1 Peter 2

After calling believers to live holy lives (1:13–21), Peter explains how they must show love to one another as fellow Christians.

Christians have been "born again" and should be like newborn babies, who naturally and regularly crave pure spiritual milk (1:23). In other places in the New Testament, milk (in contrast to solid food) represents basic Christian teachings (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12–13). But this does not mean that the people Peter wrote to were new believers. Here, milk most likely refers to God’s word in general.

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good: These words come from Psalm 34:8. Peter quotes this psalm again in 1 Peter 3:10–12.

rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight: This refers to Psalm 118:22, which is quoted in 1 Peter 2:7.

Throughout this letter, Peter encourages suffering believers by reminding them of the great honor they have from God. In this paragraph, he describes the Christian community as a new temple that is built on Christ. He also shows that they share in the blessings God promised to his covenant people.

• God's people form the spiritual house or temple where God lives (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus compared his body to a "temple" (John 2:19–22). The church is called "the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). God no longer reveals himself in one place but in and among the people who belong to him and praise his goodness (see 1 Peter 2:10).

• As God’s holy priests in the new covenant, Christians offer not animal sacrifices but spiritual sacrifices such as praising God, praying, and doing good (see Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15–16).

These verses include three quotations from the Old Testament. Each one describes Christ as a kind of stone:

• The first quotation calls him the cornerstone on which God builds the new temple (2:6).

• The second quotation calls him the cornerstone that people rejected, but God raised up to become the most important stone in his plan to save the world (2:7).

• The third quotation calls him the stone that makes people stumble when they refuse to believe (2:8).

Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 in Matthew 21:42. Paul quotes both Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 in Romans 9:33. These three Old Testament passages were likely brought together very early in the church. Early believers probably used them as a combined witness to the identity and importance of Jesus the Messiah.

to this they were appointed: It is not clear whether God appointed these people to unbelief, or whether God appointed them to suffer condemnation because they refused to believe.

Peter uses descriptions of the Israelites in the Old Testament to refer to his mainly non-Jewish (Gentile) audience (see, for example, Exodus 19:5–6). By doing this, he shows that they are truly God’s people in the time of the new covenant, just as all Christians are.

These verses connect the first part of the letter with what comes next. They can be seen as the end of the first section or the beginning of the second section. In these verses, the writer states the main theme of the letter. Christians live among people who may not accept their faith, and they need to live out the message of the good news. When they do this, they can help lead other people to the Lord.

on the day He visits us: The Greek phrase behind this wording can also be translated “on the day of visitation.” In the Greek Old Testament, day of visitation refers to a time when God comes to act in judgment against his enemies (Isaiah 10:3; Jeremiah 6:15).

During Peter's time, the Roman emperor was the king. Christians were suffering under the government and would soon face harsher persecution under Emperor Nero.

This section focuses on the key instruction to submit to all human authority. Peter applies this instruction to several relationships:

• Christians should accept the authority of those in government (2:13–17).

• Christian slaves should accept the authority of their masters (2:18–25).

• Christian wives should accept the authority of their husbands (3:1–6).

Peter appears to follow an early Christian use of the traditional household code. This code gave a series of instructions for different members of a household. Similar examples appear in Ephesians 5:21–6:9, Colossians 3:18–4:1, 1 Timothy 5:1–6:2, and Titus 2:1–10.

to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right: Compare Romans 13:3–4.

• The brotherhood: See study note on 5:9.

• fear God, honor the king: Peter might be thinking about the balanced statement that Jesus gave on a Christian’s duty to both God and the government (see Matthew 22:21).

• Many slaves in the Roman Empire held responsible positions and earned a decent income. However, most slaves were treated harshly, and all slaves lacked legal status and basic rights.

• with all respect (literally with all fear): Peter might be urging slaves to fear God (see 2:17; compare 1:17) or fear the master's punishment. However, he often uses this kind of language to describe the respectful attitude that Christians should show toward others (3:16).

A slave was legally bound to a master and could not change his or her situation. In contrast, a modern employee has the right to stop working for an employer who is cruel. Some employees, however, may not be able to leave their jobs. In those cases, Peter’s advice to slaves can also apply to employees today.

• There is no clear change in who Peter is addressing in this passage. However, the general tone of these verses shows that they apply to all Christians.

• These verses might include an early Christian hymn or confession about Christ (2:22–25). They focus on the sufferings of Christ for human salvation or redemption, using language mainly from Isaiah 52:13–53:12.

• He Himself bore our sins: This phrase refers to Isaiah 53:4, 11–12.

• By His stripes you are healed: The physical suffering of Christ has freed us from slavery to sin (compare Isaiah 53:5). The apostle Matthew uses similar language from Isaiah 53:4 to describe the physical healings Jesus performed (Matthew 8:17).