    2 Corinthians 4:6
    For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  12. Cross References
    Hosea 1:9
    Then God said: "Call his name LoAmmi, For you are not My people, And I will not be your God.
    Hosea 1:10
    "Yet the number of the children of Israel Shall be as the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There it shall be said to them, 'You are sons of the living God.'
    Hosea 2:23
    Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!'
    Romans 9:25
    As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.
    Romans 10:19
    But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.
  13. Cross References
    Romans 8:13
    For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
    Galatians 5:17
    For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
    James 4:1
    Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
  14. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 8:21
    Providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
    Philippians 2:15
    That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
    Titus 2:8
    Sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
    1 Peter 2:15
    For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men -
    1 Peter 3:16
    Having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 5:16
    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
    Matthew 9:8
    Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
    John 13:31
    So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
    1 Peter 4:11
    If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
    1 Peter 4:16
    Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 22:21
    They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 6:14
    For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
    Romans 6:20
    For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
    Romans 6:22
    But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
    1 Corinthians 7:22
    For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave.
    Galatians 5:1
    Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
  18. Cross References
    Galatians 5:13
    For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
  19. Cross References
    Proverbs 24:21
    My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change.
  20. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:5 - 8
    Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.
  21. Cross References
    Matthew 5:10
    Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  22. Cross References
    Luke 6:32 - 34
    But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
  23. Cross References
    Matthew 16:24
    Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
    1 Thessalonians 3:3
    That no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
    1 Thessalonians 3:4
    For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.
  24. Cross References
    1 John 2:6
    He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
  25. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:9
    And they made His grave with the wicked - But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
    2 Corinthians 5:21
    For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
  26. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:7
    He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
    Hebrews 12:3
    For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
    1 Peter 3:9
    Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
  27. Cross References
    Luke 23:46
    And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.
  28. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:4
    Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
    Isaiah 53:11
    He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
    1 Corinthians 15:3
    For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
    Hebrews 9:28
    So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
  29. Cross References
    Romans 7:6
    But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
  30. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:5
    But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
  31. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:5
    But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
    Isaiah 53:6
    All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
  32. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:11
    He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
    Ezekiel 34:23
    I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them - My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.
    Zechariah 13:7
    Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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