New Testament Commentary - 1 Peter 2

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 2 Converts are new born babes in Christ—He is the chief cornerstone—Saints hold a royal priesthood and are a peculiar people—We are in subjection to the laws of man.
1 WHEREFORE laying aside all ^amalice, and all ^bguile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil ^cspeakings, 2 As ^anewborn babes, desire the ^bsincere ^cmilk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have ^atasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but ^achosen of God^a, and precious, 5 Ye also, as ^alively stones, are built up a ^bspiritual ^chouse, an holy priesthood, to offer up ^dspiritual ^esacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion [Zion] a chief ^acorner ^bstone, elect^a, precious: and he that ^cbelieveth on him shall not be ^dconfounded.	4^a chosen of God The Firstborn spirit son of God the Father of Spirits was so chosen by God the Father when God asked, 'Whom shall I send?', and Jehovah answered, "Here am I, send me.' Once so chosen in the premortal preexistence, God the Father annointed and ordained Jehovah to be he who would redeem mankind from the fall. And as only those who did 'pertain' unto this second estate are to minister unto it (D&C 130:5), God the Father set His chosen son to be and act in his stead in all things temporal from the creation to the atonement to the final judgment and resurrection of all mankind. 6^a elect One might think that since heaven was a theocracy wherein God ruled, that God's children did not have a choice or vote in the matter. Those who consider this do not understand the process of 'common concent. Certainly Jesus Christ was 'elected', not only by the voice of God the Father's selection when he said, 'I will send the First', but also when the spirit children of God the Father voiced there own vote of sustaining or rejecting Jehovah as the Messiah. One third part of the host of heaven who followed after Lucifer did use their 'vote' in rebellion to Christ and God the Father. They were 'antichrist' and the plan of having a Messiah who would suffer for sin based upon repentance. They reather chose by their descent the plan of Lucifer which was to save all, but not to a state of Godhood, but to a state of subjection unto him. They understood fully and well what they were not supporting and they would rather support the plan of Lucifer which was designed to thwart the agency of man in lew of a guaranteed level of salvation under Lucifer's rule. That third part got what they voted for, to be subject to Satan, but not to do so in the presence of God the Father. They were cast out of heaven and will never return to God's presence.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be ^adisobedient, the stone which the builders ^bdisallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a ^astone of ^bstumbling, and a ^crock of ^doffence, even to them which ^estumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were ^fappointed.
9 But ye are a ^achosen generation, a ^broyal ^cpriesthood, an ^dholy ^enation, a ^fpeculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of ^gdarkness into his marvellous ^hlight: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as ^astrangers and ^bpilgrims, ^cabstain from ^dfleshly lusts, which ^ewar against the soul; 12 Having your conversation ^ahonest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good ^bworks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 ^aSubmit yourselves to every ^bordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as ^csupreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to ^asilence the ^bignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your ^aliberty for a cloke of ^bmaliciousness, but as the ^cservants of God.
17 ^aHonour all men. Love the ^bbrotherhood. ^cFear God. Honour the ^dking. 18 ^aServants, be subject to your ^bmasters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ^cfroward. 19 For this is ^athankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure ^bgrief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it ^apatiently? but if, when ye do well, and ^bsuffer for it, ye take it ^cpatiently, this is ^dacceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also ^asuffered for us, leaving us an ^bexample, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no ^asin, neither was ^bguile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was ^areviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but ^bcommitted himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self ^abare our ^bsins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose ^cstripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as ^asheep going astray; but are now returned unto the ^bShepherd and ^dBishop of your souls.