1 Peter 2:13-25

Evangelical Heritage Version

Submit to Every Authority

¹³ Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the king as the supreme authority ¹⁴ or to governors as those who have been sent by him to punish those who do what is wrong and to praise those who do what is right. ¹⁵ For this is God’s will: that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶ Do this as free people, and do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but use it as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.^[a] Fear God. Honor the king.

Slaves and Masters

¹⁸ Slaves, submit to your masters with total respect, not only to those who are good and kind but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For this is favorable:^[b] if a person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly because he is conscious of God. ²⁰ For what credit is it to you if you receive a beating for sinning and patiently endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable with God.

²¹ Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you^[c] an example so that you would follow in his steps. ²² He did not commit a sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. ²³ When he was insulted, he did not insult in return. When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.