1 Peter 2:18

1 Peter 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
• New International Version (NIV)Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

Context of 1 Peter 2:18

16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God. 17Show respect for all people [treat them honorably], love the brotherhood [of believers], fear God, honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all [proper] respect, not only to those who are good and kind, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19For this finds favor, if a person endures the sorrow of suffering unjustly because of an awareness of [the will of] God. 20After all, what kind of credit is there if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you endure it patiently? But if when you do what is right and patiently bear [undeserved] suffering, this finds favor with God.

1 Peter 2:18 word by word

Οἱ οἰκέται ὑποτασσόμενοι ἐν παντὶ φόβῳ τοῖς δεσπόταις, οὐ μόνον τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς καὶ ἐπιεικέσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς σκολιοῖς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Servantsοἰκέτηςoiketēs · slaveG3610
• subjectὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• toδεσπότηςdespotēs · masterG1203
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• to the goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• gentleἐπιεικήςepieikēs · gentleG1933
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• to the frowardσκολιόςskolios · crookedG4646

Cross-references for 1 Peter 2:18

• Ephesians 6:5Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority, and with a sincere heart [seeking to please them], as [service] to Christ—
• Colossians 3:22Servants, in everything obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord.
• 1 Timothy 6:1All who are under the yoke as bond-servants (slaves) are to regard their own masters as worthy of honor and respect so that the name of God and the teaching [about Him] will not be spoken against.
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent!
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].
• Psalms 101:4A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not tolerate evil.
• Proverbs 3:32For the devious are repulsive to the Lord; But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].
• Proverbs 8:13The [reverent] fear and worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.
• Proverbs 10:32The lips of the righteous know (speak) what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked knows (speaks) what is perverted (twisted).
• Proverbs 11:20The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the Lord, But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!

Commentaries on 1 Peter 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Servants, be subject - See the notes on Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; (note); and Titus 2:9; (note). With all fear - With all submission and reverence. The good and gentle - Those who are ever just in their commands, never requiring more work than is necessary or proper, and always allowing sufficient food and sufficient time. The froward - · The crooked, perverse, unreasonable morose, and austere. Your time belongs to your master; obey him in every…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Servants, be subject to your masters - On the duty here enjoined, see the notes at Ephesians 6:5-9. The Greek word used here ( ̓́ oiketai) is not the same which is employed in Ephesians, ( ͂ douloiThe word here means properly “domestics” - those employed about a house, or living in the same house - from ̓͂ oikos“house.” These persons might have been slaves, or might not. The word would apply to them, whether they were hired, or whether they were owned as…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Servants in those days generally were slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet the apostle directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with a fear to dishonour or offend God. And not only to those pleased with reasonable service, but to the severe, and those angry without cause. The sinful misconduct of one relation, does not justify sinful behaviour in the other; the servant is bound to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Many slaves in the Roman Empire held responsible positions and earned a decent income. However, most slaves were treated harshly, and all slaves lacked legal status and basic rights. with all respect (literally with all fear): Peter might be urging slaves to fear God (see 2:17; compare 1:17) or fear the master's punishment. However, he often uses this kind of language to describe the respectful attitude that Christians should show toward others (3:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Servants--Greek, "household servants": not here the Greek for "slaves." Probably including freedmen still remaining in their master's house. Masters were not commonly Christians: he therefore mentions only the duties of the servants. These were then often persecuted by their unbelieving masters. Peter's special object seems to be to teach them submission, whatever the character of the masters might be. Paul not having this as his prominent design…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 2:18

• Commandments
• Example
• Fear of God
• Meekness
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Bishop
• Chosen
• Cloke
• Disallow
• Fleshly
• Offer
• Sincere
• Spiritual
• Submit
• Thanksgiving

Commentaries on 1 Peter 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings