Right after he commands us in 1 Peter 2:13-16 to be subject to every human authority knowing full well that some of those authorities may be corrupt, evil, brutal or incompetent, Peter makes an even more problematic demand. At first blush, that second demand can be extraordinarily uncomfortable to modern American ears, given some of the horrors of America’s history. He tells servants and slaves to obey and respect their masters, even if those masters are cruel, unjust, or harsh (1 Peter 2:18-21). He goes on to illustrate the unpleasant depth of this demand by acknowledging that slaves and servants are sometimes beaten. In fact, he says to furnish respect even if wrongfully beaten.
In the first command, he tells us that our submission to every human authority is for the sake of the Lord, and for the practical reasons of legitimizing the power God gave to those authorities to keep the peace, as well as the effect of silencing others who accuse Christians of wrong and illegal behaviors. Although potentially difficult to act out, it is quite reasonable. But the command regarding slaves has nothing to do with any easy-to-see practical benefits. Instead, the design of the command is one intended to prod us to imitate the example of Christ, and to assume his nature. The reasoning Peter uses to justify that prodding is radical. He argues that slaves should accept wrongful beatings because it demonstrates that they have a nature similar to the nature of Christ who also wrongfully received beatings but did not sin. Included in his argument is the reward of knowing that God is pleased when we patiently endure suffering even when we haven’t done wrong. He adds that no reward is granted to those who are deservedly beaten or suffer for having actually done something wrong. Patient suffering within the context of injustice is evidence of a Christ-like nature. It is a spiritual mark of our identification with Christ.
Unfortunately, this passage has been wrongfully used to condone the institution of slavery. This is not the point of the passage in any way. The passage simply recognizes the existence of a human institution and uses it to show how people can demonstrate a divine nature in the midst of darkness. It is in the midst of darkness that the divine nature is easiest to see because it is there that the contrast between good and evil is at its greatest. It is also there that the supernatural power of Christ becomes one’s strength, rather than the crude and flawed powers of fleshly human nature.
In what areas of your life have you assumed the nature of Christ?
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