1 Peter 2:13–25

Explore the Bible
Dean, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

PRACTICE CHRISTIAN SUBMISSION
1 Peter 2:13–25

Submit to the State (13–17)
Being a stranger in the world exempts no believer from complying with the law of the land. Peter called on Christians to be subject to every form of human government from the highest to the lowest. To “submit” means to “arrange oneself under authority.” The motive for this attitude is “for the Lord’s sake.” This may mean either “because Jesus said so” or “because obedience redounds to the Lord’s credit.” Deference extends from the king down through his governors, who are sent by “him” (probably God) to punish evildoers and praise rightdoers. This statement implies that the state has responsibilities not only for public safety but also for public good. Such submission on the part of Christians will silence unfounded rumors about them spread by men willingly uninformed.

By that, Peter did not mean blind obedience to the state is evident from the example he provided in life (Acts 4:18–20).

Christians are free but must honor the structures that hold society together. Using a military picture, Peter warned against letting freedom provide “a staging area” for evil, i.e. freedom must never be allowed to lead on to evil on either a social or a personal level.

The section ends with four brief exhortations, each indicating a proper Christian attitude toward a specific group or person. “Show proper respect to everyone” as persons bearing the dignity of God’s image. Believers must not treat people as things. “Love the brotherhood of believers” with self-sacrificial love like that of Christ. To “fear God” means to revere Him. More, believers must “respect” (KJV “honor”) the king, even if he is as despicable as Nero, the emperor in Peter’s day. This obligation does not depend on the moral virtue of the official in question. One must honor the office of the president even if the president is not an honorable man.

One reason for this is to prevent slanderous accusations of disloyalty (15). Another is because God established government (13). The word translated “authority” properly means a creature or a creation of God.

Submit to the Master (18–25)
Here Peter dealt with the duty of a Christian slave to his human master. Make no mistake — the New Testament does not approve of slavery. It merely spells out how a Christian must live if he or she finds himself or herself enslaved. Christian slaves must “obey” their masters with “respect” whether the master is “good” and “considerate” (i.e. lenient) or “harsh.” There is no virtue in suffering if one deserves it, but Peter called it a “gift” of God to suffer when one does not deserve it.

In this, they are to be motivated by their “conscience toward God.” Also they are to be motivated by the desire to gain God’s commendation. The supreme motivation for enduring unjust suffering, however, is the example of Christ Jesus. Literally “example” is “copy row,” such as the examples given a student learning to form his or her letters properly. Jesus suffered, but for no sin of His own (Isa. 53:4–6). Instead of retaliating against His enemies, however, Jesus kept on delivering Himself and His case into God’s hands for just disposition. That is what Christian slaves must do when they are treated unfairly.

In 1 Peter 2:24, Peter enlarged on the suffering of Jesus by showing the saving significance of that suffering. “He Himself” emphasizes that what Jesus did on the cross, He did by Himself alone. “In His body,” He paid the death penalty for men’s sins. While the Greek verb can mean “that we might die to sins,” it is best translated “having abandoned sin.” Christ died so men can say goodbye to sin and begin to live righteously. Those whose sins He bore are healed from sin. There is no room in 1 Peter 2:24 to include physical healing in the atonement. The context never mentions physical illness. Peter’s readers (including modern readers) had been “sheep going astray.” But now they had returned to the Shepherd and to the Overseer. The shepherd’s task was that of care, in its widest sense. Overseer was a title used in ancient Greek for an officer sent to manage the affairs of a subject state. The Lord, Jesus, offers both care and authority.