1 Peter 2:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

NIV: For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.

NASB: For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.

CSB: For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.

NLT: For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.

KJV: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

NKJV: For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

In the previous verse, Peter wrote that Christian slaves must submit to their masters. Indeed, all Christians must submit to everyone in positions of human authority. He emphasized that our submission should not be dependent on whether that authority is kind or harsh. As discussed in verse 18, the "slavery" of the biblical era is not the same concept which a typical modern reader thinks of.

It's essential to remember that many of Peter's Christian readers were slaves, and were very likely to face mistreatment by their masters. Peter is well aware of this. Here, he acknowledges that unjust suffering will bring them pain and/or sorrow. He does not call that a good thing. What he calls a good thing is intentionally enduring that pain and sorrow out of an awareness of God. Or, one might say, out of trust and submission to God.

In verse 23, Peter will remind us that Jesus endured pain and sorrow while being treated unjustly. Jesus made the intentional choice to entrust Himself to the one who is the just judge: His Father. So it is "commendable" (NIV), "a gracious thing" (ESV), or finding "favor" (NASB) to endure that pain and sorrow. We do this with the awareness that our God is the one who will judge all such actions in the end. He is also the one who meets our deepest needs in the moment.

1 Peter 2:13–25 reveals God’s will for those who are free in Christ: to willingly submit to every human authority for God’s sake. This includes emperors, governors, kings, and even slave masters. Peter does not endorse slavery, but he does instruct Christian slaves to endure unjust suffering, as Jesus did for our sake on the cross. He does not expect us to ''obey'' when the instructions are sinful. Rather, Christians are called to imitate Christ by suffering for doing good. Because Jesus was willing to do so, we lost sheep are now under the protection of our shepherd.

Peter gets specific about what it means to live as God’s set-apart people. Christ is the foundation stone of the spiritual house God is building. We must engage in battle with our selfishness and desire to sin. This includes submitting to human authorities, no matter how evil or harsh. It means enduring suffering, as Christ did for our sake when He died on the cross. Our role is not to fight a physical war for justice here; we will be going home soon.

First Peter 1 described the glorious reality of our present and future as God’s children, by His grace and through our faith in Jesus. He called us a holy people redeemed by God for new purposes. That means believers must live differently than those in the world around us. In this chapter, Peter narrows down exactly what it means to lead a holy life, including doing battle with our own desire to sin. This also means suffering under human authorities, even unjust ones.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.