1 Peter 2:10-20

10 who once [were] not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy.
11 Beloved, I exhort [you], as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may through [your] good works, [themselves] witnessing [them], glorify God in [the] day of visitation.
13 Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme,
14 or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well.
15 Because so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless men;
16 as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen.
17 Shew honour to all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.
18 Servants, [be] subject with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the ill-tempered.
19 For this [is] acceptable, if one, for conscience sake towards God, endure griefs, suffering unjustly.
20 For what glory [is it], if sinning and being buffeted ye shall bear [it]? but if, doing good and suffering, ye shall bear [it], this is acceptable with God.

Footnotes 12

  • [a]. I have endeavoured to express the perfect participle of the verb 'to show mercy' by 'enjoying mercy,' and the aorist participle of the same verb by 'having found mercy.' See Hos. 1.10; 2.23.
  • [b]. See Note, ch. 1.1.
  • [c]. Which have this character, not simply 'which.'
  • [d]. i.e. 'manner of life.'
  • [e]. The expression here does not mean exactly 'whereas' or 'wherein.' It is rather 'in that respect in which.' He does not mean in that particular thing exactly, but in respect of that very walk and course of conduct.
  • [f]. 'Senseless men' has the article here, as showing that it is not 'some men who are foolish,' but that men (not Christians) are so, are known in that character. It is the character of all who are pointed out by the name of 'men.' It is somewhat wider than 'Gentiles,' ver. 12.
  • [g]. In the Greek there are articles before 'liberty' and 'malice,' thus emphasizing the contrast: 'that thing liberty as cloak of that thing malice.'
  • [h]. 'Shew honour' is the aorist; the other verbs in this verse are the present tense. Hence, 'shew honour' is more the act when occasion arises; the others, the constant habit of mind.
  • [i]. Only here and ch. 5.9.
  • [j]. See Note n, ch. 3.1.
  • [k]. Hupomeno, 'endure patiently:' see 2Tim. 2.12; Jas. 5.7 (Note f).
  • [l]. Not only 'good' in the sense of 'right,' but 'beneficent.' I think his mind goes beyond the servants to doing good generally as Christians.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.