1 Peter 2:18 18Slaves, be submissive in all fear to the masters, not only to the good and kind ones, but also the harsh. 19For this is grace if someone endures under the pain of unjust suffering on account of a consciousness of God.
Peter next applies to slaves his previous instructions. He uses different words typically used in the New Testament for slaves (oiketai) and masters (despotais). These words were more typically used in relation to the Greco-Roman household, but their application could be broader. Many parts of the Roman Empire of that time had slaves, often far outnumbering citizens. When the Romans conquered an area, and especially if the people resisted, the Romans made the people slaves. Slaves experienced a wide range of treatment, from very harsh, such as working in hard labor, to the more pleasant care of a household, business, or family, similar to like having a job today. Some slaves died in the gravel pits while others lived in luxury. Peter does not distinguish between those extremes here. Many slaves had become believers in Jesus.
Like other writers of the New Testament (such as Paul in Ephesians 6 and Colossians 4), Peter urges slaves to show respect to their masters, no matter how kind or harsh they were. The motive for slaves should be fear of God. Because we worship God and respect God’s authority in our lives, we can be empowered to respect those who have authority over us. Sometimes in modern situations, we may find ourselves working under supervisors who are harsh, inconsiderate, or just poor leaders or administrators. We can put this type of situations into the hands of God and trust God to see us through. Our strength for endurance can come from the deep well of God’s love rather than the shallow pit of our own emotions.
Not all masters in the Roman Empire were kind to their slaves. Many slaves were treated as property to be used as one pleased. They experienced verbal and physical abuse, beatings, rejection, and other forms of cruelty. Their suffering was not justified but only at the whim of their masters. Peter commends such believers for enduring their harsh situations. Their endurance (hypopherei, bearing under a load) said something about their faith in God. They had an awareness of God’s presence and care over them. They had confidence in the salvation offered through Christ, and they had a healthy reverence for God.
When we find ourselves in a difficult position of being under the authority of someone cruel, mean, or is just a poor leader, we can follow the example of ancient Christian slaves. In some jobs or families, believers may experience difficulty or even cruelty because of their faith. The abuse can be subtle, but it can wear on people over a long period of time. Ancient slaves usually had no choice about gaining freedom. We may not have a choice about our families or job, but if we can improve our situation, we should seek to, as Paul encouraged slaves to gain their freedom when they could (1 Corinthians 7:21). When we cannot change the situation, we can ask God to give us the strength to endure. Enduring such unjust suffering can be a sign of God’s grace working in our lives because we rely on God and not ourselves.