1 Peter 2

1 Rid yourselves, therefore [as a consequence of your new life], of all [every kind of] malice [evil, wickedness], deceit [trickery, cunning], hypocrisy [pretending to be something you’re not], envy [jealousy, resentment], and slander [evil-speaking, backbiting]. word study 2 Like newborn babies [as new-born babes, infants], crave [long for, desire] pure [sincere, genuine] spiritual [logical, rational] milk [of the word], so that by it [thereby, through this means] you may grow up [grow, increase] in your salvation [unto salvation, to spiritual maturity], word study 3 now that you have [experienced, tasted spiritually] tasted [to savor, to experience] that the [one true, supreme] Lord [Master, God] is [gracious, kind] good [beneficent, full of goodness]. word study 4 As you come [draw near, approach] to Him, the living [having spiritual life] stone [a rock], rejected [disapproved] by men [human beings] but chosen [selected] and precious [valued] in God’s [the supreme deity] sight [view, opinion], word study 5 you also, like [lively] living stones, are being built [constructed, established] into a spiritual [non-carnal] house [a dwelling place for God] to be a holy [set apart] priesthood [a body of believers], offering [presenting, sacrificing] spiritual [supernatural] sacrifices [gifts to God] acceptable [well-received] to God [the Supreme Being] through [by means of] Jesus Christ [the Anointed Savior]. word study 6 For it stands in Scripture [the holy writings, God’s written word]: “See [behold, take notice], I lay in Zion [the city of God, the spiritual community] a stone [a foundation, a cornerstone], a chosen [select, favorite] and precious [valued, honored] cornerstone; and the one who believes [trusts, has faith] in Him will never be put to shame [disappointed, confounded, brought to disgrace].” word study 7 To you [who have faith, believers] who believe, then [as a consequence, therefore], this stone [a rock, a foundation] is precious [honored, of great value]. But to those who do not believe [are disobedient, refuse to trust], “The stone [a rock, a foundation] the builders [constructors, architects] rejected [disapproved of, refused] has become [been made, appointed] the cornerstone [the head of the corner, the chief stone],” word study 8 and, “A stone [a rock of offense] of stumbling [causing people to sin or turn away from God] and a rock [a mass of rock, a strong foundation] of offense [a cause of sin or wrongdoing].” They stumble [trip or fall, either physically or spiritually] because they disobey [refuse to follow instructions, are unbelieving] the word [a message or idea expressed through words, the divine Expression]—and to this [purpose, intention] they were appointed [set, placed, or destined]. word study 9 But you [a chosen generation, a special people] are a chosen people [having God’s nature], a royal priesthood [set apart, dedicated to God], a holy nation [belonging to God, a people for His own possession], a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim [to declare, to celebrate] the virtues [excellencies, moral goodness] of Him who called you [out of spiritual darkness, from ignorance] out of darkness [the absence of light, spiritual darkness] into His [wondrous] marvelous light. word study 10 Once you were not [nobodies, without a relationship with God] a people, but now you are [God’s family, his special nation] the people of God; once you had not [previously, in time past] received [obtained, experienced] mercy, but now you have [been given, shown compassion] received mercy. word study 11 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished], I urge [plead, comfort] you, as foreigners [strangers, sojourners] and exiles [pilgrims, temporary residents], to abstain [keep yourselves away, refrain] from the desires [fleshly lusts, strong longings] of the flesh [the body, human nature], which [that] war [fight, battle] against your soul [the breath of life, the seat of emotions]. word study 12 Conduct yourselves with such [honest, honorable, good] honor among the [non-Jewish people, nations] Gentiles that, though they [speak against, slander] slander you as [evil-doers, wrongdoers] evildoers, they may see your good [fair, beautiful] deeds and glorify [give praise and honor to] God on the day [of visitation, of judgment] He visits us. word study 13 Submit [be subject, obey] yourselves for the Lord’s [Master] sake to every [all, every kind of] human [belonging to mankind] institution [creation, ordinance], whether [if, in the case that] to the king [sovereign ruler] as [in the role of, functioning as] the supreme [highest, excelling] authority [power, rule], word study 14 or to governors [rulers, high-ranking officials] as those sent by him [through his authority, as his representatives] to punish [execute vengeance, inflict punishment on] those who do wrong [evil-doers, wrongdoers] and to praise [commend, give honor to] those who do right [what is good, virtuous]. word study 15 For it is God’s [the supreme Creator, divine will] will [desire, intention] that by doing [practicing, demonstrating] good [righteous, virtuous] you should silence [muzzle, restrain] the ignorance [lack of knowledge, foolishness] of foolish [mindless, unwise] men [human beings, people]. word study 16 Live in freedom [as those who are unrestricted, from the very first], but do not use your freedom [liberty] as a cover-up [cloak] for evil [maliciousness]; live as servants [bondservants] of God [the one true deity]. word study 17 Treat everyone [with respect and dignity] with high regard: Love [show esteem and goodwill towards] the brotherhood [Christian community, fellowship of believers] of believers, fear [reverence and awe] God [the one true deity], honor [show respect and value] the king [sovereign ruler, authority]. word study 18 Servants [domestics, household slaves], submit [be subject, obey] yourselves to your masters [those in authority over you] with all respect [fear, reverence], not only to those who are good [beneficial, kind] and gentle [fair, moderate], but even to those who are [crooked, perverted, harsh] unreasonable [froward, wicked]. word study 19 For [as a reason, because of this] if anyone [a person, one] endures [bears patiently, tolerates] the pain [grief, sorrow] of unjust [wrongful, undeserved] suffering [hardship, affliction] because he is conscious [aware, mindful] of God [the Supreme Being, divine Creator], this [this action, such endurance] is to be commended [praiseworthy, thankworthy]. word study 20 How is it to your credit [glory, or renown] if you are beaten [physically struck, buffeted] for doing wrong [sinning, missing the mark] and you endure [remain, patiently suffer] it? But if you suffer [experience pain, hardship] for doing good [acting rightly, being a well-doer] and you endure [persevere, bear it patiently] it, this [such behavior] is commendable [acceptable, pleasing] before [in the sight of] God [the one true deity]. word study 21 For to this [God’s purpose, specific situation] you were called [invited, summoned], because Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] also suffered [experienced pain, endured hardship] for you [on your behalf, in your place], leaving you an example [a model to follow, a pattern], that you should follow [imitate, walk in] in His [belonging to Him, as His disciples] footsteps [tracks, path]: word study 22 “He committed [never did, did no] no sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], and no deceit [guile, trickery, cunning] was found [discovered, uncovered] in His mouth [the source of speech, communication].” word study 23 When they heaped abuse [sharp words, insults] on Him, He did not retaliate [revile in return, insult back]; when He suffered [experienced pain, endured hardship], He made no threats [did not warn of danger, did not speak angrily], but entrusted [committed, surrendered] Himself to Him who judges [makes decisions, condemns or punishes] justly [righteously, with fairness]. word study 24 He Himself [as our substitute] bore our sins [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] in His body [the whole physical person] on the tree [a wooden cross], so that we might die [cease to be, be absent] to sin [the principle of missing God’s standards] and live [have life, either physically or spiritually] to righteousness [living according to God’s will]. “By His stripes [wounds, physical injuries] you are healed [cured, restored to health].” word study 25 For “you were like sheep [lost] going astray [led away from the truth],” but now you have returned [turned back, reverted] to the Shepherd [the one who cares for your souls, Jesus] and Overseer [Bishop, guardian] of your souls [the seat of emotions, desires, and spiritual life]. word study