1Pe 2 | BSB | STEP | Rid yourselves, therefore, {of} all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

1 Peter 2

The Lord is Good

1 Rid yourselves, therefore, {of} all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2 Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in [your] salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord [is] good.

The Living Stone

4 As you come to [Him] , [the] living stone, rejected by men, but chosen [and] precious in God’s sight, 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to [be] a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen [and] precious cornerstone; and the [one who] believes in Him will never be put to shame.” ^{▼▼Isaiah 28:16} 7 To you who believe, then, [this stone] is precious. But [to those who] do not believe, “ [The] stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” ^{▼▼Psalm 118:22} 8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” ^{▼▼Isaiah 8:14} [They] stumble [because] they disobey the message— and to [this] they were appointed. 9 But you [are] a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God’s own] possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once [you were] not a people, but now [you are] [the] people of God; [once you] had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge [you] , as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from [the] desires of the flesh, which war against [your] soul. 12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see [your] good deeds [and] glorify God on [the] day He visits us.

Submission to Authorities

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to [the] king as the supreme [authority] , 14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish evildoers and praise well-doers. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 [Live] in freedom, [but] do not use [your] freedom as a cover-up for evil; [live] as servants of God. 17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood [of believers] , fear God, honor the king. 18 Servants, submit yourselves to [your] masters with all respect, not only to those who [are] good and gentle, but even to those who [are] unreasonable. 19 For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. 20 How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure [it] ? But if you suffer for doing good [and] you endure [it] , this [is] commendable before God.

Christ's Example of Suffering

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: 22 “He committed no sin, [and] no deceit was found in His mouth.” ^{▼▼Isaiah 53:9} 23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. 24 [He] Himself bore our sins ^{▼▼See Isaiah 53:4 LXX} in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin [and] live to righteousness. “By [His] stripes you are healed.” ^{▼▼Isaiah 53:5} 25 For you were like sheep going astray, ^{▼▼Isaiah 53:6} but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.