1 Peter · Bible in Basic English
1 Peter 2 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 So putting away all wrongdoing, and all tricks and deceits and envies and evil talk,
1 Ἀποθέμενοι οὖν πᾶσαν κακίαν καὶ πάντα δόλον καὶ ὑποκρίσεις καὶ φθόνους καὶ πάσας καταλαλιάς,
2 Be full of desire for the true milk of the word, as babies at their mothers' breasts, so that you may go on to salvation;
2 ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε [εἰς σωτηρίαν],
3 If you have had a taste of the grace of the Lord:
3 εἴπερ ἐγεύσασθε ὅτι χρηστὸς ὁ Κύριος.
4 To whom you come, as to a living stone, not honoured by men, but of great and special value to God;
4 Πρὸς ὃν προσερχόμενοι, λίθον ζῶντα, ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπων μὲν ἀποδεδοκιμασμένον, παρὰ δὲ Θεῷ ἐκλεκτόν, ἔντιμον,
5 You, as living stones, are being made into a house of the spirit, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
5 καὶ αὐτοὶ ὡς λίθοι ζῶντες οἰκοδομεῖσθε οἶκος πνευματικός, ἱεράτευμα ἅγιον, ἀνενέγκαι πνευματικὰς θυσίας εὐπροσδέκτους τῷ Θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·
6 Because it is said in the Writings, See, I am placing a keystone in Zion, of great and special value; and the man who has faith in him will not be put to shame.
6 διότι περιέχει ἐν τῇ γραφῇ· ἰδοὺ τίθημι ἐν Σιὼν λίθον ἀκρογωνιαῖον, ἐκλεκτόν, ἔντιμον, καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ.
7 And the value is for you who have faith; but it is said for those without faith, The very stone which the builders put on one side, was made the chief stone of the building;
7 ὑμῖν οὖν ἡ τιμὴ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν, ἀπειθοῦσι δὲ λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας καὶ λίθος προσκόμματος καὶ πέτρα σκανδάλου.
8 And, A stone of falling, a rock of trouble; the word is the cause of their fall, because they go against it, and this was the purpose of God.
8 οἳ προσκόπτουσι τῷ λόγῳ ἀπειθοῦντες, εἰς ὃ καὶ ἐτέθησαν.
9 But you are a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven.
9 ὑμεῖς δὲ γένος ἐκλεκτόν, βασίλειον ἱεράτευμα, ἔθνος ἅγιον, λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν, ὅπως τὰς ἀρετὰς ἐξαγγείλητε τοῦ ἐκ σκότους ὑμᾶς καλέσαντος εἰς τὸ θαυμαστὸν αὐτοῦ φῶς·
10 In the past you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; then there was no mercy for you, but now mercy has been given to you.
10 οἵ ποτε οὐ λαός, νῦν δὲ λαὸς Θεοῦ, οἱ οὐκ ἠλεημένοι, νῦν δὲ ἐλεηθέντες.
11 My loved ones, I make this request with all my heart, that, as those for whom this world is a strange country, you will keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh which make war against the soul;
11 Ἀγαπητοί, παρακαλῶ ὡς παροίκους καὶ παρεπιδήμους, ἀπέχεσθε τῶν σαρκικῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν, αἵτινες στρατεύονται κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς,
12 Being of good behaviour among the Gentiles; so that though they say now that you are evil-doers, they may see your good works and give glory to God when he comes to be their judge.
12 τὴν ἀναστροφὴν ὑμῶν ἔχοντες καλὴν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ καταλαλοῦσιν ὑμῶν ὡς κακοποιῶν, ἐκ τῶν καλῶν ἔργων ἐποπτεύσαντες δοξάσωσι τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς.
13 Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all,
13 Ὑποτάγητε οὖν πάσῃ ἀνθρωπίνῃ κτίσει διὰ τὸν Κύριον, εἴτε βασιλεῖ, ὡς ὑπερέχοντι,
14 And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well.
14 εἴτε ἡγεμόσιν, ὡς δι᾽ αὐτοῦ πεμπομένοις εἰς ἐκδίκησιν [μὲν] κακοποιῶν, ἔπαινον δὲ ἀγαθοποιῶν·
15 Because it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour:
15 ὅτι οὕτως ἐστὶ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀγαθοποιοῦντας φιμοῦν τὴν τῶν ἀφρόνων ἀνθρώπων ἀγνωσίαν·
16 As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God;
16 ὡς ἐλεύθεροι, καὶ μὴ ὡς ἐπικάλυμμα ἔχοντες τῆς κακίας τὴν ἐλευθερίαν, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς δοῦλοι Θεοῦ.
17 Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.
17 πάντας τιμήσατε, τὴν ἀδελφότητα ἀγαπᾶτε, τὸν Θεὸν φοβεῖσθε, τὸν βασιλέα τιμᾶτε.
18 Servants, take orders from your masters with all respect; not only if they are good and gentle, but even if they are bad-humoured.
18 Οἱ οἰκέται ὑποτασσόμενοι ἐν παντὶ φόβῳ τοῖς δεσπόταις, οὐ μόνον τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς καὶ ἐπιεικέσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς σκολιοῖς.
19 For it is a sign of grace if a man, desiring to do right in the eyes of God, undergoes pain as punishment for something which he has not done.
19 τοῦτο γὰρ χάρις, εἰ διὰ συνείδησιν Θεοῦ ὑποφέρει τις λύπας, πάσχων ἀδίκως.
20 What credit is it if, when you have done evil, you take your punishment quietly? but if you are given punishment for doing right, and take it quietly, this is pleasing to God.
20 ποῖον γὰρ κλέος, εἰ ἁμαρτάνοντες καὶ κολαφιζόμενοι ὑπομενεῖτε; ἀλλ᾽ εἰ ἀγαθοποιοῦντες καὶ πάσχοντες ὑπομενεῖτε, τοῦτο χάρις παρὰ Θεῷ.
21 This is God's purpose for you: because Jesus himself underwent punishment for you, giving you an example, so that you might go in his footsteps:
21 εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκλήθητε, ὅτι καὶ Χριστὸς ἔπαθεν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ὑμῖν ὑπολιμπάνων ὑπογραμμὸν ἵνα ἐπακολουθήσητε τοῖς ἴχνεσιν αὐτοῦ·
22 Who did no evil, and there was no deceit in his mouth:
22 ὃς ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ ἐποίησεν, οὐδὲ εὑρέθη δόλος ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ·
23 To sharp words he gave no sharp answer; when he was undergoing pain, no angry word came from his lips; but he put himself into the hands of the judge of righteousness:
23 ὃς λοιδορούμενος οὐκ ἀντελοιδόρει, πάσχων οὐκ ἠπείλει, παρεδίδου δὲ τῷ κρίνοντι δικαίως·
24 He took our sins on himself, giving his body to be nailed on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin, might have a new life in righteousness, and by his wounds we have been made well.
24 ὃς τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἀνήνεγκεν ἐν τῷ σώματι αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον, ἵνα ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἀπογενόμενοι τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ ζήσωμεν· οὗ τῷ μώλωπι [αὐτοῦ] ἰάθητε.
25 Because, like sheep, you had gone out of the way; but now you have come back to him who keeps watch over your souls.
25 ἦτε γὰρ ὡς πρόβατα πλανώμενα, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεστράφητε νῦν ἐπὶ τὸν ποιμένα καὶ ἐπίσκοπον τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν.
Cross references (25)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Ephesians 4:31; James 1:21; James 4:11; 1 Peter 3:10; Colossians 3:5–8
- 2 Hebrews 5:12–13; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; Mark 10:15
- 3 Psalm 34:8; Hebrews 6:5–6; Psalm 63:5; Zechariah 9:17; Psalm 24:8
- 4 Psalm 118:22–23; Acts 4:11–12; 1 Peter 2:7; Isaiah 28:16; Luke 20:17–18
- 5 Ephesians 2:20–22; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Revelation 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:16
- 6 Isaiah 28:16; Romans 9:32–33; 1 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:20; Zechariah 10:4
- 7 Psalm 118:22–23; Acts 4:11–12; Mark 12:10–11; Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter 2:8
- 8 Isaiah 8:14; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Peter 2:7; Romans 9:32–33; Romans 9:22
- 9 Exodus 19:5–6; Deuteronomy 7:6; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Isaiah 61:6
- 10 Hosea 2:23; Hosea 1:9–10; Hebrews 4:16; Romans 9:25–26; Romans 11:6–7
- 11 1 John 2:15–17; Galatians 5:24; 1 Peter 4:2; Hebrews 11:13; Romans 8:13
- 12 1 Peter 3:16; Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:7–8; Philippians 2:15–16; 2 Corinthians 8:21
- 13 Titus 3:1; Romans 13:1–7; 1 Timothy 2:1–2; Luke 20:25; Proverbs 24:21
- 14 Romans 13:3–4
- 15 1 Peter 3:17; Titus 2:8; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Matthew 7:26
- 16 Galatians 5:13; Romans 6:22; Romans 6:18; 1 Corinthians 7:22; James 1:25
- 17 Proverbs 24:21; Romans 12:10; Romans 13:7; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5
- 18 Titus 2:9–10; Colossians 3:22–25; Ephesians 6:5–7; 1 Timothy 6:1–3; Proverbs 3:32
- 19 Matthew 5:10–12; 1 Peter 3:14–17; 1 Peter 2:20; Luke 6:32; 1 Corinthians 15:10
- 20 1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 3:17; Matthew 5:10–12; 1 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 4:14–16
- 21 1 John 2:6; Matthew 16:24; John 13:15; Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 3:16
- 22 Isaiah 53:9; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5; Hebrews 7:26–27
- 23 Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 4:19; Hebrews 12:3; Psalm 37:5; Acts 4:29
- 24 Isaiah 53:4–6; Matthew 8:17; Romans 6:11; Revelation 22:2; 1 John 2:29
- 25 Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 34:6; Luke 15:4–6; Acts 20:28; John 10:11–16
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Let us then continually persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, "who bore our sins in His own body on the tree," "who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth," but endured all things for us, that we might live in Him.
And for this reason Peter says "that we have not liberty as a cloak of maliciousness," but as the means of testing and evidencing faith.
25. But you, "chosen generation, you weak things of the world," who have forsaken all things that you might "follow the Lord," go after Him, and "confound the things which are mighty;" go after Him, ye beautiful feet, and shine in the firmament, that the heavens may declare His glory, dividing between the light of the perfect, though not as …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
He is called a Stone, not a lifeless stone, cut out by men's hands, but a chief corner-stone, on whom whosoever believeth shall not be put to shame.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
When you can do good, defer it not, because "alms delivers from death." Be all of you subject one to another "having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles," that ye may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you.