Submission of Slaves to Masters

18 Household slaves, submit to your masters(A) with all reverence(B) not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel.(C) 19 For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,(D) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered(E) for you, leaving you an example,(F) that you should follow(G) in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin,(H) and no deceit(I) was found in his mouth;[a](J) 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges(K) justly. 24 He himself bore our sins(L) in his body(M) on the tree;(N) so that, having died to sins,(O) we might live for righteousness.(P) By his wounds[b](Q) you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray,[c](R) but you have now returned to the Shepherd(S) and Overseer[d] of your souls.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:22 Is 53:9
  2. 2:24 Is 53:5
  3. 2:25 Is 53:6
  4. 2:25 Or Guardian

18 Domestic slaves, be subject to your[a] masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unjust. 19 For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while[b] suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you[c] sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you[d] do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps, 22 who did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth,[e] 23 who when he[f] was reviled, did not revile in return; when[g] suffering, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly, 24 who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:18 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  2. 1 Peter 2:19 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“suffering”) which is understood as temporal
  3. 1 Peter 2:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“sin”) which is understood as temporal
  4. 1 Peter 2:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“do good”) which is understood as temporal
  5. 1 Peter 2:22 This verse contains quotations from Isa 53:9
  6. 1 Peter 2:23 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was reviled”) which is understood as temporal
  7. 1 Peter 2:23 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“suffering”) which is understood as temporal