1 Peter 2:17-19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
17 Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king.(A)
Christian Slaves. 18 [a]Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and equitable but also to those who are perverse.(B) 19 For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace.
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- 2:18–21 Most of the labor in the commercial cities of first-century Asia Minor was performed by a working class of slaves. The sense of freedom contained in the gospel undoubtedly caused great tension among Christian slaves: witness the special advice given concerning them here and in 1 Cor 7:21–24; Eph 6:5–8; Col 3:22–25; Phlm. The point made here does not have so much to do with the institution of slavery, which the author does not challenge, but with the nonviolent reaction (1 Pt 2:20) of slaves to unjust treatment. Their patient suffering is compared to that of Jesus (1 Pt 2:21), which won righteousness for all humanity.
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