A third century mosaic from Uthina, Tunisia
The relationship of a slave to his master must be “respectful submission” (1 Peter 2:18-19). The word translated “be subject” or “submit” (ὑποτάσσω) carries more negative connotations in English than in Greek. The word has the sense of being subordinate to someone or something for legitimate reasons. This is the same word he used in 2:13 to command the believer to submit to the government. In this case, a government official has been appointed to an office that has some authority, so an honorable person obeys that authority.
This is the word regularly used for the relationship of the slave and master. A slave is subordinate socially and legally in the Roman world to the master and must obey the commands of the master. Slaves did not obey everyone’s orders, but those of their master.
In the Roman world, slavery was often different than slavery in a modern sense. While it could be just as cruel and harsh, many slaves were well treated. Slaves were often educated and given responsibilities that were far beyond the modern, Western idea of a slave. In fact, slaves were the backbone of the Roman economy, the wealthy never worked since they had people working for them (the slave). Slaves were sometimes compensated for their work and could look forward to being set free. In fact, some slaves refused to be set free since they were more socially advanced as a slave of a wealthy, well-placed citizen that as a free (but poor) individual.
In addition, Peter uses the word “household slave” (οἰκέτης). This might be understood as a domestic servant rather than a “field slave.” He is not talking about the slave who is laboring in the salt mines, or being whipped in the fields, but the slave who has responsibilities in the household and is often treated as though they are part of the household.
Peter adds “with all respect.” It is possible for a slave to obey, but not respectfully. The Greek here is not “with all due respect,” but literally “in all fear” (φόβος). Fear is one of those words that can mean “for fear of getting a beating” in this context, or it can mean out of respect for the social standing of one’s master.
All three members of the household are told to act with respect (slaves, wives and husbands). This mutual respect is a subtle counter-cultural maneuver in the Greco-Roman world where a husband/master would not really have to respect their wife or slave.
The Christian slave is to submit to their master whether they are good and gentle, or unjust. As with any master/slave relationship, it is possible that a master could be unjust and cruel. The same is true for a boss/employee relationship (good boss vs. bad boss). However, the attitude of the slave ought not to depend on the personality or behavior of the master, they always are to be obedient and respectful regardless of how they are treated.
Although some disrespect is “socially acceptable” for a non-believing slave, Peter’s point here is that the Christian slave must respect their master more other slaves because a Christian slave is a “stranger and alien” in this world. But this sort of humble submission is seems rare in modern, western Christianity. Perhaps this is a result of affluent Christians who are quite at home in this world – how do we get back to Peter’s ideal of living out a Christian life that treats non-Christians with respect so they might honor God as well?
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
I think that reading this passage it could be misread as a statement about superiority, and in equality. However, I think that Peter is more making a statement about representing Christ, and being Christ-like. Although slaves was not as negative of a term then as it is today, they still could be treated poorly. According to Jobes, slaves made up roughly a quarter of the socioeconomic system. What if a quarter of GrecoRoman society lived lovingly like Christ did, even when their masters didn’t treat them well? That would be a huge testament as to how strong the love of Christ can be. In the same way, how we respond when people treat us poorly can represent Christ. 1 Peter also speaks about the unfair suffering that Christians will go through. This concept is a part of that suffering. It is not easy to be loving to those who do not treat us well.
The commentary from Jobes was helpful and I also appreciate this post to better understand this chapter of 1 Peter.
The picture presented here, if I understand it correctly, is likening the typical Roman slave as something more like a housekeeper than an person owned by another. This also makes the application of a boss/employee relationship possible.
To answer your question – how do we get back to Peter’s ideal of living out a Christian life that attracts non-believers – I wonder how much of it would be resolved if we simply studied and taught the Bible better. What I mean by this is how we interact with Scripture in our churches and in our children’s ministries and even social media (ie.Posting things asking people to proclaim Psalm 91:10 over themselves and repost to prove they declare the promise.. the verse mentions the plague – OBVIOUSLY the passage must be referring to covid 19 🙂 ).
There is a fear or a disliking of this particular passage in 1 Peter and ones like it. We simply ignore the passages that make us uncomfortable or might be used to mock Christianity by an unbeliever. Yet if we take the time to learn about its context, the time period in which it was written (ie Sitz im Leben), etc. it would serve us well. And not only in an apologetics sense but also in daily Christian life. One must know the Bible in order to live it out.
Many today would balk at the idea of living in such a way that they would stand out to non-Christians and win them over. Everyone one wants to be relevant, to win the unbeliever by doing all of the things they do, and so on. The goal is to blend in enough to get the unbeliever to like you, to stand out maybe a little. But certainly not a stand out so much as to have different lifestyle!
In these cases we would, yet again, benefit from a study of Scripture (ie. 2 Peter- and even 1 Peter).
Of course simply reading the Word is not enough. But before any reflections and actions based on Scripture can begin, the Word must be read and read rightly.
“OBVIOUSLY the passage must be referring to covid 19 🙂 ).”
[Narrarator’s voice] No, no it doesn’t
We like to live in a world that is all based on “my opinion is the only one that matters” and not on mutual respect and that is because we each view our beliefs as the only viable, true belief that trumps all others. In other words, we want to be right in this religious war without fully considering the situation of those we are arguing against. Peter uses the concept of slaves and wives to reiterate the important of mutual respect and understanding authority. Not many people, former slaves and descendants of slaves mostly, do not like the word “authority: because of the bad history between them and their ancestor’s masters (or simply they may have experienced trauma which puts them in a complex relationship with authority), and so there are those (not all) who hold a particular, negative view on the white race. More than that, we have LGBTQ+ who do not respect Christians because of the lies they are told, and the experiences they had with other religious people, secular, too, who are against the religious beliefs of Christians, and even denominations of the Christian belief can have their own active, negative opinions about one another. The point Peter is trying to make is Christians are going to suffer for their faith, especially in their household or with those they are in close proximity with. In this case, we can see that submitting (respect; fear) is an action which can lead their unbelieving masters to faith without saying anything to condemn themselves. Though, it must be said, if the suffering Christian is asked by their master (or husband) if they are Christian, they must not deny their faith. What must be done, therefore, is leading them into faith alongside you without pushing it on them or showing obvious disgust at them and their beliefs. If they ask our faith, we tell them. If they reject us, we tell them we don’t reject them. What we need is bold faith and perseverance, willing to suffer, to let go of our need for control and to do everything in our life for God and not for ourselves. Jesus ate with the sinners, so why shouldn’t we?