0 SAB 1 Peter 2

1 Peter

CHAPTER 2

Living stones
2:1-12

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Avoid evil, malice, hypocrisy, and envy.

Don't speak badly about others.

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

The Lord is a living stone.

5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

You're also living stones.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

As strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts.

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Let the Gentiles see your good works. [1]

Obey all human laws and authorities (including the king)
2:13-17

13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Obey the king,

and all human laws and authorities. [2]

They exist to encourage good behavior

and punish evildoers.

17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Fear God. [3]

Honor the king. [4]

Slaves, obey your masters (even the evil ones)
2:18-25

18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Slaves, obey your masters, [5]

not only the ones who are good and gentile,

but the evil ones as well.

VegetableEMPEROR10 months ago

Verse 18 troubles me a bit because the word used is "servant." However, the interpretation is that it actually means "slave." I know this debate has been on-going, particularly through what is mentioned in the Book of Exodus, but there are areas of the Bible that specifically use the word "slave" and this verse isn't one of them. How are we to tell whether such verses and references are to be interpreted as servants or slaves? ...or is there a passage in the Bible that specifically lumps them both together to be treated as the same thing?

Steve Wells10 months ago

Yes, the servant/slave problem has also bothered me. Many translations of 1 Peter 2:18 use "slaves" rather than "servants" and it seems that most scholars, both Christian and non-Christian, seem to agree that it is slaves are who are being addressed here. (Although this is often softened somewhat by saying the slavery was kinder and gentler in Roman times than in the Antebellum South.)

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