The Living Stone and Chosen People
(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

1Therefore, having put off all malice and all deceit and hypocrisies and envies and all evil-speakings, 2like newborn babies, long for the reasonable, unspoiled milk, so that in it you⁺ may grow up into salvation,† 3if you⁺ tasted that the Lord is good.

4Coming to Him, a living stone, indeed rejected by men but chosen and precious with God, 5you yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Therefore it is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone,

a chosen and precious cornerstone;

and the one believing on Him

shall never be put to shame.Ӡ

7Therefore the preciousness is to you⁺ who are believing. But to those disbelieving,

“The stone that those building rejected,

this became into the head of the corner,Ӡ

8and,

“A stone of stumbling

and a rock of offense.Ӡ

They stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

9But you⁺ are a chosen kindred, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you⁺ may proclaim the excellencies of the One having called you⁺ out of darkness into His marvelous light, 10who once were not a people, but now are the people of God—those not having received mercy, but now having received mercy.†

11Beloved, I exhort you, as foreigners and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly desires, which war against the soul, 12having your⁺ conduct among the Gentiles good, so that wherein which they speak against you⁺ as evildoers, out of having witnessed the good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities
(Romans 13:1–7)

13Be in subjection† to every human creation because of the Lord, whether to the king as being supreme, 14or to governors as being sent by him for punishment to evildoers and praise to doers of good, 15because the will of God is this: doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 16as free, and not having the freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as servants of God. 17Honor everyone: love the brotherhood,† fear God, honor the king.

18Servants, be subject in all fear† to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked. 19For this is grace, if because of conscience toward God, anyone bears up under griefs, suffering unjustly. 20For what kind of renown is it if sinning and being battered, you⁺ shall endure? But if doing good and suffering, you⁺ shall endure, this is grace with God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering
(Isaiah 53:1–8)

21For to this you⁺ were called, because Christ also suffered for you⁺,† leaving you⁺ an example so that you⁺ should follow after His footsteps:

22“Who committed no sin,

nor was deceit found in His mouth.Ӡ

23Who, being reviled,

was not reviling in return;

suffering, was not threatening,

but He was giving Himself up to the One judging justly,

24who Himself bore our sins†

in His body on the tree,

so that, having been dead to sins,

we might live to righteousness,

“by whose stripes you⁺ were healed.”†

25For “you⁺ were like sheep going astray,”† but now you⁺ returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your⁺† souls.

Footnotes:

2 RP does not include into salvation.
6 Isaiah 28:16 (see also LXX)
7 Psalm 118:22
8 Isaiah 8:14
10 Hosea 2:23
13 BYZ and TR include therefore.
17 Or Love the brotherhood of believers
18 Or with all respect
21 BYZ and TR for us
22 Isaiah 53:9
24 Isaiah 53:4 (see also LXX)
24 Isaiah 53:5
25 Isaiah 53:6
25 F35 our