The big picture
1 Peter 2 opens in verse 1 with “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the…”, and closes in verse 25 with “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of…” Repeated or prominent terms include stone, people, precious, well, acceptable. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Peter · King James Version · 251 Peter 2:1-7
1–7: Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and…
1 Peter 2:1–7 opens with “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil…” and reaches “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Individual stones assembled into a living house around the chosen cornerstone and a holy people declaring light, with particular weight carried by precious, stone, corner.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” The line’s distinctive content terms include babes, desire, grow. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Peter 2:1-7
King James Version1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6Wherefore 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.
7Unto 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,
1 Peter 2:8-14
8–14: A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble…
1 Peter 2:8–14 opens with “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being…” and reaches “Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Individual stones assembled into a living house around the chosen cornerstone and a holy people declaring light, with particular weight carried by people, evildoers, mercy.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto…” The line’s distinctive content terms include appointed, disobedient, offence. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include chosen, darkness, generation. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Peter 2:8-14
King James Version8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9But 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:
10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12Having 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.
13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1 Peter 2:15-21
15–21: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence…
1 Peter 2:15–21 opens with “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish…” and reaches “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Individual stones assembled into a living house around the chosen cornerstone and a holy people declaring light, with particular weight carried by fear, Honour, patiently.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Peter 2:15-21
King James Version15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20For 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.
21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Peter 2:22-25
22–25: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1 Peter 2:22–25 opens with “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” and reaches “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Individual stones assembled into a living house around the chosen cornerstone and a holy people declaring light, with particular weight carried by reviled, sins, astray.
1 Peter 2:22-25
King James Version22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24Who 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.
25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Peter 2:1 begins with “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,”
Where the chapter turns
1 Peter 2:9 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
1 Peter 2:25 leaves the reader with “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words stone, people, precious, well, acceptable, chosen help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Which gifts come before the prohibition?
Life, the garden, food and meaningful work. The command occurs inside generosity.
How does chapter 2 deepen chapter 1?
It concentrates on dependence, partnership and responsibility within the shared human calling.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.