Peter's Letters
5 - Christian Submission
We now tackle the central section of this important letter. 1 Peter 2 verse 11 to 3 verse 12 emphasises submission in a believer’s life. Submission as a citizen (2 verses 11 to 17): as a worker (2 verses 18 to 25): as a marriage partner (3 verses 1 to 7) and as a member of the Christian assembly (3 verses 8 to 12). When people are on a quest for personal fulfilment, submission isn’t a word they wish to hear. Submission is the recognition of God’s authority in our lives. Today’s largely anti-authoritarian world resents this teaching. Many believers wish it wasn’t in the Bible. Peter wrote, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the King, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right” (1 Peter 2 verses 13 to 14). Paul’s Roman letter contains the same teaching (Romans 13 verses 1 and 2) that the authorities that exist have been established by God and must be obeyed. The one in authority is God’s servant. We may object because it doesn’t look like it. How can evil and despotic rulers such as Sennacherib, Nero, Hitler, Idi Amin, Pol Pot or Saddam Hussein be God’s choice? The New Testament teaches that the ruler is not just allowed by God, but ordained by Him. “The powers that be” reflect God’s plan of order in society. Theirs is an awesome responsibility for which they will be held to account. Jesus, our example, submitted to earthly authority. His reply to Pilate, the Roman Governor, was “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19 verse 11). The Governor’s power was a delegated one. Christians are called to be obedient to human laws as long as they do not conflict with God’s laws. As Papa Ten Boom said to his family who were hiding Jews on the run from the Nazis, “We will obey those who make the laws, but not if they are against God’s higher law.”
Peter says that Christians are to “live as free men” and “live as servants of God” (verse 16). Liberty is not to become licence. The four imperatives of verse 17 are clear as daylight. “Show proper respect to everyone: love the brotherhood of believers, fear God and honour the King.” Christians in the family of God are to be devoted to one another.
Think of an elderly couple – the lady seriously invalided. She can longer care for herself or her family. The old gentleman takes up the responsibility and waits hand and foot on his beloved. When we see them we can’t discern what attracted him to her, but he remembers that lovely Christian who made home heaven for so many years. He cares for her right up until the day she falls asleep in Jesus. Deeper than obedience because of duty, is obedience because of devotion.
Peter’s letters blaze the trail in explaining Christian honour. The basic meaning of honour is recognition of intrinsic value. Honour is respect in action. A believer is to ‘show proper respect to everyone’ (1 Peter 2 verse 17). Peter, a married man says husbands should treat their wives with respect (1 Peter 3 verse 7). Because Christ paid the ultimate price for us, God has highly honoured us. He did not send a seraph or an angel or an archangel, but His only begotten Son.
Verse 18 of 1 Peter 2 needs some unpacking. “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.” The word “harsh” literally means “crooked” or “bent”. The word for slaves here is ‘oiketes’, which means ‘household slaves’, not just unskilled, but also managers, teachers, doctors, musicians and secretaries. They did the work in Rome. There were 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. Many slaves were loved and trusted family members, but they had no rights of their own.
A slave was a thing in Roman law. Justice did not exist for slaves. They were never told to escape or rebel against their masters. Slavery was accepted, more or less, as a fact of life. But here is a new doctrine. Every man is precious in the sight of God. Within the church, the social barriers were broken down. It was quite possible for a slave to be president of the congregation and his master a member of it.
Submission to authority doesn’t come naturally to us because we are rebels at heart. We’re so apt to think “Why should I submit? No one’s going to tell me what to do.” But when we do something in the will of God, as the servants of God, then we are doing it ‘for the Lord’s sake.’
Verse 19 reads, “It is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.” Peter goes on in verse 20 “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.” That last phrase “this is commendable before God” can be translated “God says thank you.” So hold back that outburst, quash that acidic remark, don’t answer back and a thrill of delight starts through the very heart of God and from the throne God stoops to say thank you. You absorbed it – you ‘Jesus-ed’ it. Look what we’re called to in verse 21. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.” False charges against Christians must be dealt with in God’s way.
It’s a sobering thought to realise that the verses we’ve not underlined in our Bible are still in our Bible. For example John 15 verse 20 where Jesus told His disciples “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will persecute you also.” 2 Timothy 3 verse 12 says “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Jesus is the classic example of a person completely in the will of God, greatly loved, and yet still suffering unjustly. Peter writes “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2 verse 21). The teaching seems to be if you’re buffeted through well doing, endure it. Though that particular allegation may be wrong, on many occasions in our lives we received more praise and thanks than were our due. Perhaps our uncomplaining meekness may touch our persecutors as no words of indignation would.