1 PETER 2:16 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves — the paradox places Christian liberty (eleuther) and servitude (douloi theou, slaves of God) in tension: believers are 'free' (eleutheros) yet bound to God. The warning against using freedom 'as a pretext for wickedness' (kalon malalion epikalymma, literally 'as a covering for evil') establishes that Christian freedom is not license but renewed servitude to a higher power.
Church Fathers on 1 Peter 2:16
No doubt the apostle admonishes the Romans Romans 13:1 to be subject to all power, because there is no power but of God, and because (the ruler) does not carry the sword without reason, and is the servant of God, nay also, says he, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil. For he had also previously spoken thus: For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!