Bible / 1 Peter
1 Peter 2
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 Wherefore laying away all malice and all guile and dissimulations and envies and all detractions, CCC
2 As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:
3 If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.
4 Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and made honourable by God: CCC
5 Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. CCC
6 Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him shall not be confounded.
7 To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner: CCC
8 And a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: CCC · Fathers
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 strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,
12 Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation. Fathers
13 Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling, CCC
14 Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of the good. CCC
15 For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: CCC
16 As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. CCC · Fathers
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. CCC
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy: if, for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, committing sin and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently: this is thankworthy before God.
21 For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Fathers
23 Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not, but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly. Fathers
24 Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed. Fathers
25 For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
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Read the Catechism
- CCC 756 “Often, too, the Church is called the building of God. the Lord compared himself to the stone which the builders rejected, but…”
- CCC 901 “Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvellously called and prepared so that…”
- CCC 1141 “The celebrating assembly is the community of the baptized who, "by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to…”
- CCC 1179 “The worship "in Spirit and in truth" of the New Covenant is not tied exclusively to any one place. the whole earth…”
- CCC 1268 “The baptized have become "living stones" to be "built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood." By Baptism they share…”
- CCC 1546 “Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church "a kingdom, priests for his God and Father." The whole community…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 756 “Often, too, the Church is called the building of God. the Lord compared himself to the stone which the builders rejected, but…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 709 “The Law, the sign of God's promise and covenant, ought to have governed the hearts and institutions of that people to whom…”
- CCC 782 “The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found…”
- CCC 1141 “The celebrating assembly is the community of the baptized who, "by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to…”
- CCC 1268 “The baptized have become "living stones" to be "built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood." By Baptism they share…”
- CCC 1546 “Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church "a kingdom, priests for his God and Father." The whole community…”
“Now God receives sacrifices from no one, except through His priests.”
Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter CXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“When you can do good, defer it not, because "alms delivers from death." Be all of you subject one to another "having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles,”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1899 “The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1899 “The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1899 “The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is…”
- CCC 2238 “Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts: "Be…”
“And for this reason Peter says "that we have not liberty as a cloak of maliciousness,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… are not expedient;" referring both to the liberty of man, in which respect "all things are lawful," God exercising no compulsion in regard to him; and [by the expression] "not expedient" pointing out that we "should not use our liberty as a cloak of maliciousness,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1899 “The authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is…”
Read the Fathers
“Let us then continually persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, "who bore our sins in His own body on the tree," "who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter VIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“… and the same, who did by suffering reconcile us to God, and rose from the dead; who is at the right hand of the Father, and perfect in all things; "who, when He was buffeted, struck not in return; who, when He suffered, threatened not;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… Word was made flesh;" that even as the Word of God had the sovereignty in the heavens, so also might He have the sovereignty in earth, inasmuch as [He was] a righteous man, "who did no sin, neither was there found guile in His mouth;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“Let us then continually persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, "who bore our sins in His own body on the tree,”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter VIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.