As Living Stones, God’s Chosen Family
Therefore, alaying aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all bslander, 2 alike newborn babies, long for the bpure milk of the word, so that by it you may cgrow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have atasted bthe kindness of the Lord.
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been arejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 ayou also, as living stones, are being built up as a bspiritual house for a holy cpriesthood, to doffer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“aBehold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a bprecious corner stone,
And he who believes upon Him will not be put to shame.”
7 aThis precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“bThe stone which the builders crejected,
This has become the chief corner stone,”
8 and,
“aA stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
bThey stumble because they are disobedient to the word, cand to this stumbling they were also appointed.
9 But you are aa chosen family, a royal bpriesthood, a choly nation, da people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you eout of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 afor you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 aBeloved, bI urge you as csojourners and exiles to abstain from dfleshly lusts which wage ewar against the soul, 12 aby keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they bslander you as evildoers, they may because of your good works, as they observe them, cglorify God din the day of visitation.
Be Subject to Authority
13 aBe subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him afor the punishment of evildoers and the bpraise of those who do good. 15 For asuch is the will of God that by doing good you may bsilence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as afree people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bslaves of God. 17 aHonor all people, blove the brethren, cfear God, dhonor the king.
18 aServants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and bconsiderate, but also to those who are crooked. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of aconscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if awhen you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this finds favor with God.
Christ, Our Example
21 For to this ayou have been called, bsince Christ also suffered for you, leaving you can example that you should follow in His steps, 22 who adid no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 who being areviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. 24 Who Himself abore our sins in His body on the btree, so that chaving died to sin, we might live to righteousness; dby His wounds you were ehealed. 25 For you were acontinually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the bShepherd and Overseer of your souls.