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1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:2 KJV (With Strong’s)

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2
As
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
hos (Greek #5613)
which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
KJV usage: about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.
Pronounce: hoce
Origin: probably adverb of comparative from 3739
newborn
artigennetos (Greek #738)
just born, i.e. (figuratively) a young convert
KJV usage: new born.
Pronounce: ar-teeg-en'-nay-tos
Origin: from 737 and 1084
babes
brephos (Greek #1025)
an infant (properly, unborn) literally or figuratively
KJV usage: babe, (young) child, infant.
Pronounce: bref'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
k, desire
epipotheo (Greek #1971)
to dote upon, i.e. intensely crave possession (lawfully or wrongfully)
KJV usage: (earnestly) desire (greatly), (greatly) long (after), lust.
Pronounce: ep-ee-poth-eh'-o
Origin: from 1909 and potheo (to yearn)
the sincere
adolos (Greek #97)
and 1388; undeceitful, i.e. (figuratively) unadulterated
KJV usage: sincere.
Pronounce: ad'-ol-os
Origin: from 1 (as a negative particle}
milk
gala (Greek #1051)
milk (figuratively)
KJV usage: milk.
Pronounce: gal'-ah
Origin: of uncertain affinity
l of the word
logikos (Greek #3050)
rational ("logical")
KJV usage: reasonable, of the word.
Pronounce: log-ik-os'
Origin: from 3056
, that
hina (Greek #2443)
in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
KJV usage: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.
Pronounce: hin'-ah
Origin: probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588)
ye may grow
auzano (Greek #837)
to grow ("wax"), i.e. enlarge (literal or figurative, active or passive)
KJV usage: grow (up), (give the) increase.
Pronounce: owx-an'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb
thereby
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
:*
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
k
Matt. 18:3• 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:3)
l
1 Cor. 3:2• 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Cor. 3:2)

More on:

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Babes,
Milk

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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new-born.
1 Peter 1:23• 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23)
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Matt. 18:3• 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:3)
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Mark 10:15• 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (Mark 10:15)
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Rom. 6:4• 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4)
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1 Cor. 3:1• 1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1 Cor. 3:1)
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1 Cor. 14:20• 20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. (1 Cor. 14:20)
the sincere.
Psa. 19:7‑10• 7The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
 8The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
 9The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
 10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psa. 19:7‑10)
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1 Cor. 3:2• 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Cor. 3:2)
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Heb. 5:12‑13• 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (Heb. 5:12‑13)
grow.
2 Sam. 23:5• 5Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (2 Sam. 23:5)
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Job 17:9• 9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. (Job 17:9)
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Prov. 4:18• 18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Prov. 4:18)
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Hos. 6:3• 3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hos. 6:3)
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Hos. 14:5,7• 5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
 7They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. (Hos. 14:5,7)
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Mal. 4:2• 2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal. 4:2)
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Eph. 2:21• 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Eph. 2:21)
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Eph. 4:15• 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Eph. 4:15)
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2 Thess. 1:3• 3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; (2 Thess. 1:3)
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2 Peter 3:18• 18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
• "Laying aside all malice ... desire the sincere milk of the word" (1 Peter 2:1, 2), is like plowing the ground before you put the seed in. (“Hunt’s Sayings - 3” by R. Hunt)
• In the first chapter you were born by the Word, here you get the food of the new life. The Word gave you life, the Word sustains and nourishes that life all along the way. (“Our Heavenly Calling” by W.T.P. Wolston)
• It was the word of God whereby he was born again; it is the same word whereby he is fed. (“1 Peter 2:1-3” by W. Kelly)
• It is milk for the saints' intelligence; as a mother's breast yields nourishment to her babe physically, so God's word is to our spiritual understanding. (“1 Peter 2:1-3” by W. Kelly)
• That which in the A. V. is translated "of the word" occurs only in one other passage of the N. T., Rom. 12:1; and there it is rendered "reasonable," as it is frequently employed by ordinary writers of the Greek tongue. "Intelligent" seems well to express its force in both texts, a better word than "rational." (“1 Peter 2:1-3” by W. Kelly)
• The teaching here is that as through the word of God, not baptism, we have been born again, so by it, not the Lord's Supper, we "grow unto salvation." (“1 Peter 2:1-3” by W. Kelly)
• Peter uses the word “mental” here, because he is emphasizing the need for us to engage the rational faculties of our beings in quest of an “intelligent” understanding of the truth (vs. 2). Some decry a study of the Scriptures because it could turn into a mere intellectual approach to the truth. While there is a danger of this, it should not be used to excuse our lack of diligence in the Word. Let us never disparage a study of the Scriptures; observing and distinguishing the things that differ in the Word is how we grow in our understanding of the truth (2 Tim. 2:15). W. Kelly said, “It is needful to heed the distinctions made and given in Scriptures. Fear not to believe the Word. Cavilers may and do say that these are fine-drawn distinctions ... ..We are bound to distinguish where and as God does; and if we fail to follow, we shall find out too late to our loss. The truth is that there is a great deal of latent unbelief in those who cavil at the distinctions of the Word of God, for all progress in real knowledge is tested by, as growth in true wisdom largely consists in, distinguishing things that differ” (A Study of the Minor Prophets, p. 260). Peter couldn’t have been encouraging a mere intellectual approach to the Word without the heart and conscience being engaged, because he speaks of it as being “milk,” which has to do with the soul being fed by it. (“New Christian Relationships” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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as newborn babes desire earnestly the pure mentala milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation,

JND Translation Notes

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a
The word here translated "mental" has the sense of "suited to the rational faculties" -- the mind in contrast with the body -- yet I believe there is allusion to logos, from which it is derived, and I have added "of the word" to mark this allusion.

W. Kelly Translation

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2
as new-born babes long for the guileless intelligenta milk that by it ye may grow unto salvationb,

WK Translation Notes

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a
The general sense is quite plain. The only question is how to represent best the language of the apostle. That which in the KJV is translated "of the word" (logikon) occurs only in one other passage of the N.T., {vi 28247}{/vi}; and there it is rendered "reasonable," as it is frequently employed by ordinary writers of the Greek tongue. "Intelligent" seems well to express its force in both texts, a better word than "rational." "Reasonable" as in the KJV of {vi 28247}{/vi} falls too low, but "spiritual" of the Revisers is too high. At least, it is not inherent in the word nor necessitated by its usage.
b
A strange omission has prevailed since the early editors. The great body of the oldest and best MSS. have it eis sōtērian. It may have been dropped either as a supposed scholastic addition or by those jealous of trenching on sovereign grace toward sinners. But here it is a question of saints growing in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ according to the terms of the Second Epistle (3:18). "Salvation," in Peter’s writings looks onward to the final victory at Christ’s revelation, save in one exception that proves the rule, by the modification of the phrase to ensure a difference of meaning.