1Pe 2:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | We should lay aside all evil dispositions, and desire the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby, . And come to God to be made living stones, and be built up into a spiritual temple, , . The prophecy of Christ as chief corner stone, precious to believers, but a stumbling stone to the disobedient, . True believers are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, etc., , . They should abstain from fleshly lusts, . Walk uprightly among the Gentiles, . Be obedient to civil authority, according to the will of God, . Make a prudent use of their Christian liberty, . Fear God and honor the king, . Servants should be subject to their masters, and serve them faithfully, and suffer indignities patiently, after the example of Christ, . Who bore the punishment due to our sins in his own body upon the tree, . They were formerly like sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls, . Verse 1 Wherefore, laying aside - This is in close connection with the preceding chapter, from which it should not have been separated, and the subject is continued to the end of the 10th verse. Laying aside all malice - See the notes on (note). These tempers and dispositions must have been common among the Jews, as they are frequently spoken against: Christianity can never admit of such; they show the mind, not of Christ, but of the old murderer.

1 Peter 2:1-3

Introduction

We should lay aside all evil dispositions, and desire the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby, 1Pet 2:1-3. And come to God to be made living stones, and be built up into a spiritual temple, 1Pet 2:4, 1Pet 2:5. The prophecy of Christ as chief corner stone, precious to believers, but a stumbling stone to the disobedient, 1Pet 2:6-8. True believers are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, etc., 1Pet 2:9, 1Pet 2:10. They should abstain from fleshly lusts, 1Pet 2:11. Walk uprightly among the Gentiles, 1Pet 2:12. Be obedient to civil authority, according to the will of God, 1Pet 2:13-15. Make a prudent use of their Christian liberty, 1Pet 2:16. Fear God and honor the king, 1Pet 2:17. Servants should be subject to their masters, and serve them faithfully, and suffer indignities patiently, after the example of Christ, 1Pet 2:18-23. Who bore the punishment due to our sins in his own body upon the tree, 1Pet 2:24. They were formerly like sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls, 1Pet 2:25.

Verse 1

Wherefore, laying aside - This is in close connection with the preceding chapter, from which it should not have been separated, and the subject is continued to the end of the 10th verse.

Laying aside all malice - See the notes on Eph 4:22-31 (note). These tempers and dispositions must have been common among the Jews, as they are frequently spoken against: Christianity can never admit of such; they show the mind, not of Christ, but of the old murderer. Verse 2

As new-born babes - In the preceding chapter, 1Pet 1:23, the apostle states that they had been born again; and as the new-born infant desires that aliment which nature has provided for it, so they, being born again - born from above, should as earnestly require that heavenly nourishment which is suited to their new nature; and this the apostle calls the sincere milk of the word, το λογικον αδολον γαλα, or, as some translate, the rational unadulterated milk; i.e. the pure doctrines of the Gospel, as delivered in the epistles and gospels, and as preached by the apostles and their successors. The rabbins frequently express learning to know the law, etc., by the term sucking, and their disciples are often denominated those that suck the breast. The figure is very expressive: as a child newly born shows an immediate desire for that nourishment, and that only, which is its most proper food; so they, being just born of God, should show that the incorruptible seed abides in them, and that they will receive nothing that is not suited to that new nature: and, indeed, they can have no spiritual growth but by the pure doctrines of the Gospel.

That ye may grow thereby - Εις σωτηριαν, Unto salvation, is added here by ABC, and about forty others; both the Syriac, the Arabic of Erpen, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Slavonic, Vulgate, and several of the ancient fathers. The reading is undoubtedly genuine, and is very important. It shows why they were regenerated, and why they were to desire the unadulterated doctrines of the Gospel; viz.: that they might grow up unto salvation. This was the end they should always have in view; and nothing could so effectually promote this end as continually receiving the pure truth of God, claiming the fulfillment of its promises, and acting under its dictates. Verse 3

If so be ye have tasted - Ειπερ εγευσασθε· Seeing ye have tasted. There could be no doubt that they had tasted the goodness of Christ who were born again, of incorruptible seed, and whose hearts were purified by the truth, and who had like precious faith with the apostles themselves.

That the Lord is gracious - Ὁτι χρηστος ὁ Κυριος· From the similarity of the letters, many MSS. and several of the fathers have read, Χριστος ὁ κυριος, the Lord is Christ, or Christ is the Lord.

This seems to refer to Psa 34:8 : O taste and see that the Lord is good; Γευσασθε και ιδετε ὁτι χρηστος ὁ Κυριος, Sept. And there is still a reference to the sucking child that, having once tasted its mother's milk, ever after desires and longs for it. As they were born of God, and had tasted his goodness, they would naturally desire the same pure unadulterated milk of the word.