Reading for September 18th

Read 1 Peter 2.11-25
In verses 11-17 Civic and family duties.
Peter begins here a lengthy catalog of traditional duties, which are aspects of justice.
Although aliens and exiles, disciples must act honorable like citizens.
This means accepting the authority either of civic rulers, Roman emperor, local governors,
or heads of families.
Despite their social status as servants, they should live as free people by honoring and
fearing those with political authority.
In verses 18-25 Slaves gaining honor.
Typical catalogs of duties address both masters and slaves (Eph 6.5-9; Col 4.1),
but only slaves are mentioned here.
In verses 18-20 honorable behavior is expected, namely, accepting authority from
good and evil masters alike.
Unjust, suffering for doing good, while shameful to others, is a credit to God
(see honorable behavior in 2.12).
In verses 21-25 Isa 53.9 says that Christ left an example of suffering unjustly but honorably.
He forswore vengeance, the mark of honorable males in classical cultures;
his wounds healed our sins.
Slaves, then, belong to the flock of an honorable shepherd and guardian, who rewards the (5.4).
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