1 Peter 2:15-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 2:16

As free . This verse is not to be taken with what follows, for it does not well cohere with the contents of 1 Peter 2:17 ; but either with 1 Peter 2:14 ( 1 Peter 2:15 being regarded as parenthetical) or with 1 Peter 2:15 , notwithstanding the change of case in the original, which presents no real difficulty; the meaning being that Christian freedom must show itself, not in license, but in willing obedience to constituted authorities: "Not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake" ( ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 2:15

For so is the will of God - That is, it is in accordance with the divine will that in this way you should put them to silence.That with well doing - By a life of uprightness and benevolence.Ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - See the notes at Titus 2:8. The reference here is to men who brought charges against Christians, by accusing them of being inimical to the government, or insubordinate, or guilty of crimes. Such charges, it is well known, were often brought against them by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 2:16

As free - That is, they were to consider themselves as freemen, as having a right to liberty. The Jews boasted much of their freedom, and regarded it as a birthright privilege that they were free, John 8:33. They never willingly acknowledged their subjection to any other power, but claimed it as an elementary idea of their civil constitution that God only was their Sovereign. They were indeed conquered by the Romans, and paid tribute, but they did it because they were compelled to do it, and it... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Peter 2:13-15

1 Peter 2:13-15. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man Greek, παση ανθρωπινη κτισει , to every human constitution of government, under which you are placed by Divine Providence, and which is formed instrumentally by men, and relates to you as men, and not as Christians. Macknight translates the clause, Be subject to every human creation of magistrates; observing that “the abstract word creation is put for the concrete, the person created; just as governments and powers are... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Peter 2:16-17

1 Peter 2:16-17. As free In the noblest sense, in consequence of your relation to Christ, and your interest in the merit of his death; (see on John 8:32; 1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13;) as sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, and therefore heirs of God; and not using your liberty as a cloak of maliciousness Κακιας , of wickedness. Though you are indeed made free from the dominion of sin and Satan, the world and the flesh, yet not from subjection to magistrates;... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 2:11-25

2:11-3:12 CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPSIn society (2:11-25)The present world is not the true home of those who have come into a living relationship with Jesus Christ. They are now God’s people and they belong to the heavenly kingdom. But their higher status and greater citizenship do not give them the right to do as they like in the present world. They must discipline and control themselves. Negatively, they must not give in to the desires of the sinful nature; positively, they must maintain right... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Peter 2:15

will . App-102 . well doing . Greek. agathopoieo. See Acts 14:17 . put to silence . Same as "muzzle", 1 Corinthians 9:9 . ignorance . Greek. agno sia. See 1 Corinthians 15:34 . foolish . See Luke 11:40 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Peter 2:16

using = having. cloke . Greek. epikalumma. Only here. The word kalumma only in 2 Corinthians 3:13-16 . servants . App-190 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:15

For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:So is the will of God ... refers to the institution and continuity of human governments.That by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ... There is a charge in this that the slanders of the Christians were grounded in the ignorance and foolishness of their accusers; but there is a definite culpability both in such ignorance and in such foolishness. "In the Bible,... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Peter 2:16

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God."The meaning of this verse is that Christian freedom must show itself, not in license, but in willing obedience to constituted authorities."[44] It has been supposed by some that a few Christians might actually have vaunted a freedom contrary to these words, claiming to be above the state and speaking contemptuously of human governments. Such an attitude of course would have further antagonized and aroused... read more

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