The Living Stone and Chosen People (Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)
1 WBS Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, BSB BSB: Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
2 WBS As new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: BSB BSB: Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
3 WBS If indeed ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. BSB BSB: now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 WBS To whom coming as to a living stone, disallowed indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious, BSB BSB: As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,
5 WBS Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: 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 WBS Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. BSB BSB: For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
7 WBS To you therefore who believe he is precious: but to them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, BSB BSB: To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
8 WBS 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. BSB BSB: and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
9 WBS But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: BSB BSB: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
11 WBS Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; BSB BSB: Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
12 WBS Having your manner of life honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. BSB BSB: Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Submission to Authorities (Romans 13:1–7)
13 WBS Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; BSB BSB: Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,
14 WBS Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well. BSB BSB: or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
15 WBS For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: BSB BSB: For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 WBS As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. BSB BSB: Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
17 WBS Honor all men . Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. BSB BSB: Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
18 WBS Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. BSB BSB: Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
19 WBS For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards God endureth grief, suffering wrongfully. BSB BSB: For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
20 WBS For what glory is it , if, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye bear it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it , ye bear it patiently, this is acceptable with God. BSB BSB: How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Christ’s Example of Suffering (Isaiah 53:1–8)
21 WBS For even to this were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: BSB BSB: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
23 WBS Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: BSB BSB: When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
24 WBS Who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. BSB BSB: He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
25 WBS For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. BSB BSB: For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.