1 Peter Chapter 2
2:1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
It is important to note that there were two Israels in Scripture. There is unbelieving Israel and believing Israel. Peter was writing to the Messianic believers who were scattered throughout the diaspora. These Messianic believers were the Remnant who would join the church. They would not only receive the promises of the church, but they would also receive the promises of the Old Testament covenants as well. God is not a liar. He will literally keep the literal promises which were given to Israel throughout their Old Testament history.
The Messianic Jews were now “in Christ,” so they needed to get rid of all evil. Evil is any thought, action, or noncompliance with the will of God.
They were to get rid of all deceit. They were not to use trickery to meet their wants and needs. They were to completely trust in God and not mammon.
They were to get rid of all hypocrisy. They were not to put on an act for others, hiding their true intent.
They were not to be envious of other believers who may have been given different gifts, abilities, or ministries. They were to use the gifts that God had given them and focus on the task which God had given them.
They were not to slander each other. Slandering is to destroy a person with the tongue. This was such a big problem in the early Jewish church that James had to deal with this issue in his epistle.
2:2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,
The Messianic believers were like newborn babies. They were not ready for the meat of the Word of God. They only had enough Bible doctrine to digest spiritual milk. Spiritual milk is the basics of the Old Testament and the gospels. After they understood the learning program established by the Holy Spirit, then they may mature on their path to salvation. Intaking spiritual milk does not save, but it strengthens one’s maturity level while on the road to sanctification.
Many baby believers lead other baby believers to Christ. They do this by presenting them the teachings of the gospel first, and then they disciple them by asking them to read the Book of Mark or the Book of John. This is not the method of the Holy Spirit. The newborn believer needs to start in Genesis and learn the basics of Bible doctrine. Missionaries have more success when beginning their discipleship with Creation in Genesis 1. The Holy Spirit did not introduce Jesus until 2/3 of the Bible was written. There was a reason for this process. Peter makes note of the process in this verse.
2:3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.
These Messianic believers had already experienced the grace of God. The only reason that they could believe in Jesus is because the Holy Spirit opened their spiritual eyes so that they could understand the gospel.
A Living Stone, a Chosen People
2:4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight,
Jesus was the Messianic stone of the Old Testament. He was the living stone who was rejected, as predicted in Psalm 118:22.
Peter was the petra, or the little rock, who was broken off of the mother rock, which was Christ. The church was built not upon Peter as the rock, but upon Christ, who is the foundation. Peter was just a weak fisherman whom Christ turned into a rock of the church. Peter was the little rock who would open the door of salvation to the Jews, those in Judea, those in Samaria, and those Gentile in the whole world. The entire Book of Acts recorded the results of Peter opening these doors.
It is important to note that Peter is never called the Pope anywhere in Scripture. This is an invention of Catholicism that is used to control their congregation. Those in Catholic churches are persuaded not to study the Bible on their own. They are taught to rely only upon the teachings of the Pope, who claims to be the Vicar of Christ on earth. It is the Holy Spirit, not the Pope, who is the Vicar of Christ on earth. Catholics need to study these issues in more detail, so that they will not be so easily deceived. Most Catholics do not possess enough Bible doctrine to be pulled out of the false teaching of Catholicism.
2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Notice that Peter was not talking to the modern church, but he was writing to Messianic believers who were spread out through the diaspora. The church is not “the Israel of God”. The believing Remnant is “the Israel of God”.
Not only was Peter a living stone, but so were the Messianic believers. Christ was going to take these weak men and turn them into powerful stone pillars of the church.
Replacement theologians falsely teach that the church has replaced Israel. This is heresy. They often used this verse to spread their heretical teaching.
Peter was not writing to the modern church of today. Peter’s audience was the Messianic believers spread throughout the diaspora. Christ was going to take these Messianic believers and turn them into a holy priesthood. Their function was not to offer animal sacrifices which pointed to Christ. Their function was to offer spiritual sacrifices which please the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual sacrifice was the use of their spiritual and material gifts to build the kingdom of God.
2:6 For it says in scripture, “Look,I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16. Zion is Israel. The Council of the Triune God chose Jesus to be the chief cornerstone. The chief cornerstone is the main stone which holds the temple together. Whoever believes in the chief cornerstone will never be put to shame, because he will co-reign with Christ. Only those who believe in Christ will be able to understand the preciousness of this cornerstone.
2:7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,
Peter quoted from Psalm 118:22. Those who believe are the Remnant of Israel, or “the Israel of God”. Those who do not believe are the non-Remnant of Israel. Those who believe in Jesus can understand the value of this cornerstone that holds the temple together.
2:8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
The author quoted Isaiah 8:14. Those who do not believe are the non-Remnant of Israel. They will trip over the cornerstone and stumble to their eternal death. Notice that those who trip and stumble were destined to their decision. This verse does not teach double-predestination. Those who are called before the foundations of the world will believe, because they cannot resist the efficacious call of God. Those who are not called will make their own choice. Because they were born in a total and depraved state, they will always choose to reject God. Therefore, some are chosen for salvation and the rest are left to make their own choice.
2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Peter was not writing to the modern church. He was writing to the Messianic believers who were spread across the diaspora. The Messianic believers, not the modern church, were the chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, and the people of God.
The church is not “a chosen race”. They are a compnay of individual believers from all races. The Messianic believers were a race of Jews who were chosen to become priests of God.
The Messianic believers are a royal priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. The Levitical priests could only enter the earthy tabernacle by the temporary blood of bulls and goats. The Messianic believers can enter the heavenly tabernacle by the eternal blood of Christ. It is important to add that the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer is a true doctrine, but it cannot be supported by this verse. Peter was addressing Jewish believers in this verse, not the modern church. Exodus 19:6 identified Israel as “a nation of priests”. Peter was referring to this specific call of God. The nation failed to become priests to all nations, but this believing Remnant did not fail. Many of the Gentile churches sprang up from their testimony and leadership.
According to Romans 9-11, the church is a “no-nation”. They are comprised of believers from all nations. Israel was called to become a holy nation at Mount Sinai. The nation failed, but the Remnant did not.
The Messianic believers were a people of God’s own choosing. He chose Israel from all nations of the world to become His elect nation.
God called this Remnant out of the darkness of Judaism into the light of the Shekinah Glory. The purpose of this Remnant was for them to proclaim the goodness of God.
2:10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Peter referred to Hosea 1:20-2:23. Hosea told Israel that although they were called by God, many of them had become “not-God’s people”. However, He promised to once again make the nation of Israel “His people”. This Remnant who Peter was addressing was the fulfillment of this prophecy. At the end of the Great Tribulation, all of Israel who survives will become God’s people once again.
Replacement theologians will spiritualize this passage to make it fit their own theology. They will interpret that after Israel was made “not my people”, they were replaced by the church. No where in this letter does Peter address the modern church. His letter was written to Messianic believers who were spread throughout the diaspora.
2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
SInce these Messianic believers had left Judaism, they were now citizens of heavens and foreigners on the earth. Since they were ambassadors in a new world, they were representing the King of Heaven. As ambassadors, they were not to discredit their king with fleshy desires. Fleshy desires are part of the satanic world system which attempt to seduce God’s ambassadors and soldiers into sin. Sin is a trap which ensnares the believer and destroys him.
2:12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.
The Greek word for “non-Christians” is ἔθνεσιν (ethnesin), which means Gentiles. Arminians mistranslate this word to mean “unbelievers” so that they can teach replacement theology. Peter is commanding the Messianic believers to be on their best behavior in front of Gentiles, so that they can win them to Christ.
Submission to Authorities
2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme
2:14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.
Human governments are divine institutions that have been appointed and established by God. Biblical government is never called to rehabilitate criminals, but it is called to punish them for their crimes. Even though Peter was living under the evil government of Nero, he still commanded the Messianic believers to submit to the government. If a government chooses to martyr a man of God, then those government leaders must answer to God for their crimes. If a nation elects evil men to government, then the electorate must answer to God.
If the government asks a person to perform an act contrary to God’s law, then the believer is expected to disobey the government. This is the only Biblical doctrine for not submitting to government.
2:15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
The best way to silence evil is not to take personal revenge, but to do good.
2:16 Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.
Believers have been freed from sin, so they are not subject to the satanic world system. However, they cannot use their Christian liberty to violate governmental laws, unless it is a case where the government demands that the believer disobey God. Peter himself demonstrated this principle in Acts 3. The Jewish leaders commanded Peter not to teach the gospel, but Peter refused this command. God’s law is higher than man’s law.
2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Peter concluded with a four-fold summary. First, all men were to be honored, because they were created in the image of God. Second, believers were to be honored with agape love, or divine love. Third, believers were to fear God, including the responsibility of serving both man and state. Fourth, political leaders must be respected.
2:18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse.
Servants were to be subject to their masters, even if they treated them disrespectfully. 50% of the Roman Empire were slaves, so this was radical teaching for that day.
2:19 For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.
This is a Greek first class conditional sentence, meaning a “since-then” condition. If someone endured unfair hardships for Christ, then God will be pleased at the one who is suffering, but He will bring divine wrath on the one who is causing His child to suffer.
2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
If one suffers for his sin, then he is getting what he deserves. If one does good and suffers, then he is finding great favor with God.
2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
The Messianic believers were not called to prosper materially, but they were called to suffer. Prosperity preachers do not like this verse. They prefer to misinterpret the Old Testament prosperity verses, which were meant for agricultural Israel and not the modern church.
2:22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.
Jesus did not commit any sins, yet he suffered worse than anyone who has ever lived. Crucifixion was a brutal execution which humiliated men. This type of execution was invented by the Phoenicians, but its actual preparation was for the Messiah. During the three hours of darkness, Christ did what no man could ever do. He suffered, as He took on all of the sins of every man who ever lived.
2:23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.
This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53. Jesus was the silent lamb who was led to the slaughter.
2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.
Charismatics spiritualize this verse to make it fit their own theology. They teach that faith healers use the wounds of Jesus to physically heal those who attend charismatic services. The Messianic believers were diseased with sin, but they were spiritually healed by the wounds of Christ. The blood of Christ brought them salvation. This verse has nothing to do with physical healing by modern faith healers.
2:25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Isaiah 53:6 prophesied that the nation of Israel were sheep who went astray from their Shepherd. However, the Remnant left the false and worthless shepherd and returned to the Good Shepherd.