2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
2:3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him -
2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house* to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. / *Or into a temple of the Spirit
2:6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”* / *Isaiah 28:16
2:7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”* / *Psalm 118:22
2:8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”* They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for. / *Isaiah 8:14
2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
2:10 Once 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.
2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
2:14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
2:16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
2:17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
2:18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
2:19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”* / *Isaiah 53:9
2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
2:25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”* but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. / *Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)