1 Peter 2:15-16 15For thus is the will of God, by doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people, 16as free people and not having freedom as a cover for evil but as servants of God. 17Honor everyone, love the fellowship, fear God, honor the emperor.
Peter next gives more practical ways of how to live out our testimony as sojourners in this world. The grammatical structure of verse 15 is awkward, with the key action given in an instrumental participle by doing good (agathopoiountas). This good is defined further in verses 16-17. How we live as righteous, holy, and loving people will witness to the unbelievers around us. Truth ultimately triumphs, but often those who profess it suffer until there is victory. In the last days, truth will be replaced for a lie. People will be fooled into accepting injustice as the way things should be. Moral compromise becomes the acceptable way of life. Much of this is because of ignorance of God’s will. Ignorance leads to foolishness, which opens one to deception. If enough people believe the lies, laws and culture are changed. People who claim that certain lifestyles or actions are acceptable are only fooling themselves. God’s truth does not change, although we must apply it in constantly new ways. Our mission is to do “good” as shining lights, as revealed in God’s Word, which reveals the futility of the darkness.
We are free in Christ and through Christ even though we may be bound by various people and institutions. Poverty, illness, poor wages, unequally yoked marriages, abusive relationship, and many other things bind people in modern forms slavery. Yet, in many places of the world, people experience new opportunities and increased freedoms. Even in suppressed situations, believers can have a spiritual freedom that cannot be taken away. Peter warns his readers about the danger of the temptation to do evil. With increased freedom comes more temptation. We must live by a higher calling because we have a loving and generous Master. Like Paul’s descriptions in Romans 6 and 8, Peter says there is a new freedom that comes in serving God. Being slaves (douloi) of God brings spiritual freedom and peace even when in a difficult situation. We should not use this freedom to satisfy fleshly living. Faith should lead to obedience because our master is God.