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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 2:4-12

I. The apostle here gives us a description of Jesus Christ as a living stone; and though to a capricious wit, or an infidel, this description may seem rough and harsh, yet to the Jews, who placed much of their religion in their magnificent temple, and who understood the prophetical style, which calls the Messiah a stone (Isa. 8:14; 28:16), it would appear very elegant and proper. 1. In this metaphorical description of Jesus Christ, he is called a stone, to denote his invincible strength and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 2:11-12

2:11-12 Beloved, I urge you, as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from the fleshly desires which carry on their campaign against the soul. Make your conduct amongst the Gentiles fine, so that in every matter in which they slander you as evil-doers, they may see from your fine deeds what you are really like and glorify God on the day when he will visit the earth. The basic commandment in this passage is that the Christian should abstain from fleshly desires. It is of the greatest... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 2:11-12

(ii) But there was for Peter another and even more practical reason why the Christian must abstain from fleshly desires. The early church was under fire. Slanderous charges were continually being made against the Christians; and the only effective way to refute them was to live lives so lovely that they would be seen to be obviously untrue. To modern ears the King James Version can be a little misleading. It speaks about "having your conversation honest among the Gentiles." That sounds to us... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles ,.... To have the conversation honest, is to provide things honest in the sight of men; to live and walk honestly before all; to do those things which are right and honest in the sight of God, and among men; to order the conversation aright, according to the law of God, which is a rule of walk and conversation, and as becomes the Gospel of Christ; and which was the more, and rather to be attended to, because these converted Jews were "among... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest - Living in such a manner among the Gentiles, in whose country ye sojourn, as becomes the Gospel which ye profess. That whereas they speak against you as evil doers - In all the heathen countries, in the first age of the Church, the Christians and the Jews were confounded together; and as the latter mere everywhere exceedingly troublesome and seditious, the Christians shared in their blame, and suffered no small measure of obloquy and persecution on this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:12

Verse 12 12Your conversation The second part of the exhortation is, that they were to conduct themselves honestly towards men. What, indeed, precedes this in order is, that their minds should be cleansed before God; but a regard should also be had to men, lest we should become a hindrance to them. And he expressly says among the Gentiles; for the Jews were not only hated everywhere, but were also almost abhorred. The more carefully, therefore, ought they to have labored to wipe off the odium... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles. If we read ἀπέχεσθαι , in 1 Peter 2:11 (some ancient manuscripts have ἀπέχεσθε ) , there is a slight irregularity in the construction, as the participle ἔνοντες is nominative; it gives more force and vividness to the sentence (comp. in the Greek, Ephesians 4:2 ; Colossians 3:16 ). The conversation ( ἀναστροφή , mode of life or behavior) of the unconverted is described as " vain " in 1 Peter 1:18 ; the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest - Your conduct. See the notes at Philippians 1:27. That is, lead upright and consistent lives. Compare the notes at Philippians 4:8.Among the Gentiles - The pagans by whom you are surrounded, and who will certainly observe your conduct. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 4:12, “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without.” Compare Romans 13:13.That, whereas they speak against you as evil doers - Margin, “wherein.” Greek ἐν ᾥ en hō - “in what;”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Peter 2:11-12

1 Peter 2:11-12. I beseech you, as strangers Or sojourners; and pilgrims Who have no inheritance on this earth, but are travelling to the heavenly country. The former word, παροικοι , properly means those who are in a strange house, a house not their own: the second, παρεπιδημοι , those who are in a strange country, and among a people not their own. We sojourn in the body; we are pilgrims in this world; abstain from fleshly lusts Or carnal desires; from inordinate desires of any thing... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 2:11-25

2:11-3:12 CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPSIn society (2:11-25)The present world is not the true home of those who have come into a living relationship with Jesus Christ. They are now God’s people and they belong to the heavenly kingdom. But their higher status and greater citizenship do not give them the right to do as they like in the present world. They must discipline and control themselves. Negatively, they must not give in to the desires of the sinful nature; positively, they must maintain right... read more

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