1 Peter 2 (BHT-ATN)

“You Must Desire Milk That Is Pure and Genuine”

1 In light of these things, taking off your “old clothes,” that is, any kind of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and every kind of slander, 2 you must desire milk that is pure and genuine,+ like newborn infants, very eagerly, so that by it you might grow up in respect to salvation— 3 assuming, of course, that you have in fact “tasted how kind the LORD is.”+ 4 As you continually draw near to him—the living “stone,” “examined and rejected as worthless,” on the one hand, by mere men, but “chosen and precious,”+ on the other, in the eyes of God— 5 you, as living stones yourselves, are being built into a house filled with the Spirit so that you may serve as a holy priesthood, to offer up Spirit-consecrated+ sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus the Messiah.+ 6 For it says in Scripture:

“Listen! I am going to place in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone, chosen and precious,

and those who put their faith in him

will certainly not be disappointed.”+

7 It is in the eyes of you who are “putting your faith in him,” therefore, that he is precious.+ In the eyes of+ those who refuse to do so, however,

“The stone the builders examined and rejected as worthless,

this stone turned out to be the cornerstone!”,+

8 and,

“a stone that will cause people to stumble,

and a rock that will cause anger and offense.”+

They+ “stumble” over the message,+ refusing to believe,+ for which purpose they were also set in place according to plan.+

9 You, however, are a “chosen race,”+ a “royal priesthood,”+ a “holy nation,”+ a people “to be his possession,”+ so that you may “proclaim the mighty deeds,”+ yes, of the one who summoned+ you into his marvelous light from out of the darkness, 10 who once were “not a people,”+ but now are a people belonging to God,+ those who had “not been shown mercy,”+ but who now have been shown mercy.+

““Your Conduct among the Gentiles Being So Honorable...”

11 Dear friends, I exhort you as “exiles and resident foreigners”+ to refuse the evil desires of the mortal body,+ which wage war against the inner self,+ 12 your conduct among the Gentiles being so honorable that when they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and change their minds,+ and glorify God on the day he comes to save.+

13 Submit yourselves to every governing authority, merely human though they be,+ out of reverence for+ the Lord,+ whether to the Emperor+ as the highest authority, 14 or to governors as those whom he appoints+ to punish evildoers and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will for you to submit in this way,+ so that by doing good you may silence foolish people’s ignorant talk.+ 16 Submit to the authorities willingly as people who have been set free,+ using your freedom not as a pretext for evil behavior,+ but as slaves subject to God himself. 17 To all people show due honor and respect. The family of believers+ you are to love, God you are to fear, and the Emperor you are to respect.

18 Slaves, submit yourselves with the utmost respect to your masters, not only to those who are kind and gracious, but even to those who are harsh. 19 This, you see, is what brings reward from God:+ If someone endures the pain and distress of undeserved suffering+ because he is indeed conscious of God’s will.+ 20 Why, after all, should you expect any praise if it is sinful conduct for which you are enduring a beating? If you suffer, however, for doing good, and patiently endure it, this is worthy of reward in the eyes of God. 21 It is this kind of suffering and endurance,+ you see, to which you were summoned, in view of the fact that the Messiah, too, himself endured undeserved suffering for your sake,+ to you leaving behind an example, so that you would follow in his footsteps. 22 Sin he+ “did not commit, nor was any deceit discovered in his mouth.”+ 23 When he+ was insulted, he refused to hurl insults in return; when he suffered, he made no threats, but kept entrusting his cause+ to the one who judges justly.+ 24 Our sins “he himself bore”+ in his body “on the tree,”+ so that we, to the power of sins having died, could a life of righteousness live. By+ “his wounds you have been healed.”+ 25 You were “going astray,” you see, “like sheep,”+ but have now returned to the one who shepherds and watches over you.+

+1:1Cf CJB.+1:2Lit according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. ME (see translation and notes at Ac 2:23 [the meaning is essentially the same here]; BSL, 1 Pt 1:2, sv πρόγνωσις; UBSHS [1 Pt], 9). Rendering the genitive here as a subjective genitive, as at Ac 2:23.+1:2Lit in/through sanctification of the Spirit. ME (see translation and note at 2 Th 2:13). Cf HCSB.+1:2Unless otherwise marked (through superscript—ˢyou), all second person pronouns are in the second person plural.+1:3In the NT, γεννάω ( gennaō) (here the same word is used, though with a prefix signaling “again” or “anew”) can variously refer to conception (see, eg, Mt 1:20; Jn 8:41; Ga 4:23), the time in the womb (see, eg, Lk 23:29), actual birth (see, eg, Mt 2:4; Lk 1:57), or the entire process viewed as whole (see, eg, Lk 1:13), depending on the context. Also, when the father’s role is in view, the focus is on the act of procreation (see, eg, BSL, Jn 3:5, sv—“to be or become conceived due to male agency”), ie, “to beget” (cf, eg, various translations of Mt 1). In this context, conception is primarily in view, since that into which one is “generated” is a “hope,” which, though living and growing and active, is by definition something still not yet realized (cf Rm 8:24-25). In other words, “conception” happens when one receives the deposit/down-payment/first-fruits of the Spirit (cf Rm 8:23; 2 Co 1:22; Eph 1:14); “gestation” (ie, sanctification) happens between that time and the Second Coming; and “birth” happens at the Second Coming, when Jesus’ people are raised from the dead (cf Rm 8:18-23). “Beget” is an outdated word in English, yet the alternatives for an active in English in this context are also a bit awkward (“who became our father again/anew”), if not potentially crass (“procreated us again/anew”). “Conceived” has thus been used in the passive with God as the agent in translation.+1:6Or even though for a little while you may have to suffer.+1:9Or the salvation of [your] souls. In the NT, ψυχή ( psuchē, “soul”) is often used to refer to the person as a whole, not just the inward self (see, eg, L-N, 9.20). Cf CJB.+1:10Lit the for you grace. ME. Cf CJB, NLT, TEV. χάρις ( charis) here is referring to a gracious gift, freely given because of God’s kindness (see L-N, 57.103, 88.66). In this context, the gift being referred to is the σωτηρία ( sōtēria, “salvation/deliverance”) mentioned at the beginning of the verse.+1:10Or searched carefully. In the LXX, ἐκζητέω ( ekzēteō) is sometimes used in the sense of “inquiring” (cf, eg, Ex 18:15). Cf Dn 8:15, 12:7-8.+1:10There are no direct objects explicitly stated in the Greek text here, which means that they must been inferred from the context. As the next verse makes clear, understanding/wisdom is what the prophets were seeking (cf, eg, Pr 2:1-6, where ζητέω [ zēteō], a cognate of ἐκζητέω [ ekzēteō—the first verb used in this verse], and ἐξερευνάω [ exereunaō—the second verb used in this verse], are both used in the LXX). Cf Dn 8:15, 12:7-8.+1:10Cf Pr 2:1-6; Dn 8:15, 12:7-8.+1:11Or what circumstances. Lit what/which/what kind of man, or what/which/what kind of things. Cf Is 53; Lk 24:25-26, 44-49; Jn 12.+1:11Lit what/which appointed time, or what kind of appointed time.+1:11Lit the sufferings [destined/appointed] for the Messiah. ME. Cf NET, NRSV, TEV.+1:11Lit the glories after these [sufferings]. Cf Dn 9; Mt 13:17; Jn 8:56; Heb 11:13+1:12Cf Dn 12.+1:13Or for a difficult fight, or for a difficult task/effort. Lit having girded up the loins of your mind. ME(I/OTB/H) (see L-N, 27.55; NET Bible Notes, Jb 38:3; UBSHS [Re], 32). Cf LEB, NET, NIV, NLT at Jb 38:3. Cf 2 Ti 4:7; Heb 12:1-4.+1:13Or being sober-minded.+1:13Lit set your hope on the grace. ME (see translation and note at v 10 above). Cf NLT.+1:13Cf Rm 8:18-25.+1:14Lit not allowing yourselves to be confirmed to. ME (see BDAG, 979, sv συσχηματίζω; UBSHS [1 Pt], 35). Cf ISV, TEV.+1:14Lit the evil desires/cravings formerly in your ignorance. ME (see BDAG, 372, ἐπιθυμία 2; UBSHS [1 Pt], 35). Cf CJB, TEV. Some verb is implied here, most likely something like “rule” (as BDAG suggests) or “enslave” (cf Rm 6:12 [note the use of ὑπακούω ( hupakouō) there; cf ὑπακοῆς ( hupokoēs) at the beginning of this verse]; Tit 3:3). Cf Ac 3:17, 13:27, 17:30; Rm 10:3; Eph 4:18. While Paul and Peter certainly have different styles and nuances to their teaching, this is sometimes overstressed (cf, eg, 2 Co 11:2, 15:3; Ga 1:18, 2:7-10; 2 Th 2:15, 3:6; 2 Pt 3:15-16).+1:15Or called, or invited.+1:15Lit is holy. ME(OTB)/IT (see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” [PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024]).+1:16Lv 11:44+1:17Lit conduct yourselves in fear. ME(OTB)/IT (see, eg, Lv 25:17; Dt 6:2, 10:12; Pr 1:7, etc). Cf ISV.+1:18Or fruitless, or powerless, or worthless.+1:19Lit with precious blood like that of a lamb without blemish or defect, of the Messiah. Cf CJB, ESV, HCSB, ISV, LEB, NKJV, NRSV, RSV.+1:20Lit who.+1:20Lit was known beforehand. ME(OTB) (see notes at Ga 4:9, Rm 8:29; UBSHS [Rm], 167). Cf HCSB, NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:21Lit gave glory to him. ME (see translation and notes at Jn 7:39). Here, “give him glory” has the same meaning as δοξάζω ( doxazō) (the verb used at Jn 7:39; cf the NIV here in 1 Pt 1:21).+1:22Or your lives, or yourselves. Lit your souls. In the NT, ψυχή ( psuchē, “soul”) can be used to refer to the person as a whole (see, eg, L-N, 9.20; cf v 9 above), to the inner self (see, eg, L-N, 26.4), or to one’s life (see, eg, L-N, 23.88). Since “with a pure heart” is mentioned in the main clause, “inner selves” has been used in translation here.+1:23See note at 1 Pt 1:3 above. The same applies here.+1:23Lit not by mortal seed/seed that dies, but by [seed] that is immortal/never dies. ME (see translation and notes at Jn 1:13, 3:6; 1 Jn 3:9).+1:24Lit all flesh. Translating according to “Flesh” M (see FBT Chart).+1:24Lit a blossom/flower of grass. ME (see BDAG, 80, sv ἄνθος; BSL, Jm 1:10, sv χόρτος; UBSHS [Jm], 25). Cf HCSB, ISV, NIV, and NRSV at Jm 1:10.+1:25Is 40:6-8+1:25Lit This is the word that was gospeled to you. ME. Cf ISV, NLT, TEV.+2:2Or the pure milk of the gospel/word.+2:3Ps 34:8+2:4These phrases come from Ps 118:22, Is 8:14, and Is 28:16 (cf LXX), quoted more fully below.+2:5πνευματικός ( pneumatikos) here means “of or characterized by the Holy Spirit” ( BSL, 1 Pt 2:5, sv), or “having to do with the (divine) spirit” ( BDAG, 837, sv 2). The question is, however: What is the qualitative relationship of the Holy Spirit to the sacrifice? Similar language is employed by Paul at Rm 12:1 and 15:16. If a meaning similar to Rm 15:16 is intended here (which seems likely), then the meaning is something like Spirit-consecrated/sanctified sacrifices. This interpretation is reflected in the translation.+2:5Cf Rm 12:1, 15:16; Php 3:12; Heb 10:5-7, 13:1.+2:6Is 28:16+2:7Or Therefore, honor is in store for you who are “putting your faith in him.”+2:7Or In store for.+2:7Ps 118:22+2:8Is 8:17+2:8Lit who.+2:8Or the word.+2:8Or refusing to obey.+2:8Lit for which they were placed/appointed/destined, too. ME (see UBSHS [1 Pt], 61). Cf CJB, ESV, HCSB, NASB, NET, NIV, NKJV, NLT, NRSV, RSV, TEV. The point being made here is similar to Ac 2:23 and 4:28. Peter seems to be making a play on words here (the verb used here [τίθημι ( tithēmi)] is also used in v 6), which I’ve tried to capture here in translation, but without losing the sense of divine sovereignty that is present here contextually (signaled here in translation with “according to plan”; cf CJB, NCV, NLT)—ie, God sovereignly put the stone in Zion, and he also sovereignly put those who would crucify and reject him in their assigned roles. Cf also Rm 11:11-25.+2:9Is 43:20 (LXX). Cf Dt 7:6, 10:15.+2:9Ex 19:6; 23:22 (LXX). Cf Is 61:6.+2:9Ex 19:6; 23:22 (LXX)+2:9Ml 3:16 (LXX). Cf Ex 19:6, 23:22 (LXX); Dt 4:20, 7:6; Is 43:21 (LXX).+2:9Is 42:12, 43:21 (LXX)+2:9Or called, or invited.+2:10Ho 1:9 (LXX)+2:10An allusion to Ho 2:23.+2:10Ho 1:6 (LXX)+2:10An allusion to Ho 2:23.+2:11Ps 38:13 (LXX; Ps 39:12 in the MT)+2:11Lit fleshly. Translating according to “Flesh” C, F, and G (see FBT Chart).+2:11Or against the soul, or against us. See note at v 1:22 above.+2:12According to the UBSHS, ἐποπτεύω [ epopteuō] here “denotes not merely seeing and observing, but also thinking about and making up one’s mind about something, after thoughtful reflection” ( UBSHS [1 Pt], 70; cf also Hart et al in ESS [1 Pt], 87). Cf 1 Pt 3:1-2, where “winning” an unbelieving husband is the goal of the “observation” (ἐποπτεύω is also used there). Cf also Rm 2:4 and 12:19-21.+2:12Lit the day of visitation. ME (see ANLEX, 167, sv ἐπισκοπή 1; UBSHS [1 Pt], 70). Cf the translation at Lk 19:44.+2:13Lit Submit yourselves to every human creature/creation. ME (see ANLEX, 239, sv κτίσις 3; BDAG, 573, sv κτίσις 3; NAC [1 and 2 Pt, Jud], 127; UBSHS [1 Pt], 72; translation and notes at Mt 19:26).+2:13Or to bring honor to. ME (see NAC [1 and 2 Pt, Jud], 127; Cf UBSHS [1 Pt], 72). διά ( dia) here is functioning either as a marker of reason (see, eg, L-N, 89.26), or as a marker of benefaction (see, eg, L-N, 90.38). Cf Eph 6:5-6; Col 3:22; 1 Ti 6:1; 2 Pt 2:2.+2:13Cf 1 Ti 6:1; 2 Pt 2:2.+2:13Or the king. Cf ESV, CJB, HCSB, NRSV, RSV, TEV.+2:14Lit sends. ME (see UBSHS [1 Pt], 72). Cf GeCL, NJB, NAB, NLT, Phps, TEV.+2:15Or For this [ie, what follows] is God’s will. οὕτως ( houtōs) here is interpreted as a reference to what precedes (see L-N, 61.9). This is reflected in the translation. Passages like Rm 13, Col 3, and Eph 5, where submission to authorities in the fear of God is put forward as an important part of the apostolic teaching, is what causes me to lean in this direction.+2:15Cf Rm 12:17-21.+2:16Lit as free. ME (see NAC [1 and 2 Pt, Jud], 131; UBSHS [1 Pt], 74).+2:16Lit not having freedom as a cloak of evil. ME (see ANLEX, 164, sv ἐπικάλυμμα; L-N, 28.56; UBSHS [1 Pt], 75). Cf ISV, NET, NLT, NRSV, RSV.+2:17Lit the brotherhood. ME (see NET Bible Notes, 1 Pt 2:17). Cf NET, NLT.+2:19Lit This is grace. ME (see BDAG, sv χάρις, 2.b.; NAC [1 and 2 Pt, Jud], 139).+2:19Lit If someone endures griefs/sorrows/pains/distress [while] suffering unjustly. ME (see UBSHS [1 Pt], 79). Cf NIV, TEV.+2:19Lit because of a consciousness of God. ME (see UBSHS [1 Pt], 79). Cf HCSB, NLT, TEV.+2:21Lit to this. This is a reference to the suffering and endurance mentioned in v 20. Cf UBSHS (1 Pt), 82.+2:21Or on your behalf, or for you.+2:22Lit who.+2:22Is 53:9+2:23Lit who.+2:23Or himself, or his vindication. Cf GeCL, NEB, Phps in UBSHS (1 Pt), 83; BDAG, 762, sv παραδίδωμι 2. There is no direct object explicitly stated in the Greek text. “Cause,” “vindication,” “himself,” “his enemies” are all good candidates (see ESS [1 Pt], 104; NAC [1 and 2 Pt, Jud], 83; UBSHS [1 Pt], 83). Cf Is 50:8.+2:23Cf Is 50:8+2:24Is 53:11, 12 (cf MT and LXX)+2:24An allusion to Dt 21:22-23. Cf Ac 5:30, 10:39, 13:29; Ga 3:13.+2:24Lit by whose.+2:24Is 53:5+2:25Is 53:6+2:25Lit the shepherd and guardian/overseer of your souls. “Soul” here means the whole person (see note at 1 Pt 1:9). Cf CJB.