1Therefore, putting away all wickedness, deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that you may grow by it in [your] salvation2295. 3If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, 4come to him who is a living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious. 5You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, in order to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6As the Scripture has it:
Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious:
Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.2296
7For you who believe, this brings honor, but for those who are disobedient:
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone,2297
8and:
a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.2298
Indeed, they stumble at the word and are disobedient, which is what they were appointed2299 for. 9But you are a chosen2300 race, a royal priesthood,2301 a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession,2302 so that you may proclaim the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10In the past, you were not a people, but now, you are God’s people. In the past, you had not obtained mercy, but now, you have obtained mercy. 11Beloved, I beg you as exiles and pilgrims {in this world} to abstain from carnal lusts which [are at] war against the soul. 12Live righteous lives among the nations so that if people accuse you of being evildoers, they may, by your good works which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13Therefore, for the Lord’s sake, submit yourselves to every human institution: to the emperor as supreme [law-giver], 14or to governors as commissioned by him2303 to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.2304 15For this is the will of God: that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of those who are foolish. 16Be free, but do not use your freedom as a cloak of wickedness, but [rather] as bondservants of God.
Call to reverence and endurance
17Honor everyone. Love the [family of] brethren. Fear God. Honor the king. 18Slaves, be in subjection to your masters with full reverence, not only to the good and kind, but also to the wicked. 19Truly, it is worthy of praise if someone endures pain and suffers unjustly because of conscience toward God. 20But what glory is there if when you sin, you patiently endure a beating? However, if you patiently endure suffering when you do good, this is worthy of praise with God. 21You were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you2305 an example so that you should follow in his steps. 22Yet he did not sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth”2306 23and when he was cursed, he did not curse back. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to the one who judges righteously. 24In his body, he bore in himself our sins on the tree, so that having died to sins, we might live to righteousness; and “by his wounds2307 you were healed.”2308 25Indeed, you were going astray like sheep, but now, you have returned to the shepherd and overseer2309 of your souls.
Instructions for wives and husbands
- TR and MT omit “in [your] salvation”
- Or “put to shame.” See Isaias 28:16. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Psalm 118:22/117 LXX
- Isaias 8:14. NT agrees with MT against LXX.
- Or “destined”
- Always synonymous with “elect;” Greek evklekto,n
- Compare Exodus 19:6. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Probably a reference to the emperor or perhaps to God
- Compare Romans 13:1-5
- TR “us” instead of “you”
- Isaias 53:9. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Or “stripes”
- Isaias 53:5
- Greek evpi,skopon
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
