彼得前書
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第二章
信徒像活石建造成靈宮
1 所以要除去一切惡毒、一切詭詐、虛偽、嫉妒和一切毀謗的話,
2 像初生嬰孩愛慕那純淨的靈奶,好叫你們靠它長大,進入救恩;
3 因為你們已經體驗過主是美善的。
4 主是活石,雖然被人棄絕,卻是 神所揀選所珍貴的;你們到他面前來,
5 也就像活石,被建造成為靈宮,作聖潔的祭司,借着耶穌基督獻上蒙 神悅納的靈祭。
6 因為經上記着:“看哪,我在錫安放了一塊石頭,就是所揀選所珍貴的房角石,信靠他的人,必不致失望。”
7 所以這石頭,對你們信的人是寶貴的,但對那不信的人,卻是“建築工人所棄的石頭,成了房角的主要石頭。”
8 它又“作了絆腳的石頭,使人跌倒的磐石。”他們跌倒是因為不順從這道,他們這樣是必然的。
9 然而你們是蒙揀選的族類,是君尊的祭司,是聖潔的國民,是屬 神的子民,為要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。
10 “你們從前不是子民,現在卻是 神的子民;從前未蒙憐恤,現在卻蒙了憐恤。”
應當品行端正
11 親愛的,我勸你們作客旅和寄居的人,要禁戒肉體的私慾,這私慾是與靈魂爭戰的。
12 你們在教外人中,應當品行端正,使那些人,雖然毀謗你們是作惡的,但因為看見你們的好行為,就要在鑑察的日子頌讚 神。
13 你們為主的緣故,要順服人的一切制度,無論是至尊的君王,
14 或是君王所派賞善罰惡的官員;
15 因為這是 神的旨意,要借着你們的善行,塞住糊塗無知人的口。
16 你們是自由的人,但不要用自由來掩飾邪惡,總要像 神的僕人。
17 要尊重眾人,愛護弟兄,敬畏 神,尊敬君王。
基督受苦的榜樣
18 你們作僕人的,要凡事敬畏順服主人,不單是對善良溫和的,就是乖僻的也要順服。
19 因為人若在 神面前為良心的緣故,忍受冤屈的苦楚,是有福的。
20 你們若因犯罪受責打而能忍耐,有什麼可夸的呢?但你們若因行善而受苦,能忍耐,在 神看來,這是有福的。
21 你們就是為此蒙召,因基督也為你們受過苦,給你們留下榜樣,叫你們跟隨他的腳蹤行。
22 “他從來沒有犯過罪,口裡也找不到詭詐。”
23 他被罵的時候不還嘴,受苦的時候也不說恐嚇的話;只把自己交託給那公義的審判者。
24 他在木頭上親身擔當了我們的罪,使我們既然不活在罪中,就可以為義而活。因他受的鞭傷,你們就得了醫治。
25 你們從前好像迷路的羊,但現在已經回到你們靈魂的牧人和監督那裡了。
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in ????ure it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,"
8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 ???? yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,
14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
18 Slaves, ???? yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.