1 Peter 2:16
As free, and not having your freedom as a cover-up of evil, but as bondmen of God.
A Conservative Version
In The King James Version
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
In Context
15Because this way is the will of God, doing good to muzzle the ignorance of the foolish men.
17Respect all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Respect the king.
Cross References
John 8:32and ye will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
Romans 6:18And having been set free from sin, ye were made servile to righteousness
1 Corinthians 7:22For he who was called in Lord a bondman is a freedman of Lord. Likewise also he who was called a free man is a bondman of Christ.
Galatians 5:13For ye, brothers, were called to liberty, only not liberty for an opportunity to the flesh, but be servants to each other through love.
Colossians 3:24knowing that from Lord ye will receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ.
James 1:25But he who stooped to look into the perfect law, the one of liberty, and who remained, this man, who did not become a forgetful hearer but a doer of work, this man will be blessed in his doing.
Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 2:14-25
Submission to Magistrates; Various Exhortations; Christ's Example as a Sufferer. ( a. d. 66.) 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the… Read the whole commentary →