the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Mace New Testament
1 Peter 2:16
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
You are free, but at the same time you have chosen to ride for God and do whatever he says to do. Don't use your freedom to do bad things.
As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God;
as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen.
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
yet not having your liberty for a cloak of wickedness, but as the servants of God.
Be free men, and yet do not make your freedom an excuse for base conduct, but be God's bondservants.
As free, and not vsing your libertie for a cloake of maliciousnesse, but as the seruants of God.
as free, and not having freedom as a cover of evil, but as slaves of God;
as fre, and not as hauynge the libertye for a cloke of wickednes, but eue as the seruauntes of God.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God.
as fre and not as havinge ye libertie for a cloke of maliciousnes but even as the servautes of god.
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as slaves of God.
As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God.
Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves.
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
You are free, but still you are God's servants, and you must not use your freedom as an excuse for doing wrong.
Submit as people who are free, but not letting your freedom serve as an excuse for evil; rather, submit as God's slaves.
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
As free, and not as hauing the libertie for a cloke of maliciousnesse, but as the seruauntes of God.
Act as free men, and not as men who use their liberty as a cloak for their maliciousness; but as the servants of God.
As God's slaves, live as free people, but don't use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
Live like free people, and do not use your freedom as an excuse for doing evil. Instead, be God's servants.1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 5:1,13;">[xr]
As the sons of liberty, yet not as men who make their liberty a veil for their wickedness, but as the servants of Aloha.
as free men, yet not like men who make their freedom a cloak for their wickedness, but as the servants of God.
as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
Obey as men who are free but do not use this to cover up sin. Live as servants owned by God at all times.
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloke of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.
As free, yet, not as a cloak of vice, holding your freedom, but, as God's servants.
As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Live as free persons, and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.
As free, and not as hauyng the libertie for a cloke of maliciousnes, but euen as the seruauntes of God.
Live like free people, but don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as those who are serving God.
Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.
Live as free people; do not, however, use your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God's slaves.
As fre men, and not as hauynge fredom the keuering of malice, but as the seruauntis of God.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
free: John 8:32-36, Romans 6:18, Romans 6:22, 1 Corinthians 7:22, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, James 1:25, James 2:12, 2 Peter 2:19
and: Jude 1:4
using: Gr. having
a cloak: Matthew 23:14, John 15:22, 1 Thessalonians 2:5
but: Ephesians 6:6, Colossians 3:24
Reciprocal: Leviticus 25:10 - proclaim Psalms 119:32 - enlarge Acts 16:17 - the servants 1 Corinthians 8:9 - take Galatians 2:4 - liberty Galatians 4:26 - free 1 Peter 2:1 - malice
Cross-References
for all that God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it be receiv'd with thanksgiving:
Charge those that are rich in this world, not to be elated, not to depend upon their perishable wealth, but upon the God of life, who furnishes us with every thing in plenty for our enjoyment;
Gill's Notes on the Bible
As free,.... These converted Jews might value themselves on their freedom, partly as the descendants of Abraham, and so freeborn, and not to be brought into bondage to other people; and chiefly because of their liberty which they had in and by Christ Jews. The apostle allows that they were freemen, that they were Christ's freemen, were free from sin, its damning and domineering power, and from the curses and condemnation of the law, and had freedom of access to God, and a right to all the privileges and immunities of the house of God; but then they were not free to sin, and to live in the contempt of the laws of God and men, to despise government, speak evil of dignities, and break in upon the rules of civil society:
and not using your liberty as a cloak of maliciousness; under a pretence of Christian liberty, to hurt the persons, properties, and estates of men, without looking upon themselves accountable for their conduct to their superiors: some think the apostle alludes to the ancient custom of servants, who, when they were made free, walked with a cap, or covering on their heads, in token of it: it follows,
[but] as the servants of God; for they that are free are the servants of God and Christ, and show themselves to be so by submitting to and obeying those that are under them, and ordained by them; and which is no ways inconsistent with, and contrary to their Christian liberty, which never was designed to thwart and subvert the principles of natural religion, laws of a moral nature, or the rules of civil government; some instances of which are next mentioned.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
As free - That is, they were to consider themselves as freemen, as having a right to liberty. The Jews boasted much of their freedom, and regarded it as a birthright privilege that they were free, John 8:33. They never willingly acknowledged their subjection to any other power, but claimed it as an elementary idea of their civil constitution that God only was their Sovereign. They were indeed conquered by the Romans, and paid tribute, but they did it because they were compelled to do it, and it was even a question much debated among them whether they should do it or not Matthew 22:17. Josephus has often referred to the fact that the Jews rebelled against the Romans under the plea that they were a free people, and that they were subject only to God. This idea of essential freedom the Jews had when they became Christians, and everything in Christianity tended to inspire them with the love of liberty.
They who were converted to the Christian faith, whether from among the Jews or the Gentiles, were made to feel that they were the children of God; that his law was the supreme rule of their lives; that in the ultimate resort they were subject to him alone; that they were redeemed, and that, therefore, the yoke of bondage could not be properly imposed on them; that God “had made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth,” Acts 17:26; and that, therefore, they were on a level before him. The meaning here is, that they were not to consider themselves as slaves, or to act as slaves. In their subjection to civil authority they were not to forget that they were freemen in the highest sense, and that liberty was an invaluable blessing. They had been made free by the Son of God, John 8:32, John 8:36. They were free from sin and condemnation. They acknowledged Christ as their supreme Head, and the whole spirit and tendency of his religion prompted to the exercise of freedom.
They were not to submit to the chains of slavery; not to allow their consciences to be bound, or their essential liberty to be interfered with; nor in their subjection to the civil magistrate were they ever to regard themselves otherwise than as freemen. As a matter of fact, Christianity has always been the friend and promoter of liberty. Its influence emancipated the slaves throughout the Roman Empire; and all the civil freedom which we enjoy, and which there is in the world, can be traced to the influence of the Christian religion. To spread the gospel in its purity everywhere would be to break every yoke of oppression and bondage, and to make people everywhere free. It is the essential right of every man who is a Christian to be a freeman - to be free to worship God; to read the Bible; to enjoy the avails of his own labor; to train up his children in the way in which he shall deem best; to form his own plans of life, and to pursue his own ends, provided only that he does not interfere with the equal rights of others - and every system which prevents this, whether it be that of civil government, of ecclesiastical law, or of domestic slavery, is contrary to the religion of the Saviour.
And not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness - Margin, as in Greek, “having.” Not making your freedom a mere pretext under which to practice all kinds of evil. The word rendered “maliciousness” - κακία kakia - means more than our word maliciousness does; for it denotes evil of any kind, or all kinds. The word maliciousness refers rather to enmity of heart, ill-will, an intention to injure. The apostle has reference to an abuse of freedom, which has often occurred. The pretence of these who have acted in this manner has been, that the freedom of the gospel implied deliverance from all kinds of restraint; that they were under no yoke, and bound by no laws; that, being the children of God, they had a right to all kinds of enjoyment and indulgence; that even the moral law ceased to bind them, and that they had a right to make the most of liberty in all respects. Hence, they have given themselves up to all sorts of sensual indulgence, claiming exemption from the restraints of morality as well as of civil law, and sinking into the deepest abyss of vice. Not a few have done this who have professed to be Christians; and, occasionally, a fanatical sect now appears who make the freedom which they say Christianity confers, a pretext for indulgence in the most base and degrading vices. The apostles saw this tendency in human nature, and in nothing are they more careful than to guard against this abuse.
But as the servants of God - Not free from all restraint; not at liberty to indulge in all things, but bound to serve God in the faithful obedience of his laws. Thus bound to obey and serve him, they could not be at liberty to indulge in those things which would be in violation of his laws, and which would dishonor him. See this sentiment explained in the notes at 1Co 7:22; 1 Corinthians 9:21.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. As free — The Jews pretended that they were a free people, and owed allegiance to God alone; hence they were continually rebelling against the Roman government, to which God had subjected them because of their rebellion against him: thus they used their liberty for a cloak of maliciousness-for a pretext of rebellion, and by it endeavoured to vindicate their seditious and rebellious conduct.
But as the servants of God. — These were free from sin and Satan, but they were the servants of God-bound to obey him; and, as he had made it their duty to obey the civil magistrate, they served God by submitting to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.
