1 Peter 2:18-25, Conduct of Slaves

I love the note the Zondervan Bible Backgrounds Commentary notes about slaves:

…even in addressing them Peter is raising their status. The slaves had few rights and could be treated by their masters arbitrarily. Thus the dichotomy of “good and considerate” and “those who are harsh” was a known part of life. While some slaves were treated well and were educated at the master’s expense, a slave could also be abused or beaten for little or no reason. Thus it was quite possible that a slave would “suffer for doing good.” Furthermore, the slave, unlike the Roman citizen, could be crucified. Thus Peter urges them to identify with Jesus, who also suffered the extreme penalty, which was so shameful that Roman writers would rarely mention it.

Peter now begins addressing comments to specific household members, including slaves.

^2:18 Household servants, be submissive, with all fear, to your masters, and not just the good and kind ones, but also to the bent ones. ¹⁹ For this brings favor if, out of consciousness of God, someone bears up under pain of unjust suffering. ²⁰ For what credit is there if you endure being beaten for doing wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing right, this brings favor from God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example that you might follow in his footsteps. ²² He did no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth, ²³ who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return, who suffering did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the One who judges justly. ²⁴ He bore our sins in his body on the tree in order that we might die to sins and live to righteousness. By his wounds we are healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep gone astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Slaves had become followers of Jesus Christ, which means someone had borne witness to them, viewing them as worthy of respect (“Honor everyone”, v.17). How could slaves demonstrate goodness and indirectly give witness to Christ? By obeying their masters, even the “bent” ones.

Jesus was their example. He wasn’t beaten and killed for doing good, but was unjustly punished. His “footsteps” could be followed, by anyone, not just slaves. He wasn’t deceitful, he wasn’t slanderous, he wasn’t vengeful, but was trusting in the ultimate Master who always judges justly. He was sinless, which we cannot be, and showed us the way to live.

As sinless, he was able to bear our sins in his body on the tree, a clear reference to Isaiah 53, thus identifying Jesus as the suffering servant in Isaiah. By bearing our sins and dying, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so that, in effect, we died to our sins (they can no longer be held against us) and can now live to righteousness, as Peter is commanding us to do. By Jesus wounds we have been rescued, we stray sheep who have wandered from our shepherd. We’ve been returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.