and said, “Truly I tell you, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven unless you turn [your life around] and become like little children [i.e., having child-like humility].
1 Peter 2:2 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) [So], like newly born babies, you should desire the genuine, spiritual milk [i.e., God’s word. See Heb. 5:12-13], so that by it you may grow toward [final] salvation, More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, American Standard Version (1901) as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation; Common English Bible Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, Catholic Public Domain Version Like newborn infants, desire the milk of reasonableness without guile, so that by this you may increase unto salvation, Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation: |
and said, “Truly I tell you, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven unless you turn [your life around] and become like little children [i.e., having child-like humility].
But Jesus said, “Allow these little children to come to me and stop trying to prevent them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such [humble ones] as these.” [See 18:4].
Truly I tell you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God as a little child does, that person will by no means enter it.”
Truly I tell you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God the way a little child does, that person will by no means enter it.”
Therefore, we were buried with Him through [our] immersion [in water] into [a relationship with] His death, so that, just like Christ was raised up from the dead through the glorious power of the Father, so we also can [be raised up from the water to] live a new life.
Brothers, do not be children in the way you think, but be babies in wrongdoing; yet be mature in your thinking.
In [harmony with] Him the entire building [i.e., the church] is properly assembled, rising into a dedicated temple for the Lord. [See I Cor. 3:16-17].
But [instead], we should speak [and practice] truth in a loving way, so that we can, in all respects, grow up [spiritually] into [union with] Christ, who is the head [i.e., of His body, the church].
We ought to thank God for you always, brothers, since it is proper, because your faith is growing so much and the love that every one of you has for each other is increasing more and more.
You have experienced new birth, not from seed that can decay, but from seed that cannot decay, through the living and enduring word of God.
But grow in the unearned favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May He be honored both now and forever. May it be so.