1 Peter 2:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

NIV: Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

NASB: and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

CSB: Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,

NLT: Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

KJV: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

NKJV: as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

Having set aside unloving attitudes and actions (1 Peter 2:1), Peter writes that we must now crave something other than our own selfish gratification. Notice that Christians are being commanded about what to want. We have to be told what to crave because this appetite doesn't always come to us naturally. This "pure spiritual milk" is exactly what we need: the stuff that meets our deepest needs. In fact, we do not always long for it.

How do we develop this appetite? We must start drinking. Newborn infants will sometimes reject the very milk they are crying for, at first, until they get a taste of it. And then they guzzle hungrily. In Peter's metaphor here, all Christians are to crave this milk like newborns, even the mature believers. This is not to be confused with Paul's separate metaphor of milk and meat in 1 Corinthians 3:1–3. No Christian reaches the point on this side of eternity where spiritual growth is completed.

So what is this "pure spiritual milk" we need to hunger for? The word "pure" simply means undiluted or uncontaminated. The word used to describe this milk in the original Greek is logikon, which could also mean "rational or reasonable." More importantly, it shares a root with the word logos, "the word." This phrase is sometimes translated as "pure milk of the word," as in the NASB. "The word / Word of God" can refer both to His revealed word in Scripture, including the message of the gospel—and to Christ Himself, the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

So this command means we must learn to crave the undiluted word of God, as a newborn craves milk. By drinking this milk, taking in God's word, drawing close to Christ, believers will continue to grow up in our salvation. Peter has already made clear that God has secured our salvation (1 Peter 1:3–5), that we are being saved (1 Peter 1:9), and that we will receive salvation fully when Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:5). For now, taking in the "milk" of God's Word is the intended path of spiritual growth.

1 Peter 2:1–12 describes the spiritual house God is building. Jesus is the perfect foundation stone God has chosen for the house. Those who trust in Him are also living stones used to build the house. In addition, we individually serve as both the priests and the spiritual sacrifices, our lives offered to the builder. Thus we must live good lives, as strangers in the world preparing to go home to be with our Father, engaged in battle against our desire to sin.

Peter gets specific about what it means to live as God’s set-apart people. Christ is the foundation stone of the spiritual house God is building. We must engage in battle with our selfishness and desire to sin. This includes submitting to human authorities, no matter how evil or harsh. It means enduring suffering, as Christ did for our sake when He died on the cross. Our role is not to fight a physical war for justice here; we will be going home soon.

First Peter 1 described the glorious reality of our present and future as God’s children, by His grace and through our faith in Jesus. He called us a holy people redeemed by God for new purposes. That means believers must live differently than those in the world around us. In this chapter, Peter narrows down exactly what it means to lead a holy life, including doing battle with our own desire to sin. This also means suffering under human authorities, even unjust ones.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.