Recap and historical context
Last week we looked at 1 Peter 2:13-17 which talks about honouring the authorities that God has put into our lives.
Today’s passage continues on with that theme, addressing specific instruction to slaves. Slavery was a normal part of life in the Roman Empire. Many of the first Christians had been or were still slaves. Some were slave owners. Rather than seeking to overturn the institution of slavery, the apostles gave practical instruction on how to honour Jesus while navigating this social landscape in which slavery was a fact. Peter addresses his instruction to slaves but not to slave owners. This is probably a reflection of the social class of the people who received his letter. In some of Paul’s letters he has instructions for both slaves and slave owners (see Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-25 , 4:1 ) . Paul’s letter to Philemon was addressed to the Christian owner of a runaway slave, Onesimus, who had become Paul’s assistant and a believer. Paul appealed to Philemon to set this young man free.
English translations have traditionally used the term servants rather than slaves when translating these passages. This may reflect the social context of England when the Bible was being translated. The slave trade was abolished in England in 1102, far sooner than in the rest of Europe. The British nobility had servants, but paid them wages. But in New Testament times, slaves were the property of the owner. They could be bought and sold, and could be punished for offences.
Peter’s instruction to Christian slaves (1 Peter 2:18-25)
Remember that in Peter’s counsel to Christian slaves, he was not defending the institution of slavery. He was providing spiritual counsel to slaves who were subject to this system.
- What is the first reason Peter gives why slaves should submit to their masters?
- Why does he say that one should submit even to a harsh master?
- Whose example does Peter cite when he tells Christian slaves how to respond to unjust suffering? (1 Peter 2;21-23)
- What did Jesus have to say about responding to unjust suffering? (Matthew 5:43-48)
- Think of a time when you had to suffer an injustice. How did you respond?
Does this teaching justify abusive treatment?
The apostle Peter shared in the risk of persecution with his audience, He had been beaten and imprisoned for his faith and was eventually crucified upside down. He had earned the right to counsel his disciples to submit while trusting God. He was speaking this counsel as one standing beside his disciples, sharing the same risk that they also shared, and strengthening them to carry this load.
By contrast, when someone in a position of power tortures others and, claiming to speak for God, counsels them to submit as if this were God’s will, this is a form of spiritual abuse. Sadly, Canada’s history of residential schools for Indigenous children provides one of many examples of such injustice. This is a great evil, rooted in pride and self-idolatry. God does comfort the afflicted, but he also promises to bring their abusers to judgement unless they humbly and sincerely repent.
Prayer
