1 Peter 2:1-10 Lesson 447

1 Peter 2:1-10
Lesson 447

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

Simon Peter

In this lesson:

A continuation of chapter one (lesson 446).

The chosen people and the living stones.

Also -

Who are Christians, and what is their purpose (2:4-10)?

This is the crucial passage in 1 Peter.
Look for the important command.

Sion (Jerusalem).

By Ukrainian artist Alex Levin.

Where is -
Sion -
From the Hebrew word siyon. Mount Sion, also called Mount Zion or "the city of David" (1 Kings 8:1), is Jerusalem. Originally, Mount Sion was nothing more than a fortified hill occupied by the Jebusites and captured by King David (2 Samuel 5:7). David built a palace on Mount Sion and founded Jerusalem. In time, the name Sion became synonymous for Israel (Psalm 48; Romans 9:33) and the Jewish people (Psalm 149:2; Isaiah 33:14). In Christian thought, Sion symbolizes the heavenly city, the place where God dwells (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 14:1).

Study Tip:

The more we know about the Old Testament, the more we understand the New Testament.
Always click on the links to the Old Testament passages.
They are an essential tool that helps us better understand God's plan.

The First Epistle of Peter

The King James Bible

1 Peter 2:1-10
Babies

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

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

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,

5 Ye 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 Sion 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.

Margin notes:

"Laying aside all malice." (2:1) - "Put aside all hatred." This message is reinforced in Ephesians 4:31 and James 1:21.

"Guile." (2:1) - Means treachery, deceit.

"Hypocrisies." (2:1) - Insincerity, pretenses, falseness.

"Envies." (2:1) - Jealousies, resentfulness, covetous.

"Evil speakings." (2:1) - Slander, lying. Why should we avoid "evil" talk? See Matthew 15:17-20 and Luke 6:44-45. Read also Hebrews 12:1.

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word." (2:2) - Remember, in verse 1:23 (lesson 446), Peter refers to Christians as being "born again." Newborn Christians are fed the simple spiritual milk (lessons) of God's word (1 Corinthians 3:2). As they grow in faith, believers long for stronger spiritual food for nourishment, strength, and guidance.

"Ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (2:3) - "You have seen that the Lord is good." Paraphrased from Psalm 34:8.

"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God." (2:4) - "Come to Jesus, the living (corner) stone, rejected by people, but chosen by God." Just as a cornerstone is the most important stone in a building, Jesus is the key in God's spiritual temple.

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house." (2:5) - Christians are living stones, the building blocks of God's church, and Jesus is the foundation on which the church is built.

"Offer up spiritual sacrifices." (2:5) - Not a blood sacrifice as required in the Old Covenant. Jesus was the last blood sacrifice needed. Instead, believers should offer themselves up in praise (Hebrews 13:15), prayer, and service to God (Romans 12:1).

"Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone..." (2:6) - This paraphrases Isaiah 28:16. A cornerstone is the foundation stone around which a building is constructed. Without it, the structure won't stand. Peter is using the cornerstone as a metaphor for Jesus, the foundation of the church. Those who trust in Jesus Christ as their cornerstone" (foundation) will never be "confounded" (disappointed) or led astray.

"The stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner" (2:7) - Paraphrased from Psalm 118:22
to show that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies.

"A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence." (2:8) - From Isaiah 8:14. Means "a stone unbelievers stumble over and a rock that trips them up"
(Matthew 21:44; Romans 9:32-33). Many will reject (stumble over) Jesus.

"They were appointed." (2:8) - "They were destined."

"But ye are a chosen generation." (2:9) - Believers are chosen by God.

"A royal priesthood." (2:9) - Christians are priests, like priests, they should pray and spread the news of salvation.

"A peculiar people." (2:9) - "God's chosen people."

"Ye should shew forth the praises of him." (2:9) - "You should proclaim the wonders of God." Believers have the responsibility to spread the word of God.

"Which had not obtained mercy." (2:10) - Who received no mercy."

New Living Translation

1 Peter 2:1-10

1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.

Living Stones for God's House

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

6 As the Scriptures say,

  "I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
      chosen for great honor,
   and anyone who trusts in him
      will never be disgraced."

7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,

  "The stone that the builders rejected
      has now become the cornerstone."

8 And,

  "He is the stone that makes people stumble,
      the rock that makes them fall."

They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10 "Once you had no identity as a people;
      now you are God's people.
   Once you received no mercy;
      now you have received God's mercy."

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What is one of the main themes in this passage?

Let us know if your email address changes.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. One of the main messages in this passage is to believe in Jesus Christ and live a holy life.

Application thought for the day:

Peter said that Christians are priests (first part of verse 2:9).
If this is true, what are your obligations as a minister of Christ?
Before you answer, see the second part of verse 2:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:20.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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