Daily Bible Nugget #131, 1 Peter 2:2

The Nugget:

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

My Comment:

Here is another text, in addition to James 1:21, where the Bible speaks of itself as the word. We are to earnestly desire, even crave, the sincere or unadulterated pure milk of the word. It is the word, the Bible, that makes possible further spiritual growth. To grow spiritually, we must ourselves “feed on God’s Word,” the Bible, by making it the regular source of our spiritual meals. I believe making use of cross reference Bible study and topical Bible study are among the best possible ways of digging deeper into God’s Word. Regular reading of the Bible is most important. Reading Bible books over again repeatedly is very effective. Reading the Bible in its chronological order by making use of a chronological Bible will help greatly in understanding the Bible. But beyond all that, focusing attention on a specific verse of interest and studying it in relation to what is said elsewhere in the Bible on the themes found in that verse is most profitable. Focusing on Bible verses important to doctrinal study is essential to our understanding of Bible doctrine. It is also essential to learning the answers to the mistaken claims of false cults and mistaken theologies. All these things, studied well, can contribute to our ongoing spiritual growth.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1457 for 1 Peter 2:2.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1474 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 1 Peter 2:2.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

1 Peter 2:2. newborn. Gr. artigennētos (S#738g, only here), just born, that is, (figuratively) a young convert (Strong). The terms Peter uses do not imply he is addressing new converts, but demonstrate how all believers should have the same desire for God’s Word as a newborn baby has for its mother’s milk. 1 P 1:3, 23. Jn 1:13. Ep 4:24. 1 T 3:6. babes. Gr. brephos (S#1025g, Lk 18:15). T#1113. 1 P *1:23. Le =22:11. Is 28:9. 40:11. Mt +*11:25. +*18:3. 19:14. Mk *10:14, 15. Lk 2:12, 16. 9:47. 10:21. +18:15, 16. Jn 21:15. Ac 7:19. Ro 2:20. *6:4. 1 C *3:1. 14:20. 2 T +**3:15. desire. or, earnestly desire. Gr. epipotheō (S#1971g, Ro 1:11), to dote upon, that is, intensely crave possession (lawfully or wrongfully) [Strong]. Peter states we should desire the Word of God just like a newborn baby desires milk. I think a fair inference to be drawn from Peter’s statement is that just like a newborn baby would die if it never gets milk, so anyone who does not feed on the written Word of God in the Bible will die spiritually. A further proper inference no doubt would be that anyone who has no desire to seriously feed on the written Word of God in the Bible is spiritually dead. Jb *23:12. Ps 42:1. 84:2. 112:1. +*119:30, 31, 72, 131, 140, 165. Pr 2:1-6. Is %58:2. Je 3:15. %6:10. **15:16. Mt 5:6. 13:23. Ac *8:31n. 10:33. **+17:11. 2 C 7:11. the sincere. or, spiritual. or, pure. or, guileless. Gr. reasonable. Gr. adolos (S#97g, only here), undeceitful, that is, (figuratively) unadulterated (Strong). ver. 1. Ps *19:7-10. Mk +*4:24. Lk +*8:18. Jn 10:5. Ro 12:1g. milk. Gr. gala (S#1051g, 1 C 3:2). Is 28:9. 55:1. 66:11. 1 C *3:2. 1 T *4:6. He %*5:12, 13. 6:1. of the word. Gr. logikos (S#3050g, only here and Ro 12:1, “reasonable”), rational (“logical”) [Strong]; spiritual or rational, as opposed to literal and ceremonial (Vincent). The milk to be found in the Word of God is in the highest sense “reasonable.” See 1 P 3:15 (CB). It is the Word of God, not tradition, “which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” Rather than contending so much for what is clearly not essential to faith in Christ, true Christians, Bible believing ones, encourage others to get into the written Word of God in the Bible for themselves so that they can come to know Jesus Christ in a personal way and have a life-giving relationship with Him that results in genuine belief that brings eternal life. Only the Bible provides the spiritual food necessary for spiritual growth and “works effectually” (1 Th 2:13n) in those who believe. 1 P *1:25. Ex =16:15. Ps +*119:50, 140. Mt +4:4. Lk 8:15, +*18. Jn 3:12. Ro +*10:17. 2 C 2:17. 4:2. Col 1:5. 1 Th +**2:13. 1 T 4:6. He 6:9n. Ja +*1:21. grow. Gr. auxanō (S#837g, Mt 6:28). T#1048. 2 S 23:5. Jb *17:9. Ps 19:11. Pr +*4:18. Ho *6:3. *14:5, 7. Ml *4:2. Mt 13:23. Mk 4:8. Lk 8:15. Ac +*20:32. Ep 2:21. *4:15. Ph 3:12. Col 1:6, +**10. 2:19. 1 Th *2:13. 4:1, 10. 2 Th 1:3. 2 T +**3:16, 17. 2 P +*1:5-11. **3:18. thereby. Ac 11:14.