Peter continues his admonishment to be holy in chapter 2, beginning by urging them to leave behind wickedness, thoughts and deeds of ill will toward others, and to study God’s word. The reference to the Scriptures as spiritual milk is used in other passages such as Hebrews 5:12 and 1 Corinthians 3:2. Verse 3’s reference to having “tasted” that the Lord is good, is quoted from Psalm 34:8 appropriately here, as the entire Psalm is about the Lord delivering the righteous who are suffering. He then describes them as a living stone “rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,” being built up as a spiritual house, with Jesus as the cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22).

He addresses Christians in verse 9, referring to them with terms that were reserved for Jews in the past – “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 7:6, Isaiah 61:6). Many of them were Gentiles. Peter then tells them they must abstain from passions of the flesh, and keep their actions among the Gentiles honorable, referring to unbelievers as “Gentiles.” Living as a holy people, they must submit to the authority of those who rule, and by doing good amid their suffering and persecution they honor Jesus who suffered, “but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”

Peter, in chapter 3, has a lot say about how wives should treat their husbands and vice-versa. And he has a lot to say about how Christ suffered and died to save us. But it is a chapter that is often overlooked by those who would say that baptism is not necessary. Such belief requires tossing out completely the last two verses of this chapter. Consider verses 21-222:

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

/Bob’s boy

Bible Reading Schedule for this month
Click links below to read or listen to audio of one of this week’s chapters in Colossians and Luke

James 4, James 5, 1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 2, 1 Peter 3

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All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.