Read & explore together
The Living Stone and Chosen People
This passage calls believers to turn from corrupt speech and attitudes, grow by what the Lord gives, come to Jesus as the living stone, and live publicly in ways that fit God’s mercy and calling.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
The passage moves in order from putting away sinful practices to longing for growth, then to Jesus as the living stone and cornerstone. It next describes believers as God’s chosen people who received mercy, and finishes with an appeal to abstain from harmful desires and maintain good behaviour among the nations.
1 Peter 2:1–12Main takeaway
Those who come to Jesus share a new identity as God’s people and are called to show it in holy, visible conduct.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Put away what damages and long to growThe passage begins with a list to remove: wickedness, deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking.
Explanation
The passage begins with a list to remove: wickedness, deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking. In their place comes a strong desire, like newborn babies wanting milk. The “pure spiritual milk” is linked with growth, and this appeal rests on having tasted that the Lord is gracious.
02Come to the living stoneJesus is described as “a living stone”. People rejected him, yet God chose him and calls him precious.
Explanation
Jesus is described as “a living stone”. People rejected him, yet God chose him and calls him precious. Those who come to him are also called living stones. The passage says they are being built into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
03The cornerstone means honour for believersThe next lines quote Scripture about a chief cornerstone laid in Zion, chosen and precious.
Explanation
The next lines quote Scripture about a chief cornerstone laid in Zion, chosen and precious. The promise attached to believing is that such a person will not be disappointed. The passage then says, “for you who believe therefore is the honor”, showing the special place given to those who trust in him.
04The same stone is also a stumbling stoneThe passage also describes the stone in another way for those who are disobedient. The rejected stone becomes the chief cornerstone, and also “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense”.
Explanation
The passage also describes the stone in another way for those who are disobedient. The rejected stone becomes the chief cornerstone, and also “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense”. It says they stumble at the word, so the same stone marks a sharp difference between belief and disobedience.
05Chosen people should show God’s excellenceBelievers are called a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own possession.
Explanation
Believers are called a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own possession. They once were not a people and had not obtained mercy, but now they are God’s people who have obtained mercy. Therefore they should abstain from fleshly lusts and keep good behaviour so others may see and glorify God.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What change does the passage describe between verse 1 and verse 2?
Set the list of attitudes and speech to put away beside the picture of longing for pure spiritual milk, and notice that the goal is growth.
02How does the passage describe both Jesus and those who come to him?
Notice the repeated stone language, then list what believers become in relation to him: living stones, a spiritual house, and a holy priesthood.
03What reasons does the passage give for good behaviour among the nations?
Use the identity and mercy statements first, then include the stated result that others may see good works and glorify God.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Peter 2:1–12
1Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
2as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow,
3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
5You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”
7For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”
8and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God in the day of visitation.