1
Therefore put away all wickedness, all deceit, and all kinds of hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
2
And be like newborn babies, always desiring the pure and spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow and obtain salvation,
3
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4
And come to Him, the living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and honored in the presence of God.
5
And let yourselves also be used as living stones for the building of a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
6
For it is written in the Scriptures:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a chosen stone,
a precious cornerstone,
and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
7
Therefore for you who believe, He is precious, but for those who do not believe:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,
also a stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense.”
8
They stumble over it, because they do not obey the word of God; and to this they were also appointed.
9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the mighty deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:
10
you who once were not a people of God,
but now have become His people;
you who once had not received mercy,
but now have received mercy.
11
Beloved brothers and sisters, I urge you, as strangers and sojourners, to keep away from fleshly desires that wage war against the soul.
12
Keep your conduct good among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God on the day He visits them.
13
Submit yourselves, for God’s sake, to every human institution, whether to the king as the one who holds the highest authority,
14
or to governors sent by him to punish those who do evil and to honor those who do good.
15
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16
Live as free people, and not as those who misuse that freedom to cover up their evil deeds, but live as servants of God.
17
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king!
18
Servants, submit yourselves with all respect to your masters, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh.
19
For this is grace, if someone, because he is mindful of the will of God, endures suffering that he ought not to have to bear.
20
For what credit is it if you endure blows because you have done wrong? But if you do good and yet suffer for it, this is grace before God.
21
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you and left you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.
22
He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in His mouth.
23
When He was insulted, He did not insult in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
25
For you were once wandering like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
📖 1 Peter 2 – The Chosen People and Living as Witnesses
🧾 Summary of Contents
This chapter teaches:
- Living away from sin and growing in the word.
- A new identity as God’s people.
- The responsibility to live as witnesses of Christ, both in society and in social relationships.
📘 Explanation of Contents
| Section | Verses | Brief Content |
|---|---|---|
| Leave sin, long for the word | 1–3 | Believers are called to put away all evil and to grow in longing for the word like a baby longs for pure milk. |
| Christ is the cornerstone | 4–8 | Christ is described as the living stone chosen by God. Believers build their lives on Him, but for those who reject Him, He becomes a stone of stumbling. |
| Identity of God’s people | 9–10 | Believers are called: a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own possession — to proclaim His mighty deeds. |
| Living as sojourners in the world | 11–12 | A call to keep away from fleshly desires and live rightly so that unbelievers may see our good works. |
| Submission to authority | 13–17 | An exhortation to submit to the government as a witness that is good, honoring all people, and fearing God. |
| An example in suffering | 18–25 | Servants are asked to submit to their masters, even harsh ones. Christ is set forth as the example: suffering without returning evil, but entrusting all to God. |
✨ Main Teachings
Long for the word as a baby longs for milk
Spiritual growth can happen only if we long for and meditate on the word of the Lord every day.
Christ is the foundation of life
He is the cornerstone that establishes us, and also a stone of stumbling for those who reject Him.
We are God’s chosen people
Called a “holy nation” and a “royal priesthood” not because of merit, but because of grace to declare His light.
Living as witnesses in the midst of the world
The world is not our eternal home. We are called to live holy lives so that through good works, others may glorify God.
Submission and respect as a form of witness
Obedience to authority is not weakness, but moral strength and a witness of faith.
Christ is the example in suffering
When slandered and mistreated, Jesus did not answer back, but remained righteous. This becomes a pattern for us.
📖 Key Verse
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may proclaim the mighty deeds of Him…”
— 1 Peter 2:9
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree…”
— 1 Peter 2:24
💡 Spiritual Meaning
This chapter challenges us to recognize who we are in Christ and to live a life that reflects that identity: not only to know that we are a chosen people, but to live according to that calling, even when it is not easy — including when we are persecuted, slandered, or oppressed.
