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.

22 “He committed no sin,(I)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a](J)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(K) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(L) Instead, he entrusted himself(M) to him who judges justly.(N) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(O) in his body on the cross,(P) so that we might die to sins(Q) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(R) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[b](S) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(T) and Overseer of your souls.(U)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  2. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)

18 Slaves,[a] be subject[b] to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. 19 For this finds God’s favor,[c] if because of conscience toward God[d] someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.[e] 21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 22 He[f] committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.[g] 23 When he was maligned, he[h] did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened[i] no retaliation,[j] but committed himself to God[k] who judges justly. 24 He[l] himself bore our sins[m] in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning[n] and live for righteousness. By his[o] wounds[p] you were healed.[q] 25 For you were going astray like sheep[r] but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:18 tn The Greek term here is οἰκέτης (oiketēs), often used of a servant in a household (who would have been a slave).
  2. 1 Peter 2:18 tn Grk “being subject,” but continuing the sense of command from vs. 13.
  3. 1 Peter 2:19 tn Grk “For this [is] favor/grace,” used as a metonymy of that which pleases him, which he looks on with favor (cf. BDAG 1079 s.v. χάρις 2). Cf. 1 Pet 2:20.
  4. 1 Peter 2:19 tc The expression “consciousness/conscience of God” (συνείδησιν θεοῦ; suneidēsin theou) is unusual, occurring only here in the NT. Because θεοῦ was liable to misinterpretation, several witnesses altered the text, either replacing it with ἀγαθήν (agathēn; C Ψ 323 442 614 630 945 1175 1241 1243 1505 1611 1739 1852 2492 sy) or expanding the expression by adding ἀγαθήν before θεοῦ (P72 [A* 33 2344] 81). Replacing θεοῦ with ἀγαθήν conforms to other NT phrases, notably in this same letter (Acts 23:1; 1 Tim 1:5, 19; 1 Pet 3:16, 21), suggesting that such a reading is motivated. The reading θεοῦ, however, has superior support (א Ac B P 049 5 436 1735 M lat co), and best explains the rise of the others.tn Grk “conscious(ness) of God,” an awareness of God and allegiance to him.
  5. 1 Peter 2:20 tn Grk “For this [is] favor/grace with God,” used as a metonymy as in vs. 19 of that which pleases him, which he looks on with favor (cf. BDAG 1079 s.v. χάρις 2).
  6. 1 Peter 2:22 tn Grk “who,” referring to Christ and applying the quotations from Isa 53 to him. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  7. 1 Peter 2:22 sn A quotation from Isa 53:9.
  8. 1 Peter 2:23 tn Grk “who being maligned,” continuing the reference to Christ. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  9. 1 Peter 2:23 tn Grk “he did not threaten, but.”
  10. 1 Peter 2:23 sn An allusion to Isa 53:7.
  11. 1 Peter 2:23 tn Grk “to the one”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  12. 1 Peter 2:24 tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  13. 1 Peter 2:24 sn A quotation from Isa 53:4, 12.
  14. 1 Peter 2:24 tn The verb ἀπογίνομαι (apoginomai) occurs only here in the NT. It can have a literal meaning (“to die”; L&N 74.27) and a figurative meaning (“to cease”; L&N 68.40). Because it is opposite the verb ζάω (zaō, “to live”), many argue that the meaning of the verb here must be “die” (so BDAG 108 s.v.), but even so literal death would not be in view. “In place of ἀποθνῃσκιεν, the common verb for ‘die,’ ἀπογινεθαι serves Peter as a euphemism, with the meaning ‘to be away’ or ‘to depart’” (J. R. Michaels, 1 Peter [WBC 49], 148). It is a metaphorical way to refer to the decisive separation from sin Jesus accomplished for believers through his death; the result is that believers “may cease from sinning.”
  15. 1 Peter 2:24 tn Grk “whose.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  16. 1 Peter 2:24 tn Grk the singular: “wound”; “injury.”
  17. 1 Peter 2:24 sn A quotation from Isa 53:5.
  18. 1 Peter 2:25 sn A quotation from Isa 53:6.