THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF
PETER
1 Peter 2 ©
1 The apostle further exhorts them to the putting off of various vices. 2 And to a desire of the unadulterated milk of God’s Word, to grow up in that which is good. 3 And to taste God’s goodness. 4 Afterwards admonishes them that as living stones they are built up in Christ unto a spiritual house and priesthood. 6 Forasmuch as Christ is made by God a cornerstone, precious to believers, but a stumbling block to the disobedient. 9 Testifies that they are now this chosen generation and people of God, on whom He has mercy. 11 Therefore exhorts them to an holy walk, that they may glorify God thereby. 13 And further exhorts them to obedience to their magistrates, high and low. 18 And servants to their masters, even to the difficult ones. 21 To this end sets before their eyes the suffering of Christ, and His patience. 24 And comforts them with the fruits of the same suffering, as a cause of their conversion.
WHEREFORE1 layinga aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2As newborn babes, 3desire the 4sincere 5milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have 6tastedb that 7the Lord is gracious.
8To whomc coming, as unto 9a living stone, disallowed indeed 10of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, 11as lively stones, are 12built up ad spiritual house, ane holy priesthood, 13to offer up spiritualf sacrifices, acceptable to God 14by Jesus Christ.
15Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold,g I lay in Sion 16a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall 17not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is 18precious: 19but unto them which be disobedient, theh stone which the builders disallowed, 20the same is made the head of the corner,
Andi21a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: 22whereunto also they were appointed.
Butj23ye are 24a chosen generation, 25a royalk priesthood, an holy nation, 26a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth 27the praises of him who hath called you 28out of darkness into his 29marvellous light:
30Whichl in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you 31as strangers and pilgrims, abstainm from fleshly lusts, which war 32against the soul;
Havingn your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,o whereas they speak against you as evildoers, theyp may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God 33inq the day of visitation.
34Submitr yourselves to every 35ordinance of man 36for the Lord's sake: whether it be to 37the king, as supreme;
Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the 38punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
For so is the will of God, thats with well doing ye may put 39to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
40Ast free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
41Honouru all men. Lovev42the brotherhood. Fear God. Honourw the king.
Servants,x be 43subject to your masters 44with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to 45the froward.
Fory46this is thankworthy, if a man 47for conscience toward God endure 48grief, suffering wrongfully.
49For what glory is it, if, when ye be 50buffeted for 51your faults, ye shall take it patiently? butz if, when ye 52do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For even 53hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving usaa54an example, that ye should follow 55his steps:
Whoab did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who,ac when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but 56committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Whoad57his own self bare our sins in his own body 58on the tree, thatae we, 59being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose 60stripes ye were healed.
For ye were 61asaf sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and 62Bishop of your souls.