1 Peter 2:2

7. Being Like Babies 2:2

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

Expanded Translation

Just as newborn babies long for their physical milk, you must desire earnestly the spiritual milk which is without guile, that, by means of feeding on such food, you may grow unto salvation.

As newborn babes

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The word as (hos) is an adverb, referring to manner. We are to act like babies, in the manner specified. We are not just to copy babes, but newborn babies, infants, small ones who have only recently been born. The reference here is not necessarily to one who has just embraced the faith, or been converted to Christ. The Apostle simply states that Christiansall Christiansshould act like infants in their desire for nourishment. Just as they desire the physical nutriment, so we should long for the food that feeds the soul.

long for

Epipotheo. Literally, to desire besides. to desire earnestly, long for. By implication, to love, have affection for.

the spiritual milk

Or milk of the word (King James Version). The word spiritual logikos, is an adjective and occurs in only one other instance in the New TestamentRomans 12:1, where it is rendered reasonable. Its meaning is: agreeable to reason, following reason. Both here and in Romans 12:1-21, the reference is to what Christians should be doing, as those whose primary interest is in that side of life which has to do with the cultivation of the mind and soul. We are to long for the milk which nourishes the soul of a personhis spiritual being, his inward person. Spiritual milk, then, is in contrast here to mere physical milk, that only provides nourishment for the body.

Several times in the epistles of Paul the word milk is employed as a term for the less difficult truths of God's Word (Hebrews 5:12-13, 1 Corinthians 3:2). And, whereas this may also be true in the one passage before us, the emphasis here is on one's desire for spiritual nourishment.

without guile

In 1 Peter 2:1 we saw that we were to put aside all guile (dolos). Here Peter merely adds the alpha negative to the same word, hence, adolos. The meaning is: without guile or deceit, without falsehood; pure, genuine. Such is God's Holy Word! Let us not water down his milk, and let us not take off the cream! (Proverbs 30:5-6.)

that ye may grow thereby unto salvation

i.e., by partaking regularly of the food for the soul.
Milk so constitutes an infant's food that they instinctively turn to their mother's breast as their only source of life. Their appetite is intense and frequent. They do not have to be urged and constantly admonished to seek that which causes them to grow. Contrarywise, they complain and cry if they do not get their food regularly, and plenty of it! Christians, how strong, how real, how intense is your desire for the word and will of God? Is it as strong as the small baby's desire for milk? It should be!