1 Peter 2:16
What does 1 Peter 2:16 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 2:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 2:16 means
Believers are to live “as free,” yet never use freedom as a cover for evil. Their liberty is not autonomy but the privilege of belonging to God; therefore they live “as bondservants of God.” True freedom gladly binds itself to God’s will. This guards against two errors: rebellion that cloaks itself in Christian liberty, and legalism that forgets liberty altogether. The Christian’s submission to authorities is voluntary and Godward, not slavish. It flows from a deeper allegiance that transforms obedience from mere compliance into worship, keeping conscience clear and conduct honorable even under scrutiny.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but asGod's bondmen.
Context
Verse 16 balances the call to submission (vv. 13–15) with the reality of gospel freedom. This interior freedom prevents obedience from becoming idolatry of the state and keeps resistance to evil from becoming anarchy. The next verse will condense social ethics into four imperatives that align with this God-centered liberty: universal honor, special love for fellow believers, reverent fear of God alone, and due honor to the king.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.
- Colossians 3:24
knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.
- Galatians 5:13
For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
- 2 Peter 2:19
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
- Romans 6:18
and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
- John 8:32
and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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