Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of 1 Peter
Chapter 2: A Royal Priesthood
First Peter 2 tells believers who they are and how they are to live. As 'newborn babes,' they are to 'desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.' Coming to Christ, 'a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,' they too become 'lively stones... built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood.' Peter crowns them with glorious titles: '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.' Then he calls them to holy conduct in a hostile world, submitting to rulers, working honestly, and honoring all. And he holds up the supreme example of suffering: Christ, 'who did no sin,' who 'when he was reviled, reviled not again,' and 'who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.' This chapter shows us our identity in Christ and the Saviour who bore our sins.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of 1 Peter chapter 2. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Peter shows believers their identity as a royal priesthood built on Christ the living stone, calls them to holy conduct before the world, and holds up Christ's suffering as our example and our atonement. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Newborn Babes
Desire the sincere milk of the word, and grow.
A Royal Priesthood
Built on Christ the living stone, a holy nation.
Honour All Men
Submit, do well, and silence ignorance.
He Bare Our Sins
Christ suffered, leaving us His steps to follow.
A Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:1-12)
Built on Christ the living stone, believers become a spiritual house and a royal priesthood, called out of darkness to show forth His praises.
Called Out of Darkness into His Marvellous Light
"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 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. 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. 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, 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. 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: 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. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Word Study
"a peculiar people," from Greek peripoiesis (περιποίησις). The word means a possession, an acquiring, that which is obtained and owned; "a peculiar people" translates the idea of a people for God's own possession. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people." In older English, "peculiar" did not mean odd or strange; it meant belonging exclusively to someone, one's own special property. So a "peculiar people" is a people God has purchased and claimed as His very own treasure. Peter piles up four titles once given to Israel and now applied to the church: "a chosen generation" (chosen by God), "a royal priesthood" (both kings and priests who draw near to God), "an holy nation" (set apart to Him), and "a peculiar people" (His own possession). These are staggering honors for people who "in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God." And there is a purpose in it: "that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." We are God's own possession so that we might display His excellencies to the world. So peripoiesis declares the believer's astonishing identity and worth: not our own, but bought by God, treasured as His special possession, made a kingdom of priests, and called to shine forth the praises of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Explanation
Peter urges his readers, like "newborn babes," to "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow." Coming to Christ, "a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God," they are "built up a spiritual house." To believers He is precious; to the disobedient He is "a stone of stumbling." Then their glorious identity: "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" — once "not a people," now "the people of God." Such an identity calls for holy conduct: "abstain from fleshly lusts" and keep "your conversation honest among the Gentiles," that they may glorify God.
Gospel Focus
Peter begins by calling believers to lay aside the sins that poison fellowship, "malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings," and to crave the word like a hungry infant: "as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." Spiritual growth comes from feeding on God's pure word, and the appetite is awakened by having "tasted that the Lord is gracious." Then Peter unfolds a beautiful picture of the church as a temple. Christ is "a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious", the very "chief corner stone" the builders rejected, now the foundation of all. And believers, "as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices." Every believer is a living stone in God's temple and a priest offering spiritual worship. But the same stone divides humanity: "unto you therefore which believe he is precious," but to the disobedient He is "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence." Christ is either our precious foundation or the stone we trip over. Then Peter crowns the believers with glorious titles once given to Israel: "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people." God's own treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and the purpose is clear: "that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." We exist to display God's glory. What a change: those who "were not a people" are now "the people of God"; those who "had not obtained mercy" have "now... obtained mercy." Because of this new identity, Peter appeals for holy living: "as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." We are pilgrims here, citizens of another country, so we do not live for the world's cravings. And our conduct is to be so "honest among the Gentiles" that even those who "speak against you as evildoers" will finally, seeing "your good works... glorify God." Our identity as God's own people shapes our conduct: we grow on His word, worship as His priests, and shine His praises before a watching world.
He Bare Our Sins in His Own Body (1 Peter 2:13-25)
Believers submit and do well even under unjust suffering, following Christ, who bore our sins on the tree and left us His steps to follow.
By Whose Stripes Ye Were Healed
"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
Word Study
"an example," Greek hupogrammos (ὑπογραμμός). The word joins hupo, "under," with gramma, "writing"; it means a writing-copy, the model of letters set at the top of a page for a child to trace beneath. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." The picture is of a schoolchild learning to write by carefully copying the master's letters line by line. Christ's suffering is our hupogrammos, the perfect copy we are to trace with our own lives. And Peter draws the lines precisely: "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." That is the pattern we copy under injustice: no retaliation, no threats, no bitterness, but entrusting ourselves to the God who judges rightly. The word also implies that we follow "his steps," walking in the very footprints He left. Yet Peter is careful, for Christ's suffering is not only an example but an atonement, something only He could do: "who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." So Christ is both our Saviour, who alone bore our sins, and our hupogrammos, whose patient endurance under wrong we are to trace with our lives. We follow His steps because He first gave Himself for us.
Explanation
Peter teaches submission "for the Lord's sake" — to rulers, and by servants even to "froward" masters. For it is "thankworthy" to suffer wrongfully with patience. Then he lifts the eyes to the supreme example: "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps," who "did no sin," reviled not again, but "committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Yet He is more than example — He is Saviour: "who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree... by whose stripes ye were healed." The pattern of patient suffering rests on the atonement that only He could make.
Gospel Focus
Peter turns to how God's pilgrim people live under human authority. "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake", to kings and governors, not because the state is supreme, but "for the Lord's sake," as those who honor God by being orderly citizens. Good conduct silences slander: "with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." Believers live "as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God"; true freedom serves God. Peter's summary is crisp: "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." Then he addresses servants, even those with harsh ("froward") masters, and here he opens the theme of unjust suffering. To endure wrong patiently "for conscience toward God" is "thankworthy" and "acceptable with God"; there is no credit in suffering for our own faults, but suffering for doing right, borne patiently, is precious to God. And why? "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." Christ's suffering is the pattern we trace: "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Under the worst injustice ever done, He did not retaliate but entrusted Himself to the righteous God. Yet Peter will not let Christ's cross be only an example, for it is first our atonement: "who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." Here is the heart of the gospel. Christ Himself, in His own body, bore our sins on the cross, taking the penalty we deserved, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. And "by whose stripes ye were healed", by His wounds we are made whole, echoing Isaiah 53. This is the One who bore our sins: not a mere man, but God our Saviour manifest in flesh, giving Himself for us. So Peter closes with a tender image: "ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." We had wandered like lost sheep, but the Shepherd who bore our sins has brought us home, and now He watches over our souls. We follow His steps under suffering because He first bore our sins and healed us by His wounds.
Chapter 2 in Review
First Peter 2 declares our identity and calls us to follow Christ. Believers are to crave "the sincere milk of the word," and, built on Christ "a living stone," to be "lively stones... built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood." Peter crowns them: "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." He calls them to holy conduct, submitting to authorities, honoring all men, and enduring even unjust suffering, following Christ, "who did no sin," who "when he was reviled, reviled not again," and "who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter joins glorious identity to costly discipleship, and both to the cross. It tells us who we are: God's own treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, called out of darkness to shine His praises, a people who once were no people but now belong wholly to God. And it calls us to live worthy of that identity as pilgrims, holy before the world, submitting and honoring, and enduring wrong without retaliation, tracing the very steps of Christ. But its center is the atonement: Christ "his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." The One who bore our sins is God our Saviour in the flesh, who took our penalty, healed us "by his stripes," and brought us home as the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. So we grow on His word, worship as His priests, shine His praises, follow His patient steps under suffering, and rest in the Saviour who bore our sins and healed us by His wounds.
- "Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (2:2).
- Believers are "lively stones... built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood" (2:5).
- "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (2:9).
- We are "called... out of darkness into his marvellous light" to show His praises (2:9).
- Christ suffered, "leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (2:21).
- "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree... by whose stripes ye were healed" (2:24).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you crave "the sincere milk of the word" and grow by it?
- Do you live in the light of your identity as part of "a royal priesthood... a peculiar people"?
- When you suffer wrongfully, do you follow Christ's steps, not retaliating but entrusting yourself to God?
- Do you rest in the Saviour who "bare our sins in his own body on the tree"?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Desiring the word; Christ the living stone: 1 Peter 2:1-8; Psalm 34:8; Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42. A royal priesthood, a peculiar people: 1 Peter 2:9-12; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6; Hosea 2:23. Submission, honoring authority, and freedom: 1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:21. Christ's example and atonement in suffering: 1 Peter 2:18-25; Isaiah 53:4-9; Matthew 27:12-14; 1 Timothy 3:16. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Desire the word; Christ the living, precious stone: 1 Peter 2:1-8; Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22.
- A chosen generation, royal priesthood, peculiar people: 1 Peter 2:9-12; Exodus 19:5-6.
- Submit for the Lord's sake; honour all men: 1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7.
- Christ's example and atonement; he bare our sins: 1 Peter 2:18-25; Isaiah 53:4-9.