18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(A) not only to those who are good and considerate,(B) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(C) 20 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.(D) 21 To this(E) you were called,(F) because Christ suffered for you,(G) leaving you an example,(H) that you should follow in his steps.

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18 (A)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, (B)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But (C)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For (D)to this you have been called, (E)because Christ also suffered for you, (F)leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

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18 (A)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and (B)gentle, but also to those who are [a]harsh. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of (C)conscience toward God a person endures [b]grief when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if (D)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

21 For (E)you have been called for this purpose, (F)because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (G)an example, so that you would follow in His steps,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:18 Or unscrupulous
  2. 1 Peter 2:19 Or pain

Submission to Masters(A)

18 (B)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is (C)commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For (D)what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For (E)to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for [a]us, (F)leaving [b]us an example, that you should follow His steps:

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:21 NU you
  2. 1 Peter 2:21 NU, M you

The Kind of Life He Lived

18-20 You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.

21-25 This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.

They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

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