Servant Submission

Submission to God

Peter will be speaking to servants in a household. This is not the same word commonly translated as servant or slave Instead it is a word used for domestic or house slaves.

As a slave in the house, the slave would be more susceptible to a hostile master - since a field laborer simply needed to work the field.

Slavery in the Roman empire was a reality of life. Nobody questioned it and our modern sensibility seems to recoil at this lack in the early Christian church.

Why didn’t they speak about the evils of slavery.

First, there was some cultural differences between the Roman slaves and the African slave trade in America and Europe.

Roman slaves were of any race and were able not only to escape by purchasing their freedom, but also could grow their wealth and even become a slave owner themselves.

Second, the early Christians did introduce a new ethical mandate that masters look at their slaves not as property, but as brothers in Christ.

Third, the NT writers addressed slaves and reminded them that they were free in God’s eyes and in fact, both masters and slaves were responsible to serve God Himself.

So, submission to a worldly master was not just an ethical obligation, but submission to a worldly master was an act of obedience to the ultimate authority - God Himself.

Finally, this new viewpoint of both masters and slaves as God’s children -and as brothers and sisters in Christ - laid the foundation for the eventual emancipation of slaves.

Even so, it is clear that an honest appraissal of the Scripture demonstrates that slavery is not compatible with the Christian’s responsibility to love fellow believers as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ultimately though Peter is writing to those who are enslaved = how are they to act given their present circumstances?

Peter and Paul both point to the responsibility of Christians to submit to God as the ultimate authority - which can then enable a slave to submit to an earthly authority as an act of submission to God Almighty.

1 Peter 2:18 KJV 1900

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Respect to Men

Peter makes it clear here that servants are to be subject - this is the same word that is used elsewhere to denote a voluntary placing of oneself under the authority of them.

In addition, Peter states that it is to be with “fear” It carries the idea of reverence. The question is - Are they to fear their human masters and the potential punishment? Or are they to place themselves under authority because of reverence toward God who has placed them.

Based on prior verses it is clear that Peter is speaking about a reverence for God that results in a submission to their earthly master.

1 Peter 2:16 KJV 1900

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Reality of Masters

1 Peter 2:18b KJV 1900

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Here Peter gets to the heart of the issue. It might be fine to submit to a master who treats you with respect and kindness. But how should a Roman slave deal with an unreasonable and harsh master - who may even be punishing the slave for being a Christian?

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude C. Living out the Declaration of His Praises (2:11–25; 3:1–12)

The historical situation was accurately described this way: “Whatever a master does to a slave, undeservedly, in anger, willingly, unwillingly, in forgetfulness, after careful thought, knowingly, or unknowingly—it is judgment, justice and law” (Barclay, 211).

Peter instructs them to be subject - to be submissive. Because their purpose is not to submit to the master - but rather to submit to God - the true master!

Witness of Suffering

1 Peter 2:19 KJV 1900

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Peter here deals with the reality of their suffering - he does not minimize it or ignore it - but does state that it involved greater stakes than just physical mistreatment.

It involved the testimony of Jesus Christ - what did it mean to be a follower of Him.

And it could even result in the salvation of that master. If the servant responded in a Biblical fashion.

IN FACT, the word thankworthy there is the same Greek word we often translate grace

In other words, we demonstrate grace as we respond rightly to injustice.

Then Peter goes on to clarify that he is not speaking of punishment for wrongdoing - which could be very severe toward a slave, but he is specifically writing about the persecution slaves received because of their Christian testimony.

1 Peter 2:20 KJV 1900

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

We should also note that this instruction/teaching “given to slaves becomes a model by which believers should respond to injustice, and hence what is said here is not applicable only to slaves.”

Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 138–139.

How do you respond to injustice in life?

How do you respond when your “rights” are violated?

Are you demonstrating grace in your life as you endure suffering?

1 Peter 2:19 KJV 1900

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.