1 Pet 2.18-25
Holy Living:
1:13-2:3 Standard of Holiness
2:4-12 Function and Position of the church
2:13-3:7 Honor Authority
13-17 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority including kings and governors
18-20 Submit yourselves to masters (rulers)
At first, we may think this does not apply to us today, but I am struck by the practicality of the scripture—not just theology, but the scriptures tell us what to do where we live—even how to act in our jobs and professions—does not ignore the conditions of life, but speak clearly to them—also givesencouragement when we go through hard times
18 Slaves—household servants, not slaves as we think of them—many of these were doctors, teachers, etc—valuable parts of family (Roman society relegated anything that they did not want to do to servants in their house, so they could enjoy the “finer things of life”—yet the house servants were also property of the master to be done with as he pleased—some were freedmen who remained in the service of their master—bondservants—there were many more servants than masters
3610 οἰκέτης [oiketes /oy·ket·ace/] n m. From 3611; GK 3860; Five occurrences; AV translates as “servant” four times, and “household servant” once. 1 one who lives in the same house as another, spoken of all who are under the authority of one and the same householder. 1a a servant, a domestic.
--by extension this can apply to employer—employee relations today
a. however, obviously today employees have means for improving our work conditions—labor unions, etc—and no matter how bad it is at work, it is nothing like what they had in Peter’s day
submit yourselves to your masters—willingly subject yourself to them because they are your master (boss), not because you like them or agree with them
with all respect—the attitude we have is important—respecting them as our master (boss) --not only to the good ones but to the bad ones—it does not matter how harsh they treat us, our attitude is the key—respect for the authority that God has placed over us
19 The reason for our proper attitude—because we are conscious of God—because we recognize that God has placed them in that position of authority over us—we are acknowledging His grace (favor NASB) and sovereignty in our lives
a. How many times have we prayed for a job and God answered, then it turns out to not be how we wanted it to be—Did we miss God? Do we then complain to God about our boss or do we accept that God put us there for a reason and a season? Do we pray for our boss or complain about him to our coworkers?
b. What does God want us to learn?—Who is in control and to praise Him in all things!
20 Is this easy? No, but it is required by God! What credit (glory, praise) is there for suffering if you do wrong—None—you are getting what you justly deserve. The credit (glory, praise) comes from enduring suffering when you do not deserve it!
a. Paul said a similar thing about bondslaves—“doulos” not house servants in:
i. Eph 6:5-8 (NIV) 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
ii. Col 3:22-25 (NIV) 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
iii. Titus 2:9-10 (NIV) 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
1401 δοῦλοσ1, δοῦλοσ2 [doulos /doo·los/] adj. From 1210; TDNT 2:261; TDNTA 182; GK 1528 and 1529; 125 occurrences; AV translates as “servant” 118 times, “bond” six times, and “bondman” once. 1 a slave, bondman, man of servile condition. 1a a slave. 1b metaph., one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men. 1c devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. 2 a servant, attendant.
b. Jesus talked about something like this in Luke 6:32-35 (NIV) 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit (grace, favor of God) is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit (grace, favor of God) is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit (grace, favor of God) is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”
c. What difference would this make in our world if we humbly submitted to those bosses who wrongfully abuse or treat us bad when we do not deserve it?
d. God sees the unjust suffering of His children and He will be the one who will reward us
21 Christ is the ultimate example of how to suffer under the authority of others
--To this you were called—God has a plan for us—He called us, chose us—the fact that we are called of God is a major theme of the book (1 Pet 1:15, 2:9; 3:9; 5:10)
--It is easy to accept the calling of God for our life when blessings flow (e.g. 1 Pet 2:9), but what about when we have to suffer—do we have “cheap grace” or the real grace of God that is with us and sustains us through the suffering?
--What would Jesus do?—a great motto, but also a great way to live
—imitation of Christ—to be conformed (made) in His image (Rom 8:29) even in suffering
· Rom 8:16-18 (NIV) 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
--called—hupogrammos (ὑπογραμμός, 5261), lit., “an under-writing” (from hupographo, “to write under, to trace letters” for copying by scholars); hence, “a writing-copy, an example,” 1 Pet. 2:21, said of what Christ left for believers, by His sufferings (not expiatory, but exemplary), that they might “follow His steps.” (W. E. Vine)
--to trace like carbon paper—intention is to reproduce the original as closely as possible
--we are called by God to be a reproduction of Christ on the earth—even in our suffering—patiently enduring
· --because Christ suffered for you leaving you an example—we have a pattern as to how to handle suffering—it is the same way Christ did
22—He committed no sin—Paul, writer of Hebrews, and John agree with Peter & Isaiah 53
· 2 Cor 5:21--God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
· Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
· 1 John 3:5 But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin.
--no deceit was found in His mouth—never lied or stretched the truth in any way
23—He did not retaliate—(KJV-revile—heap abuse on someone)—hurled their insults at Him, but He did not insult them back—or pay them back in kind—when accused of doing wrong, He did not defend Himself
--He made no threats—Son of the Living God who could have at least called down fire from God as well as many other kinds of judgment
--He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly—some might see this as weakness, but He knew where His strength came from
—He put His life in God’s hands and allowed God to be the one who would decide about judgment—since God always judges fairly
24—He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree
--so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness—None of us can suffer like Christ did, but instead Peter wants us to know that Christ’s suffering was not only an example, but also brought salvation--“the great exchange”
—He took my sin upon Himself on the cross and paid the price for my sin, so that I can live a life of righteousness—His Spirit in me makes me “the righteousness of God,” His Word and His Spirit teaches me how to live a life of righteousness
—die to sins--His death delivered us from the power of sin, but we still have to deal with the flesh and its sins—we are dead to sin—so it has no power over us
—crucifying sin on the cross daily (1 Cor 15:31)—walking in the footsteps of Jesus (WWJD)
--by His wounds you have been healed—our healing (physical, emotional, spiritual) had a price, it did not come cheaply—the wounds of Jesus (stripes) paid for our healing
25—sheep going astray—God knows that we need a Shepherd to lead us and keep us on the right path—compare to Isaiah 53:6 where Israel was considered to be wandering sheep
--Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He knows how to take care of His flock (the church) even laying down His life for them (John 10:11)
--God did not leave us to wander around, but gave us a Shepherd to guide us
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n n: noun or neuter
m m: masculine
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
adj adj: adjective
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version