Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
GNT … For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
These words from Peter may have been addressed to the household slaves, who made up a very important and large part of the early Church.
Masters and mistresses had absolute control over slaves; and might put them to death without interference from the law.
Peter tries to cheer them while bearing their nameless wrongs.
He exhorts them to bear all their sorrows patiently and silently, following in the footsteps of their Lord, and to have faith in the certainty that He would vindicate them.
Let us all remember that we are all slaves, having been placed in an evil and ungodly world, we are as lamps on dark landings, in order to bear witness to Jesus by the simplicity and beauty of our conversation and our actions.
The way of the Cross is the only safe way for us all, therefore, we must keep in touch with our Shepherd and Protector and carry HIS cross.
Just look in the news, we will bear unjust persecution and unjust wrongs because we Follow Jesus!
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