1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2Like newborn babies, cravepurespiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lordis good.
ⓘThroughout the letter, Peter encourages the suffering believers...
Throughout the letter, Peter encourages the suffering believers by reminding them of their exalted spiritual status. In this paragraph, he presents the Christian community as the new temple built on the foundation of Christ, and as heirs of the blessings granted to God’s covenant people.
4As you come to Him, the livingstone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritualhouse to be a holypriesthood, offering spiritualsacrifices acceptable to God through JesusChrist.
ⓘThe three Old Testament quotations in these verses...
The three Old Testament quotations in these verses each identify Christ as some kind of stone: the cornerstone on which the new temple is built (2:6); the cornerstone that God, despite peoples’ rejection, has elevated to be the keystone of his redemptive plan (2:7); and the stone that makes people stumble (2:8). Jesus quotes Ps 118:22 (Matt 21:42), and Paul quotes both Isa 8:14 and 28:16 (Rom 9:33). Likely these three quotations were brought together very early as a combined Old Testament testimony to the nature and significance of Jesus the Messiah.
6For it stands in Scripture:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone,a chosen and precious cornerstone;and the one who believes in Himwill never be put to shame.”†
7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone,”†
8and,
“A stone of stumblingand a rock of offense.”†
They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
9But 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. 10Once 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.†
ⓘThese verses are transitional. They can be viewed...
These verses are transitional. They can be viewed as the finale to the first section of the letter or as the opening statement of the second section of the letter. They enunciate the letter’s central theme: Christians living in hostile territory need to live out the principles of the Good News so that they can win other people to the Lord.
11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorifyGod on the day He visits us.
ⓘThis section revolves around the key phrase submit...
This section revolves around the key phrase submit to all human authority, which Peter applies to several relationships: Christians should accept the authority of those in government (2:13–17), Christian slaves should accept the authority of their masters (2:18–25), and Christian wives should accept the authority of their husbands (3:1–6). Peter seems to be following an early Christian usage of the traditional household code, in which a series of instructions was given for different members of the household (cp. Eph 5:21–6:9; Col 3:18–4:1; 1 Tim 5:1–6:2; Titus 2:1–10).
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers,†fearGod, honor the king.
ⓘThe slave was legally bound and could not...
The slave was legally bound and could not change his or her master, whereas the modern employee has the right to stop working for a cruel employer. Of course, some employees may not be able to change their situation, in which case Peter’s advice to slaves is very applicable to employees today.
18Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect,†not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable. 19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. 20How 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.
While there is no explicit change of address here, the general character of these verses makes them applicable to all believers.
These verses might incorporate an early Christian hymn or confession about Christ (2:22–25). Its focus is on the redemptive sufferings of Christ in language drawn largely from Isaiah 52:13–53:12.
21For 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.”†23When they heaped abuse on Him,He did not retaliate;when He suffered, He made no threats,but entrusted Himself to Him who judgesjustly.24He Himself bore our sins†in His body on the tree,so that we might die tosinand liveto righteousness.“By His stripes you are healed.”†
25For “you were like sheep going astray,”†but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Believers, who have been “born again” (1:23), are to be like newborn babies in naturally and regularly craving pure spiritual milk. Elsewhere in the New Testament, milk (in contrast to solid food) stands for elementary Christian teaching (1 Cor 3:2; Heb 5:12–13). This does not imply that Peter’s readers are new believers, however; here, it probably refers to God’s word in general.
God’s people themselves constitute the spiritual temple where God dwells (1 Cor 3:16). Jesus compared his body to a “temple” (John 2:19–22), and the church is called the “body of Christ” (Eph 4:12). God no longer manifests himself in a particular place but in the people who belong to him and praise his goodness (see 1 Pet 2:10).
As God’s holy priests in the new covenant, Christians offer not animal sacrifices but spiritual sacrifices such as praising God, praying, and doing good (see Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15–16).
they meet the fate that was planned for them (literally for which they were appointed): It is not clear whether these people were appointed by God to unbelief or whether they were, because of their unbelief, appointed by God to suffer condemnation.
Peter applies descriptions of the Israelites in the Old Testament (see, e.g., Exod 19:5–6) to his primarily Gentile audience, indicating that they—like all Christians—are truly God’s people in the new covenant era.
“temporary residents and foreigners”: Believers belong not to this world but to the Kingdom of Heaven (see 1:1, 17).
Commentary
1 Peter 2:12
when he judges the world (or on the day of visitation): The phrase day of visitation is used in the Greek Old Testament to describe the time when God will visit his enemies to judge them (Isa 10:3; Jer 6:15).
the family of believers: Literally the brotherhood; see study note on 5:9.
Fear God, and respect the king: Peter might be reflecting on Jesus’ balanced statement about the Christian’s duty to both God and the government (see Matt 22:21).
Commentary
1 Peter 2:18
Many slaves in the Roman Empire held responsible positions and had a decent income, but most were harshly treated and all were deprived of legal status and rights.
with all respect (literally with all fear): Peter might be calling on slaves to fear God (see 2:17; cp. 1:17) or the master’s punishment, but he often speaks this way about the respectful attitude Christians must have toward others (3:16).
He personally carried our sins: This phrase alludes to Isa 53:4, 11–12.
By his wounds you are healed: The physical suffering of Christ has freed us from slavery to sin (cp. Isa 53:5). Matthew applies similar language from Isa 53:4 to the physical healings performed by Jesus (Matt 8:17).