Desire to Grow
1   Therefore  laying  aside  all  malice,  and  all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,
2   As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
3   If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Living Stone and a Chosen Generation
4   To whom  coming, as unto a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5   You also, as living stones, are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6   Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.
7   Unto  you  therefore  who  believe  he  is precious: but unto them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner,
8   And, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed.
9   But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10   Who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11   Dearly beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12   Having your conduct honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as  evildoers,  they  may  by  your  good  works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submit to All in Authority
13   Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
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 you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16   As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17   Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18   Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
19   For this is commendable, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
20   For what glory is it, if, when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is commendable with God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering
21   For even to this were you called: because Christ   also   suffered   for   us,   leaving   us   an example, that you should follow his steps:
22   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23   Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:
24   Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
25   For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.