" 4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has beenrejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, tooffer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ 6For this is contained in Scripture:
"BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

1. A Spiritual House For a Holy Priesthood: "you ...are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood" 2:5. See Matt. 16:18 or Heb. 12:26-28.

2. Living Stones in the Temple: " you also, as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house"2:5, Eph. 4:15.

b. Peter interprets OT prophecy to refer to Jesus and not himself. 1st Peter 2:6-7 (see Isa. 28:16).

(1) Augustine: Upon me I will build thee, not upon me upon thee. For men who wished to be built upon men said, "I am of Paul and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas, who is Peter.' But others who did not wish to be built on Peter, but on the Rock said, "But I am of Christ." And when the apostle Paul ascertained that he was chosen and Christ despised, he said, 'Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? And, as not in the name of Paul, neither in the name of Peter; but in the name of Christ, that Peter might be built on the Rock, not the Rock on Peter."

(3) Hilary of Potiers in De Trinitate: Book VI says "this is the rock of confession wherein the church is built...This faith is the foundation of the church...."

"7This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 8 and,"A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE";
For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed."

a. "Holy" priesthood: lives a holy life so that we can adequately represent Him to others and approach Him.

9. Presenting ones converts to God (Rom. 15:16) offering of First Fruits ---see meal offering.

c. But-----all of these sacrifices are to be offered through Jesus our High Priest. Heb. 13:25; Col. 3:17.

NATION,A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 11Beloved, I urge you asaliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

a. OT Jews were a kingdom that contained some Priest and some kings. Ex. 19: 5-6.

a. One nation unified under one head, Jesus Christ the king. Rev. 1:9; Col. 1:13; Eph. 4:5-6.

b. Holy nation because "sanctified by the blood and the Holy Spirit and dedicated to live a holy life. Eph. 1:1, 4; Tit. 2;11-12,14.

a. Formerly these were not God's people: quotation of Hos. 1:10 cited in Romans 9:25 and interpreted to include the Gentiles. (Context of Hosea shows it applies to Northern Israel which was disinherited by God and who became Gentiles to Him (thus ceased to be His children), but they could later come back to him with other Gentiles through Christ).

b. Jesus purified Himself a "people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" Tit. 1:12-16.

c. Privilege to know that God wants to possess us just as much as we want to posses Him. Eph. 1:13-14, 18.

1. Christians have received mercy to tell the world about this mercy - the gospel. 1st Tim. 1:12-16.

2. Christians who have received the light are to share the light. Matt. 5:14-16.

3. Christians who have experienced the "excellencies" of god through knowledge of Him, have the responsibility to tell the world How Great He is." Tit. 2:11-14.

11"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain fromfleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God. 17Honor all people,love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. "

his/her home. 2. In a figurative sense: Christians whose real home is in heaven...Gingrich-Danker - p. 629.

2. Parepideimous: "Stranger" exile, sojourner, resident alien. Of Christians who are not at home in this world. . . 1st Peter 2:11 - Gingrich-Danker p. 625.

B. Warfare of foreign Citizens: "abstain from fleshly lust which wage war against the soul." 2:11

a. Israel faced many enemies as they crossed the wilderness and sought to enter the promised land.

b. Christians have constant battle with Satan and his spiritual host: Eph. 6: 10-12.

2. The nature of our warfare: inward battle of the soul against fleshly lust. Gal. 5: 16-24.

a. Apecho: a distance from....be far from something is to abstain. "Gingrich-Danker" p. 85.

a. Greek word, kalein from kalos: "beautiful in outward appearance...good...useful...free from defects...morally good..." Gingrich-Danker.

b. Our conduct must not only be good but beautiful in order to attract the "gentile" world.

c. Purity of conduct is not really kalos (beautiful) until it shows Christ in the way we live. Jn. 13:35

2. Persuasive Conduct: "In the thing in which they slander you as evil doers they may account of your good deeds, as they observe them glorify God in the day of visitation." 2:12

(3) Accused of being opposed to economic growth because of opposition to selling idols. (Acts 18:21-41).

b. Manner of Refutation: the only effective way to refute these charges is to live a life so lovely that the lifestyle proves the accusations to be untrue.

(1) "Gentiles" is from the Greek ethna (Nations) and is used figuratively to contrast the spiritual Israelite (Christians) to represent the unconverted masses who are not the people of God.

(2) The final purpose is not to defend the reputation of the "Christians," as it is t convert the heathen. If they glorify God "in the day of visitation" this presupposes their conversion whether the 'day of visitation" here refers to the final judgment or the day of their salvation. (Psa. 106:4; Lk. 1:68; Mal. 3:13-18).

(3) The main purpose of good works is to glorify God ourselves and to persuade those to whom we do these good works for

(4) Our good works should not bring glory to ourselves but to reflect the glory of Christ whose life we imitate and whose person we are serving when we do good works.

a. Definition of submit.--hupotasso--place on under the rank and authority of another. (notice, we are to submit, Peter did not use the word we are to obey).

c. Understand that these people can only be obeyed as long as the do not conflict with the Word. Acts 5:29.

b. Because the Lord has instituted human government for the good society. (Romans 13:1-14).

c. Because good conduct will refute the false accusations that Christians do not obey civil government: "for such is the will of
God that by doing right we may silence the ignorance of foolish men."

(1) The false accusation that Christians do not honor Caesar because of King Jesus will disprove the slander, for, king Jesus commands his people to submit to government.

(2) "Put to silence" means to "muzzle a mad dog" or an ox. The best way to silence a slanderer is to live so no one will believe him/her.

b. Nero did not deserve submission, but the grace of Christ gives unmerited service to others.

c. "this is the will of God." to show submission to others even when they do not deserve it.

d. The office as well as the person must be respected because God instituted it.

3. We are to "Acts as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering to d do evil, but use it as bond slaves". 2:16

b. While citizens of a national kingdom, we are still citizens of the spiritual kingdom.

c. We are then to "honor all men, love the brotherhood, and fear God, and honor the king." 2:17.

i 

Questions to Answer 
1. God gave civil government the authority to do 
what jobs? 
2. Under what conditions does God require us to 
practice civil disobedience or civil nonparticipation? 
3. Is there a time when it is wise and morally 
justifiable to submit to an out-of-order 
government? 
4. To what extent is it wise to avoid entanglements 
with an out-of-order government? 
5. When is it a time for revolution? 
6. Should Christians work towards establishing a 
civil government on Biblical principles? 
7. What are Gods principles for establishing and 
operating a wise and righteous civil government? 
8. How are oaths, contracts and civil obligations 
binding? 
Righteous Civil Disobedience 
9. Exodus 1:17. The Midwives disobey the 
command of Pharaoh by not killing the Israelite 
newborn sons. 
10. Exodus 2:3. Moses parents hide him from 
Pharaohs law. (Hebrews 11:23.) 
11. Joshua 2:3-4. Rahab hides the spies from the 
king of Jeriko. 
12. Judges 6:11. Gideon hides his grain to keep the 
Midianite rulers from confiscating it. 
13. First Samuel 14:28. Jonathan disobeys his father 
Saul by eating honey, and the people disobey 
Saul by rescuing Jonathan from Saul. 
14. First Samuel 19:1-10. David flees from Sauls 
death sentence. 
15. First Samuel 19:14-16. Michal deceives Sauls 
servants about Davids location. 
16. First Samuel 21:2. David lies to Abimelich the 
priest saying that Saul gave him a commission 
when Saul had not. 
17. First Samuel 22:17. Saul’s footmen refuse to 
obey Saul by killing the priests of God. 
18. First Samuel 27:11. David deceives the 
Philistine king about his pillaging. 
19. Second Samuel 15-16. Hushai conspires with 
David to overthrow Absalom, who had taken 
the position of king. 
20. Second Samuel 17:19-20. Women hid the 
messengers in a well from Absaloms soldiers. 
21. Second Chronicles 26:16-18. The priests 
stopped Uzziah the king from offering a sacrifice 
in the temple. 
22. Ezra 5:2, 13. The Jews resume the rebuilding of 
the temple and the wall of Jerusalem, disobeying 
Darius, but obeying the original command of 
Cyrus. 
23. Esther 3:2. Mordecai did not bow to Haman as 
the king Ahasuerus commanded. 
24. Daniel 3:16-18; 26-30. The three Jews 
disobeyed the king by not bowing to the golden 
image, therefore Nebuchadnezzar had them 
thrown into the fiery furnace. 
25. Daniel 6:10-13. Daniel disobeys Darius in 
praying to God, and is thrown into the lions 
den. 
26. Matthew 2:12-13. The wise men and Joseph 
disobey Herod the king in trying to save Jesus. 
27. Acts 4:19; 5:29. Peter disobeys the Jewish 
leaders in order to preach the gospel of Christ. 
28. Acts 17:7. Jason harbors Christians against the 
command of Cesar. 
29. Revelation 14:9-12. The saints do not obey the 
beast by taking the mark of the beast. 
Wicked Civil Obedience 
30. Judges15:9-12. The Israelites deliver Sampson 
to the Philistines lords. 
31. Second Samuel 11:14-25. Joab obeys king 
David in causing Uriah the Hittite to die in 
battle. 
32. First Kings 21:11. The elders of a city obey 
1 Jezebel by killing Naboth. 
33. Second Kings 16:15-16. The priests obey Ahaz 
by setting up a new pagan altar in the temple. 
34. First Kings 15:18-19. Second Chronicles 16:2- 
4. Without the counsel of God, Asa sent 
treasures to the king of Syria asking him to 
attack Israel and not Judah. 
35. Second Kings 12:18. Without the counsel of 
God, Jahoash sent treasures to the king of Syria 
so that he would not attack Jerusalem. 
36. Second Kings 16:7-9. Ahaz sent treasures to the 
king of Assyria acknowledging the king of 
Assyria as his lord, and asking him to attack 
Syria. 
37. Second Kings 18:14-16. The king of Assyria 
appointed a tribute from Hezekiah king of 
38. Micah 6:16. Israel is punished for obeying their 
39. Hosea 5:1. Ephraim is punished for obeying 
40. Revelation 13:3-18. The people of the world do 
Judah, which Hezekiah paid. 
kings. 
their kings. 
evil by obeying the beast. 
Righteous Civil Obedience and Wicked 
Civil Disobedience 
41. Second Chronicles 36:13. Zedekiah disobeyed 
God by rebelling. 
42. Second Chronicles 36:23. God gave the 
kingdom of Israel to King Cyrus. (Ezra 1:2.) 
43. Isaiah 44:28-45:1. Cyrus is God’s servant. 
44. Jeremiah 24. God will bless those in captivity. 
45. Jeremiah 25. Because the nations would not 
repent, God will send Nebuchadnezzar His 
servant to take them captive for seventy years. 
46. Jeremiah 26. Jeremiah prophesied the 
destruction of Jerusalem, for which the Jewish 
leaders would have killed him, except some of 
the princes saved him by acknowledging 
Jeremiah to be a true prophet. 
47. Jeremiah 27. God told all the nations to serve 
Nebuchadnezzar and prosper, or else rebel and 
suffer God’s wrath. 
48. Jeremiah 28. Hannaniah prophesied that 
Jerusalem should rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, 
but God killed him and reasserted that 
Jerusalem was to serve Nebuchadnezzar. 
49. Jeremiah 29. Jeremiah sent a letter from God to 
the Babylonian captives telling them not to 
rebel, but to settle down and prosper till God 
50. Ezekiel 17:15-18. Zedekiah broke his word in 
51. Daniel 2:37-38. All nations are to obey 
brought them back. 
rebelling. 
Nebuchadnezzar. 
Taxes 
52. First Samuel 17:25. Saul made Davids fathers 
house free from paying taxes. 
53. Ezra 4:13. The jealous leaders from surrounding 
cities complain that if the Jews rebuilt Jerusalem 
then the Jews might stop paying taxes. 
54. Ezra 6:8. The rebuilding of Jerusalem was 
funded by Persian taxes. 
55. Ezra 7:24. The Persian king commanded that 
taxes not be levied on the Jewish religious 
leaders. 
56. Nehemiah 5:4. The poor Jews borrowed money 
from the rich Jews to pay Persian taxes. 
57. Matthew 17:24-27. Jesus disciples do not need 
to pay the temple tax. (Exodus 30:13. Temple 
tax.) 
58. Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 
20:20-26. Jesus says that taxes are due to Caesar 
when you use Caesars money (receive privileges 
and benefits from Caesar). 
59. Luke 2:1-3. Caesar taxed the whole world. 
60. Luke 3:12-13. John the Baptist commands the 
tax gatherers to gather taxes in a just manner. 
61. Luke 23:2. The Jews thought that Jesus forbade 
the paying of taxes. 
62. Acts 5:37. There was time when Rome taxed the 
people of all nations. 
Duties and Powers of Civil Government 
63. Genesis 4:11-15. For Cains sake, God did not 
punish Cain for murdering his brother. 
64. Genesis 9:5-6. God commands Noah that all 
men are to put murderers to death. 
65. Exodus 21:12-14. Moses commands Israel that 
2 they are to put murderers to death. 
66. Exodus 21:22-25. Men are to punish a man 
who injures another man eye for eye. 
67. Exodus 22:2. Moses commands that a man who 
catches a thief in the act of robbing and kills the 
thief, is not to be put to death himself. 
68. Numbers 35:16-21. Moses commands Israel 
that they are to put murderers to death. 
69. Deuteronomy 1:16-17. Judges are to judge 
righteously between men. 
70. Deuteronomy 25:1. Judges are to judge 
righteous and just judgments. 
71. Joshua 1:16-18. Israel promises to obey Joshua’s 
commands, and put to death all that disobey. 
72. Psalm 72:1-2. We pray that God would cause 
the king to be just, and let him and his heirs 
judge the people righteously. 
73. Psalm 82:2-4. Judges should defend the poor 
and needy from the wicked. 
74. Isaiah 1:17. Learn to do justice by relieving the 
poor and oppressed and by pleading for the less 
75. Luke 20:20. The Roman governor had power 
76. John 19:10-11. Pilate says that he has the power 
fortunate. 
and authority. 
to kill Jesus. 
77. Revelation 13:10. Those who kill will be killed. 
Duties of Citizens and Advice on Attitude 
towards Civil Government 
78. Exodus 22:28. Israel should not speak evil of 
God, nor curse a civil ruler. 
79. Deuteronomy 17:8-13. When a civil case arises 
that you can not resolve amongst yourselves, you 
should go the priests, or the judge which God 
has set over you, and you should obey exactly his 
judgment of God’s law in that matter. Anyone 
80. First Kings 1:34. David commanded that all the 
who disobeys should be put to death. 
people say, “God save King Solomon. 
81. First Chronicles 29:20. All the people rejoiced 
and bowed and worshiped God and king 
Solomon. 
82. First Chronicles 29:24. All the leaders of Israel 
submitted to Solomon as their new king. 
83. Proverbs 16:14-15. If you anger a king, it is like 
receiving a death sentence, but a wise man will 
conciliate the king. The kings favor brings 
blessings. 
84. Proverbs 19:12. The anger of a king is 
dangerous, but his favor is beneficial. 
85. Proverbs 20:2. A person who angers the king 
does something evil and unwise to his own life. 
86. Proverbs 24:21-22. Fear God and the king, and 
do not support people who like change. 
87. Ecclesiastes 8:2-5. It is wise to obey the 
commands of a dictator-king. Do no evil, keep 
in his good graces, and you will prosper. A wise 
man knows when to obey. 
88. Ecclesiastes 10:4. It is wise to pacify a ruler who 
has become angry with you. 
89. Ecclesiastes 10:20. Do not speak evil of the king 
nor of powerful men for they may hear you. 
90. Isaiah 29:20-21. God will destroy tyrants and 
unjust persons, who punish without just cause, 
and enact laws which discipline bogus offenses. 
(We are not obliged to obey trivial or unjust 
laws.) 
91. Acts 25:8. In his defense, Paul says that he did 
nothing to disobey Caesar or the Jewish law. 
92. Romans 13:1-7. Obey the civil authorities 
which God has created. If you rebel against 
God’s rulers, you rebel against God. For a ruler 
is one who punishes evil and rewards good. 
Therefore you would only fear one of Gods 
rulers if you were doing evil. We owe taxes and 
respect to God’s rulers. 
93. First Timothy 2:1-3. Pray to God for kings and 
authorities, so they may let us live and obey God 
in peace. 
94. Titus 3:1-2. Do not to be rebellious against civil 
authorities, but to be ready to be helpful, and to 
show good manners to all men. 
95. First Peter 2:13-17. Submit to all civil 
authorities; the king and the officers which the 
king sends to administer justice. Show everyone 
that Christ does not promote rebellion. Use the 
civil liberties God has given you to serve God. 
Honor and respect the king. 
Participation in Government 
3 96. Genesis 19:1. Lot sat as a judge in the gates of 
Sodom. 
97. Genesis 39:21-23. Joseph works as an 
administrator in Pharaoh’s prison, even though 
98. Genesis 41:38-45. Joseph was prime minister of 
99. Esther 10:1-3. Mordecai was an administrator in 
100. Daniel 2:48-49. Daniel and his three 
he was unjustly imprisoned. 
Egypt under Pharaoh. 
Ahasuerus’ government. 
countrymen work as an administrators in 
101. Daniel 6:1. Daniel works as an administrator 
102. Cornelius was an officer in the Roman military 
Nebuchadnezzar’s government. 
Darius’ government. 
occupation. 
Creation of Kings and Governments 
103. Deuteronomy 17:14-20. When Israel sets a king 
over themselves they are to follow God’s choice 
for king, he must be an Israelite, and he must 
follow certain rules. 
104. First Samuel 2:8. God promotes even poor men 
and puts them into power. 
105. First Samuel 8. Israel asked for a king, God 
warns them about the nature of a kingdom. 
106. Second Samuel 2:3-4. The men of Judah anoint 
David to be their king. 
107. Second Samuel 5:1-3. The leaders of Israel 
admit that God had appointed David to be their 
king, so they anoint David to be king. 
108. First Kings 1:5. Adonijah said he would be king. 
109. First Kings 11:30-31. God gave Israel to 
110. First Chronicles 28:4-5. God set up David to be 
111. Jeremiah 27:5-8. God gave Nebuchadnezar 
112. Daniel 2:21. God gives power to kings and takes 
113. Hosea 8:4. Israel set up kings without the 
114. Matthew 4:8-10. Satin has the power to give 
Jeroboam. 
king. 
power. 
it away. 
counsel of God, and so God will punish them. 
kingdoms to Jesus. 
Duties of Kings 
115. Psalm 2. Kings should submit to Christ or be 
punished. 
116. Proverbs 8:15-16. Kings reign by wisdom. 
117. Proverbs 14:35. A king’s favor is towards wise 
servants. 
118. Proverbs 20:8, 28. Just and wise kings put down 
evil. 
Disobedience of Kings 
119. First Kings 12:28-30; 14:16. Jeroboam made 
Israel to sin. 
120. First Kings 21:7-8. Jezebel kills Nadab. 
121. Second Kings 16:15-16. Ahaz changed the 
temple altar. 
122. Second Chronicles 26:16-20. Uziah offered 
incense in the temple himself and is punished. 
Revolution 
123. The high priest hid the little king in the temple 
until he grew older, and then started a 
revolution to overthrow Athaliah. 
Inalienable Rights and Civil Privileges 
124. Acts 16:37. Paul asserts his Roman right to trial. 
125. Acts 22:25. Paul asserts his Roman right to trial. 
126. Acts 25:16. Roman citizens must face their 
accusers. (Deuteronomy 19:27.) 
127. Acts 25:11. Paul appeals to Caesar. 
Persecution 
128. Matthew 10:16:23; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 12:8- 
12; 21:12-19. Men shall put Christians to death 
for teaching the truth, but there is hope in the 
end. 
129. Second Timothy 3:12. All those who live godly 
lives will suffer persecution of some sort. 
130. Hebrews 13:5-6; Psalm 56:4. Do not be afraid 
of what man can do to us, God will help us. 
131. First Peter 3:17. If it is God’s will, it is good to 
suffer for doing good. 
4 Freedom and Slavery 
132. Nehemiah 9:36-38. Because of their sins, God 
made the Jews to spend their lives in service to 
foreign kings. 
133. First Corinthians 7:21. If you can, be free. 
134. Galatians 5:1. Be free in Christ, and don’t be 
enslaved to Moses’ Law again. 
135. Galatians 5:13. Be free from Moses’ Law, and 
use your freedom to love others. 
136. First Timothy 6:1. Servants, honor your master. 
Attitude towards Civil and Social 
Interaction 
137. Psalm 122:6-9. Pray that there be peace in 
Jerusalem (among Christians). 
138. Matthew 5:38-48. Do not revenge insults, and 
do good to those who try to harm you. 
139. Romans 12:18-21; 13:8-9. Paul’s guidelines for 
social interaction: live peaceably and seek the 
good of everyone. 
God’s kingdom 
140. Mark 7:7-9. Obey God, not man’s tradition. 
141. Second Corinthians 10:3. We fight in a spiritual 
battle. 
142. Galatians 1:10. Seek to please God, not men. 
143. Collossians 1:13. We are in Christ’s kingdom. 
Dominion 
144. Genesis 1:27-30; 3:16-19. God gave dominion 
to Adam. 
145. Genesis 9:1-7. God gave dominion to Noah. 
Nations 
146. Genesis 10:5; 11:1-9. God created the nations 
and peoples. 
(I looked up all possible cross references to ever verse 
above the section on “Participation in Government.” I 
stoped at that point.) 
5

1st Peter 2:4-17