1 Peter 2

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow,

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”

and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation.

Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme,

or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.

For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter calls believers to holy living in view of their identity in Christ, urging them to lay aside moral impurities and long for spiritual nourishment like newborn infants. It unfolds the reality of their new status as a spiritual temple and royal priesthood built on Christ, the chosen cornerstone, and applies this identity to daily conduct—especially in relation to authority, suffering, and societal witness.

Flow.

Begins with an exhortation to spiritual growth through desire for the Word, grounded in the experience of God’s goodness.
Develops the imagery of Christ as the living Stone and believers as living stones forming a spiritual house and holy priesthood.
Proclaims the church’s identity as God’s chosen people, called out of darkness to declare His praises.
Applies this identity to practical life: submission to human authorities, endurance of unjust suffering, and following Christ’s example in the face of persecution.

Connections.
Following chapter 1, which establishes believers’ new birth and living hope through Christ’s resurrection, this chapter grounds the call to holiness in that renewed identity. The exhortations to purity, reverence, and submission flow from being born again and chosen by God. The theme of suffering for righteousness, introduced here with Christ as the exemplar, prepares the way for chapter 3, which continues the discussion of suffering with dignity and hope, particularly in relationships and in witness to the world.

What it teaches.
The chapter reveals the church as a spiritual temple and holy nation (WCF 25.2), composed of those who have tasted the Lord’s grace and are now being built upon Christ, the cornerstone (HC LD 18, WCF 8.6). Believers are priests who offer spiritual sacrifices (), not in the Levitical sense but by lives consecrated to God (, referenced in WCF 18.5). Christ’s sinless suffering is central: He bore sins in His body, providing both salvation and a pattern for patient endurance (WCF 8.5, HC LD 16). Submission to authority is not merely civic duty but part of God’s will for silencing detractors and reflecting divine order (WCF 24.1, HC LD 39).

Apply.
Live out your identity as God’s redeemed people by honoring others, submitting where Christ modeled submission, and trusting that patient endurance in suffering bears witness to His lordship.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.