- 1Wherefore 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,
- 8And 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.
- 15For 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:
- 22Who 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.
KING JAMES VERSION
1 PETER 2
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
1 Peter 2 — Those who come to Christ become living stones and a holy people, following His suffering example and returning to their Shepherd.
About this illustration
An ordinary house under construction embodies the spiritual house without suggesting a later cathedral or temple. The shepherd and returning sheep echo the chapter’s close, while Christ’s suffering remains reverently implicit and non-graphic.
Scripture basis: 1 Peter 2:1–25King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
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Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchitecture
4th–6th centuries AD
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At Poreč, successive fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-century churches culminated in Bishop Euphrasius’s cathedral ensemble, preserving mosaics, atrium, baptistery, memorial chapel, and episcopal residence.
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ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Third century AD
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ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
3rd–4th Century
Papyrus P125: 1 Peter 1:23–2:5 and 2:7–12 in a Greek Witness
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ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
4th Century
Papyrus P81: 1 Peter 2:20–3:1 and 3:4–12
Gregory-Aland P81 is a fourth-century papyrus codex leaf fragment preserving a substantial sequence of 1 Peter on suffering, Christ’s example, household conduct, and communal blessing.
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ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
sixth–seventh century AD, usually assigned to the seventh (palaeographic estimate)
Papyrus P74: Bodmer XVII Acts and Catholic Epistles
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Acts 1:2–11 · Acts 2:2–47 · Acts 9:17–22
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Three Greek papyrus codex fragments excavated at Oxyrhynchus and dated palaeographically to the late third or early fourth century AD.
P.Oxy. III 404: The Shepherd of Hermas at Oxyrhynchus
P.Oxy. III 404: The Shepherd of Hermas at Oxyrhynchus is a distinct archaeological or manuscript witness whose documented context illuminates Scripture while preserving the limits of the evidence.
1 Peter 2:4–10
Prophecy Events
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
64
Psalms 118:22–23The Rejected Stone Becomes the Cornerstone
Psalm 118 says the stone rejected by the builders becomes the head stone of the corner. Jesus and the apostles apply the image to Him; Roman witnesses document an executed founder whose movement rapidly re-emerged and spread, while resurrection and exaltation remain faith claims.
KingdomJesus ChristPsalm 118cornerstonerejection
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Isaiah 52:13–15 · Isaiah 53:1–12The Suffering Servant Is Cut Off
Isaiah portrays a rejected servant who suffers, bears sin, and is cut off. Watchman 33 identifies the servant with Jesus; a pre-Christian Isaiah manuscript and independent evidence for execution under Pilate anchor the setting, while the redemptive meaning remains theological.
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PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
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Isaiah 28:16The Tested and Precious Cornerstone
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Music
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