The First Epistle General of Peter

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

Wherefore laying away all malice, and all guile, and dissimulations, and envies, and all detractions,

As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:

If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.

Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and made honourable by God:

Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded.

To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.

But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,

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

Submission to Authorities

(Romans 13:1–7)

Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling;

Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good:

For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.

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

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

For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.

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

Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.

Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed.

For you were as sheep going astray; but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

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,(a) I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”(b)

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,”(c)

and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.”(d) 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.

Submission to Authorities

(Romans 13:1–7)

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.

Christ’s Example of Suffering

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you

(e)

an example, that you should follow his steps,

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

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.(g)

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

(h)

of your souls.

Footnotes

(a)2:6 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה” or “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(b)2:6 ℘ Isaiah 28:16

(d)2:8 ℘ Isaiah 8:14

(e)2:21 TR reads “us” instead of “you”

(f)2:22 ℘ Isaiah 53:9

(g)2:24 or, stripes

(h)2:25 “Overseer” is from the Greek ἐπίσκοπον, which can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent.