Scripture: 1 Peter 2:19–25
19 For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
22“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Questions
- Peter is originally speaking to slaves, how can we use this same advice in our own lives today?
- How would first century audiences feel hearing that Jesus suffered for slaves?
- What are the qualities you associate with Christ’s example for you to follow?
Background
Related Scriptures: Luke 6:32-36; Acts 2:42–47
The word translated “credit” in verse 19 is the word often translated “grace” and adds emphasis how it is good to endure injustice.
The term translated credit in verse 20 is a different word that has the association of honor creating a parallel structure with verse 19
The idea of being aware of God in verse 19 is about being sensitive to how one should behave in light of God’s character.
Greek Philosophers like Aristotle held that a person’s property including slaves was not subject ideas about justice.
Didymus the Blind: The praises referred to here are those of a person who is good, not by nature but by grace, and who invites us to join him in praising the One who is good by nature.[1]
Andreas: Having told servants to put up with unjust suffering, which was a bitter pill for them to swallow, Peter now comforts them by referring to Christ’s longsuffering. It is as if he were saying: “I am not trying to persuade you to put up with injustice simply by arguments. Rather stand back and look at your master as freemen in Christ, and you will be comforted.[2]
Reflection
In many ways 1 Peter 3 is about the gray areas of life where we must consider how we relate to a larger society with different goals and ideals. Peter begins the thrust of this passage with these words:
“Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes near. For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution” (2:12-13a)
This passage does not mean we blindly support society’s institutions and government simply because they have authority. But nether should we dissent in the wrong ways. After all, our goal is to present ourselves as models of Jesus and people who are worthy of being followed. And if those on the outside are already inclined to malign us and our beliefs, why should we give them any more reason by agitating in ways that are unnecessary. Yet, this is by no means a clear line for us as we live out our walk with Jesus in the practical circumstances of life. This is why Peter calls on us to focus on the example of Jesus. He wants us to imitate Jesus, who did speak against the authorities who opposed God, when appropriate. But he also reminded his followers that those in authority should be respected. Jesus who acted in ways contrary to the law of the time, but so only to help others and not simply to get the law removed. Jesus always acted with a purpose and that purpose was to illuminate God’s ways for us. Jesus did not attempt to force change but instead modeled change.
I realize this can be frustrating for us but imagine being a slave who is coming to church were you are treated with respect and dignity, perhaps for the first time in your life, and trying to live out the life Peter describes. Imagine finding freedom, respect, and justice in Christian communities and then going home only to suffer injustice, hardships, and mistreatment at the hands of your master’s family. Yet what does Peter call them to do, they must remember the suffering of Jesus and remind themselves that he suffered unjustly too, and for them. Jesus stood up to the injustice in the world, he stood up to the systems that use power and fear to control people—like slavery—but did so in the right way, by loving everyone around him. In a Roman world that believed most people lacked dignity and were not worthy of justice, Jesus showed compassion, love and justice to all. Peter is urging the slaves in the church—and honestly all of us—to understand Jesus’ work as model behavior for us to copy.
Yes, this means that we should speak out to others about injustice in the world, the way Jesus did. Yes, we should hold to our moral standards, as Jesus did. Yes, we should show respect to those abused and neglected by the world, Jesus did. But we should do so in ways that make an unbelieving world puzzle as to why we are so committed to bringing dignity to the undignified.
Peter’s advice to us is to remember we are already at odds with unbelievers, and they are going to treat us with some level of suspicion because our values do not align with their values. We should be aware of this fact and work as far as we can to get along in the world without compromising our values. But we should also remember that we reflect Jesus in how we suffer and in why we suffer. We should be looking to create a witness that people want to emulate, extending justice and dignity to all people, even those who unjustly abuse us. If the slave wins glory by bearing up under the unjust abuse of a master so do, we. If Jesus can be the model the slave looks to in times of hardship, he is our model as well. Our lives are not that difficult that we cannot pursue righteousness in this world and justice for others while suffering justly for the sake of God’s glory. Let us strive to remember the example of Jesus and show respect and dignity to all people while providing an example that leads them to want to have a deeper experience with God.
[1] Gerald Bray, ed., James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture 95.
[2] Gerald Bray, ed., James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture 95.
Squinting in the Light 
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