1 Peter 2:18

1 Peter 2:18 ‘Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.'

‘Servants' -POINTS TO NOTE: 1. ‘the horrible degradation of slaves in 19 th -century America gives the word ‘slave'. far worse connotation than is accurate for most of the society to which Peter was writing. Although mistreatment of slaves could occur then too, it must be remembered that. st -century slaves were generally well treated and were not unskilled laborers but often managers, overseers, and trained members of the various professions (doctors, nurses, teachers, musicians, skilled artisans)…..They were normally paid for their services and could expect eventually to purchase their freedom….this was by far the most common kind of employee-employer relationship in the ancient world…(Free men who worked for others as day labourers were closer to “independent contractors” today, since they seemed to resist any suggestion that their employers could tell them what to do). In fact, the word ‘employee', though not conveying the idea of absence of freedom, does reflect the economic status and skill level of these ancient ‘slaves' better than do either of the words ‘servant' or ‘slave' today.' (Grudem pp. 123-124) 2. The frequent mention of ‘slaves' in the Epistles, suggests that many First Century Christians belonged to this class (1 Corinthians 7:21; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 6:1).

‘be submissive' -to subject oneself. ‘the action is volunteered by the Christian servant, rather than forced or coerced by the master.' (Oberst p. 126)

‘with all respect' -‘with utmost respect' (Wey). Some Christian slaves might be tempted to think that their conversion released them from the obligation to obey their earthly masters, especially is that master was. Christian. ‘There then arose the danger that the slave might trade and presume upon the new relationship. He might well make the new relationship an excuse for shirking his work, and for failing in his duty, and for general slackness and inefficiency…..That is. situation which is by no means completely at an end. There are still people who trade on the goodwill and the sympathy of. Christian master, and who think that the fact that both they and their employers are Christians gives them. right to dispense with discipline and punishment.' (Barclay p. 251) POINTS TO NOTE: 1. Contrary to the assumptions of some, God doesn't always side with the blue-collar worker. 2. Labor and management have definite Divine obligations to each other (Ephesians 6:5). 3. Another common assumption, is that if one works for. Christian employer, one shouldn't have to work as hard. Barclay notes, ‘The Christian must, indeed, be. better workman than anyone else. His Christianity is not. reason for claiming exemption from discipline (or hard work); it should bring him under self-discipline and should make him more conscientious than anyone else.' (pp. 251-252) 4. Carefully note that Christianity doesn't abolish our obligations to human relationships (Titus 2:9; Ephesians 6:1).

‘not only to those who are good and gentle' -‘kind and thoughtful' (Wey); considerate and fair. Note that ‘good' masters did exist.

‘but also to those who are unreasonable' -unfair, unjust, crooked, unscrupulous, dishonest, harsh, overbearing, arbitrary, cruel.

POINTS TO NOTE: 1. Our obligation to our duties, work, job, do not depend upon the character of the person in charge. At times people try to justify their laziness, or uncooperative attitude, because their boss or the company is so unfair. 2. Suffering injustice doesn't give the Christian. right to act in an unjust manner, i.e. steal time or things from the company, become less then earnest in your work, etc…3. The Christian must always remember that the Master they are always serving in whatever economic situation they find themselves, is Christ (Ephesians 6:5). ‘Christianity introduced. new attitude to work. It is the conviction of the New Testament that all work must be done for Jesus Christ….work is not done (primarily) for personal prestige…to make so much money…It is, of course, true that. man must work in order to earn. wage, and he must work to satisfy. master; but beyond that there is for the Christian the conviction that his work must be done well enough to take it and to show it to God without shame.' (Barclay pp. 253-254). 4. Another New Testament verse which reveals that suffering or hardship do not release us from our obligations. In contrast, the person who believes in. situational ethic must disagree with what God revealed through Peter on this point. 5. For the slave to rise up and kill his master, riot and loot, would prove that the slave was just as evil has his cruel master.