In this week’s passage from 1 Peter 2, Peter continues his thoughts on how slaves are to act in relation to their masters, especially those masters who may treat them harshly.

You can see this passage for yourself in 1 Peter 2:19-20.

Peter has been addressing those who are in the unfortunate circumstances of slavery. He is specifically addressing those slaves who are believers, or have become believers, in slavery. His main thrust of this passage is for them to submit to their masters, because, in reality, they are serving Christ, and the outflow of that is how they serve their earthly masters.

But the question he knows that they will have is this: What if the master is a harsh man, and treats them severely?

Peter shows in this passage that the true mettle of the believing slave is tested in this situation. Peter knows that some slaves will experience harsh words, and others will experience beatings and other physical abuse. He connects this to persecution, the only connection to physical persecution in the entire letter.

We know from history that physical persecution was growing, especially as the Roman Empire grew more and more decadent. And even though Peter doesn’t directly mention it more than in just this one instance, it was commonplace, and spreading.

What Peter encourages here is that the slave, or anyone else experiencing persecution and suffering, should endure it patiently because of their commitment to God, and not simply because they have no recourse as slaves. This attitude is very much in line with Paul’s exhortation to slaves in Colossians 3:23-24:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Peter’s encouragement to slaves carries the same intention. He reminds them that they are serving Christ, and that unjust or unfair persecution can be endured because of that fact.

The principle applies to us today as well. The advice Peter gives to those in slavery is wisdom that we can learn from. No matter what may happen to us, our goal should always be to remain Christlike.

And regardless of who may or may not notice, God will see. And that is all that matters.

Question: How do you strive to grow in Christlikeness, even in difficult circumstances? You can leave a comment by clicking here.