Bible In Poetry: Gospel Of St. Peter 1 (Chapter 2) Poem by Dr John Celes

So, rid yourselves of malice, guile,
Hypocrisy, slander, envy;
Like newborns crave for spiritual milk,
That’s pure and grow in salvation,
Now that, you’ve tasted, Lord is good!

The Living Stone and a Chosen People:

As you embrace the living Stone that’s Him-
Men-rejected, God-chosen and precious,
You too are being made a house,
Of holy priesthood, spiritual,
To offer sacrifices liked by God,
The Father, through His Son, Jesus,
For, Scripture says,

To those who do believe:
‘Behold, I lay a stone in Zion, then,
A chosen and most-precious cornerstone,
And whoev’r trusts in Him,
Will ne’er be put to shame! ’

To those who don’t believe:
‘The stone rejected by the builders then,
Has turned to be just a capstone,
A stone that makes men to stumble,
A rock that makes some men to fall;
They stumble for disobedience
Of word, for which they were destined! ’

‘For royal priesthood, you’re chosen,
A holy nation loved by God,
To praise Him who had called you out
Of darkness, to His lit abode.
Once not people but now people of God,
Once not shown mercy but now you have been! ’

‘I urge you therefore, my dear friends,
As strangers, aliens in this world,
To stay away from sin’s desires,
That war against your soul on earth;
Among the pagans, live good lives,
So that, although, they accuse you,
But seeing your good deeds of life,
They glorify God when He comes! ’

Submission to Rulers and Masters:

‘Submit yourselves to higher-ups
Among men for the sake of God,
To supreme ones like kings and queens,
Or governors who’re sent by them,
To punish wrong-doers on earth,
And commend those who do aright.’

‘’Tis will of God by doing good,
You silence talk of foolish men,
You live afree but don’t misuse,
Your freedom to hide your evil,
Live like a servant true of God.
Show proper respect to brethren,
Love brotherhood of believers;
Honor the king but fear the Lord! ’

‘As slaves, submit to masters all,
Both good and bad; give due respect,
For, if a man should bear his pain
Of unjust suffering for God,
It’s most commendable to Him.’

‘If you suffer for doing wrong,
Endure the beating for ’tis fair;
But if you suffer for your good deeds,
Endure it for the love of God;
To this end you were called because
Christ suffered for your sake and wished,
You follow Him in his foot-steps! ’

Yet, Christ sinned not of any kind
And no deceit came from His mouth,
And when they hurled insults at Him,
He ne’er retaliated at all,
Nor threatened them, who caused Him pain,
And suffered without reason then.

He entrusted to Him, the Judge,
Instead, who judges most fairly,
He bore our sins on His body,
While nailed upon the wooden tree,
So that we might die for our sins,
And live for righteousness always,
For by His wounds, you were all healed,
And you were like sheep gone astray,
But now returned to Good Shepherd-
One overseer of all your souls! ’


(6-20-2007)