Module 23: Christian Experience Part 2
1 and 2 Peter - Christ the Strength of his People
1 Peter Chapter 2
1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:
Part B: ESTABLISHED FOR TESTING IN CONDUCT - 2:4-3:9
B.1. The Life of Holiness - 2:4-2:10
1. Composition. Living Stone and living stones - 2:4-2:6
4 coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
5 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.
6 Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed."
2.Quality. The Preciousness of the Living Stone - 2:7-2:8
7 For you who believe therefore is the honour, but for those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,"
8 and, "a stumbling stone and a rock of offence." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
3. Vocation. Exhibiting the excellencies - 2:9-2:10
9 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 marvellous light.
10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
B.2. Practice of Holiness - 2:11-3:9
1. General Instructions. Personal - 2:11-2:12
11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 having good behaviour amongst the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.
2. National Relationships - 2:13-2:17
13 Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
14 or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.
15 For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
3. Household Relationships - 2:18-2:25
18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.
19 For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience towards God.
20 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.
21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
22 who didn't sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth."
23 When he was cursed, he didn't curse back. When he suffered, he didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
24 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.
25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Footnotes
- Verse 6 (Behold)
- "Behold" means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
- Verse 6
- Isaiah 28:16
- Verse 7
- Psalm 118:22
- Verse 8
- Isaiah 8:14
- Verse 21 (you)
- Textus Receptus reads "us" instead of "you"
- Verse 22
- Isaiah 53:9
- Verse 24 (wounds)
- or, stripes
- Verse 25 (Overseer)
- "Overseer" is from the Greek, which can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent.