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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Peter 2:16 Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_peter/2-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/60_1Pe_02_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Peter 2:16 - Submission to Authorities" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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live as God&#8217s slaves. <a href="/nlt/1_peter/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. <a href="/esv/1_peter/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. <a href="/bsb/1_peter/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. <a href="/blb/1_peter/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> as free, and not having the freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as servants of God. <a href="/kjv/1_peter/2.htm">King James Bible</a> As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. <a href="/nkjv/1_peter/2.htm">New King James Version</a> as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. <a href="/nasb_/1_peter/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God. <a href="/nasb/1_peter/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. <a href="/nasb77/1_peter/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. <a href="/lsb/1_peter/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as slaves of God. <a href="/amp/1_peter/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> 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. <a href="/csb/1_peter/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. <a href="/hcsb/1_peter/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> As God&#8217s slaves, live as free people, but don&#8217t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil. <a href="/asv/1_peter/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. <a href="/cev/1_peter/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You are free, but still you are God's servants, and you must not use your freedom as an excuse for doing wrong. <a href="/erv/1_peter/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> as free, and not using your freedom for a cloke of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. <a href="/gwt/1_peter/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Live as free people, but don't hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God. <a href="/gnt/1_peter/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> Live as free people; do not, however, use your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God's slaves. <a href="/isv/1_peter/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> Live like free people, and do not use your freedom as an excuse for doing evil. Instead, be God's servants. <a href="/msb/1_peter/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. <a href="/net/1_peter/2.htm">NET Bible</a> Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves. <a href="/nheb/1_peter/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> as free, and not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as slaves of God. <a href="/wbt/1_peter/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. <a href="/wey/1_peter/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Be free men, and yet do not make your freedom an excuse for base conduct, but be God's bondservants. <a href="/web/1_peter/2.htm">World English Bible</a> Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_peter/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> as free, and not having freedom as the cloak of evil, but as servants of God; <a href="/blb/1_peter/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> as free, and not having the freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as servants of God. <a href="/ylt/1_peter/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God; <a href="/slt/1_peter/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> As free, and as not having liberty for a covering of wickedness, but as the servants of God.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_peter/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. <a href="/cpdv/1_peter/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> in an open manner, and not as if cloaking malice with liberty, but like servants of God. <a href="/nabre/1_peter/2.htm">New American Bible</a> Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God. <a href="/nrsvce/1_peter/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_peter/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Act as free men, and not as men who use their liberty as a cloak for their maliciousness; but as the servants of God. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/1_peter/2.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> As free children, and not as persons who make their liberty a cloak for their evil, but as Servants of God.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/1_peter/2.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> as being free, and yet not using your freedom as a cloak for malice, but as servants of God. <a href="/godbey/1_peter/2.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> as free, and not as having the freedom as a cover of evil, but as servants of God. <a href="/haweis/1_peter/2.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for wicked practices; but as being servants of God. <a href="/mace/1_peter/2.htm">Mace New Testament</a> men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants <a href="/wey/1_peter/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Be free men, and yet do not make your freedom an excuse for base conduct, but be God's bondservants. <a href="/worrell/1_peter/2.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> as free, and not holding your freedom as a cloak for wickedness, but as servants of God. <a href="/worsley/1_peter/2.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> as free, and yet not using your liberty as a cloke for wickedness, but as the servants of God. <a href="/parallel/1_peter/2-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1h9-AlUcaGE?start=397" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_peter/2.htm">Submission to Authorities</a> …15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16<a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">Live</a> <a href="/greek/1658.htm" title="1658: eleutheroi (Adj-NMP) -- Free, delivered from obligation. Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained, i.e. not a slave, or exempt.">in freedom,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">but</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether."></a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echontes (V-PPA-NMP) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">do not use</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">your</a> <a href="/greek/1657.htm" title="1657: eleutherian (N-AFS) -- Freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery. From eleutheros; freedom.">freedom</a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">as</a> <a href="/greek/1942.htm" title="1942: epikalymma (N-ANS) -- A covering, cloak, veil, pretext. From epikalupto; a covering, i.e. pretext.">a cover-up</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">for</a> <a href="/greek/2549.htm" title="2549: kakias (N-GFS) -- From kakos; badness, i.e. depravity, or malignity, or trouble.">evil;</a> <a href="/greek/235.htm" title="235: all’ (Conj) -- But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise."></a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">live as</a> <a href="/greek/1401.htm" title="1401: douloi (N-NMP) -- (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.">servants</a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">of God.</a> 17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/galatians/5-13.htm">Galatians 5:13</a> For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. <a href="/john/8-32.htm">John 8:32</a> Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” <a href="/romans/6-18.htm">Romans 6:18</a> You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. <a href="/2_corinthians/3-17.htm">2 Corinthians 3:17</a> Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. <a href="/james/1-25.htm">James 1:25</a> But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does. <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Romans 6:22</a> But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. <a href="/1_corinthians/7-22.htm">1 Corinthians 7:22</a> For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. <a href="/john/8-36.htm">John 8:36</a> So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. <a href="/romans/8-21.htm">Romans 8:21</a> that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. <a href="/1_corinthians/9-19.htm">1 Corinthians 9:19</a> Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. <a href="/2_peter/2-19.htm">2 Peter 2:19</a> They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. <a href="/galatians/5-1.htm">Galatians 5:1</a> It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. <a href="/leviticus/25-10.htm">Leviticus 25:10</a> So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan. <a href="/isaiah/61-1.htm">Isaiah 61:1</a> The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, <a href="/psalms/119-45.htm">Psalm 119:45</a> And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.free.<a href="/john/8-32.htm">John 8:32-36</a> And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… <a href="/romans/6-18.htm">Romans 6:18,22</a> Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness… <a href="/1_corinthians/7-22.htm">1 Corinthians 7:22</a> For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.and.<a href="/jude/1-4.htm">Jude 1:4</a> For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.using.<a href="/matthew/23-14.htm">Matthew 23:14</a> Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.<a href="/john/15-22.htm">John 15:22</a> If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.<a href="/1_thessalonians/2-5.htm">1 Thessalonians 2:5</a> For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:but.<a href="/ephesians/6-6.htm">Ephesians 6:6</a> Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;<a href="/colossians/3-24.htm">Colossians 3:24</a> Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/james/2-12.htm">Act</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-10.htm">Base</a> <a href="/1_timothy/6-1.htm">Bondservants</a> <a href="/titus/2-9.htm">Bondslaves</a> <a href="/2_timothy/4-13.htm">Cloak</a> <a href="/2_timothy/4-13.htm">Cloke</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-17.htm">Conduct</a> <a href="/james/5-20.htm">Cover</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-5.htm">Covering</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-1.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/1_timothy/5-14.htm">Excuse</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-18.htm">Free</a> <a href="/james/2-12.htm">Freedom</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-15.htm">God's</a> <a href="/hebrews/13-23.htm">Liberty</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-1.htm">Malice</a> <a href="/romans/1-29.htm">Maliciousness</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-17.htm">Position</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-5.htm">Pretext</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/james/2-14.htm">Use</a> <a href="/hebrews/8-13.htm">Using</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-1.htm">Wickedness</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-1.htm">Wrongdoing</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_peter/1-21.htm">Act</a> <a href="/1_peter/5-2.htm">Base</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-19.htm">Bondservants</a> <a href="/acts/2-18.htm">Bondslaves</a> <a href="/genesis/39-12.htm">Cloak</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-17.htm">Cloke</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-7.htm">Conduct</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-8.htm">Cover</a> <a href="/revelation/6-16.htm">Covering</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-20.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/jude/1-4.htm">Excuse</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">Free</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-19.htm">Freedom</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-20.htm">God's</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-19.htm">Liberty</a> <a href="/numbers/35-20.htm">Malice</a> <a href="/romans/1-29.htm">Maliciousness</a> <a href="/2_peter/3-17.htm">Position</a> <a href="/job/19-28.htm">Pretext</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-18.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-9.htm">Use</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-9.htm">Using</a> <a href="/1_john/5-19.htm">Wickedness</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-13.htm">Wrongdoing</a><div class="vheading2">1 Peter 2</div>1. <a href="/1_peter/2-1.htm">He exhorts to put away wickedness;</a> 4. <a href="/1_peter/2-4.htm">showing that Christ is the foundation whereupon they are built.</a> 11. <a href="/1_peter/2-11.htm">He beseeches them also to abstain from sinful desires;</a> 13. <a href="/1_peter/2-13.htm">to be obedient to authorities;</a> 18. <a href="/1_peter/2-18.htm">and teaches servants how to obey their masters;</a> 20. <a href="/1_peter/2-20.htm">patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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This freedom is not a license for lawlessness but a call to live in the Spirit. Historically, the early church faced persecution and legalism, making the message of spiritual freedom particularly poignant. The freedom mentioned here is not political or social but spiritual, reflecting the inner transformation and liberation from sin's bondage.but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil This warning addresses the potential misuse of Christian liberty. The early church, much like today, faced the temptation to exploit grace as an excuse for sinful behavior. <a href="/romans/6.htm">Romans 6:1-2</a> echoes this sentiment, questioning whether believers should continue in sin so that grace may abound. The phrase suggests a conscious effort to avoid hypocrisy, where outward freedom masks inner corruption. The cultural context of the time included various religious and philosophical groups that might have misinterpreted freedom as moral license, a misunderstanding Peter seeks to correct.live as servants of God This phrase calls believers to a life of servitude to God, despite their freedom. The term "servants" (Greek: doulos) implies a bondservant, one who willingly submits to a master. This paradox of being free yet a servant is central to Christian identity, as seen in <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Romans 6:22</a>, where believers are described as slaves to God, leading to holiness. The historical context of servitude in the Roman Empire, where many were literal slaves, adds depth to this metaphor, highlighting the voluntary and joyful submission to God's will. This servitude is not burdensome but a reflection of Christ's own servanthood, as depicted in <a href="/philippians/2-7.htm">Philippians 2:7</a>, where Jesus took the form of a servant.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/peter.htm">Peter</a> The apostle Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, is the author of this epistle. He writes to encourage and instruct believers who are scattered and facing persecution. 2. <a href="/topical/r/recipients_of_the_epistle.htm">Recipients of the Epistle</a> The letter is addressed to the "elect exiles" scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, regions in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). 3. <a href="/topical/r/roman_empire.htm">Roman Empire</a> The socio-political backdrop of the letter is the Roman Empire, where Christians were often misunderstood and faced various levels of persecution.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_christian_freedom.htm">Understanding Christian Freedom</a> Christian freedom is not a license to sin but a call to live righteously. True freedom in Christ involves living in a way that honors God and reflects His character. <a href="/topical/s/servanthood_as_a_lifestyle.htm">Servanthood as a Lifestyle</a> Believers are called to live as servants of God. This means prioritizing God's will over personal desires and serving others as an expression of faith. <a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_misuse_of_freedom.htm">Guarding Against Misuse of Freedom</a> It's crucial to be vigilant against using freedom as a pretext for evil. This requires self-examination and accountability within the Christian community. <a href="/topical/l/living_as_witnesses_in_a_secular_world.htm">Living as Witnesses in a Secular World</a> Christians are to live in a way that stands out in a secular world, demonstrating integrity and godliness that can lead others to Christ.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_peter_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Peter 2</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_christian_liberty.htm">What defines Christian liberty?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_utilitarianism.htm">What defines utilitarianism?</a> <a href="/q/is_cosplay_wrong_for_christians.htm">Is it wrong for Christians to participate in cosplay?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_paul_tell_slaves_to_obey.htm">Titus 2:9 – Why does Paul instruct slaves to obey their masters, seemingly endorsing slavery in the process? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_peter/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) As free.--This points at once to what was the gist of the accusation. The Christian took up a position of complete independence within, and professed himself in a certain sense to be above the laws, by virtue of being a member of Christ's kingdom. This position of independence the heathen state resented, and looked upon the Christian Church as a dangerous organisation. Here, therefore, St. Peter both insists upon, and defines that independent position. "This the Apostle adds," says Leighton, "lest any should so far mistake the nature of their Christian liberty as to dream of an exemption from obedience either to God or to man for His sake, and according to His appointment. Their freedom he grants, but would have them understand aright what it is."And not using.--The word "as" in the Greek attaches better to the participle instead of to the word "cloke," so that the sentence will run, As free (i.e., as men who are really free), and not as using freedom for a curtain of vice. In this way the true and the false freedom are more forcibly contrasted.For a cloke of maliciousness.--The uncommon word here used means any kind of covering, but not in the sense of a garment, so that we must not insist on the metaphor of the word "cloke." The same Greek word is used in <a href="/exodus/26-14.htm" title="And you shall make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.">Exodus 26:14</a> to express the second covering of the tabernacle there mentioned, i.e., the uppermost, outermost covering. Grimm quotes a fragment of the comic poet Menander, "Wealth is a covering of many a bad thing;" this helps us to see that what St. Peter means is not ordinary hypocrisy. The man does not profess to be better than he is, but loudly asserts that he is not a slave. Men admire such freedom of speech, and excuse his vices just because of their openness.But as the servants of God.--Such freedom as has been mentioned is no freedom. It is moral slavery. The only true freedom lies in being "servants" (or rather slaves) "of God," whose will it is that you should be good subjects (<a href="/1_peter/2-13.htm" title="Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;">1Peter 2:13</a>; <a href="/1_peter/2-15.htm" title="For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:">1Peter 2:15</a>). For a slightly different turn of thought, see <a href="/galatians/5-13.htm" title="For, brothers, you have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.">Galatians 5:13</a>. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_peter/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 16. - As free. This verse is not to be taken with what follows, for it does not well cohere with the contents of ver. 17; but either with ver. 14 (Ver. 15 being regarded as parenthetical) or with ver. 15, notwithstanding the change of case in the original, which presents no real difficulty; the meaning being that Christian freedom must show itself, not in license, but in willing obedience to constituted authorities: "Not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake" (<a href="/romans/13-5.htm">Romans 13:5</a>). Those whom the truth makes free are free indeed, but true freedom implies submission to legitimate authority. And not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness; literally, not having your liberty as a cloak. The word rendered "cloak" (ἐπικάλυμμα) is used in the Septuagint (<a href="/exodus/26-14.htm">Exodus 26:14</a>) for the covering of the tabernacle. The pretence of Christian liberty must not be made a covering, a concealment, of wickedness. But as the servants of God. The truest liberty is that of the servants of God; his service is perfect freedom (comp. <a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16-23</a>). <a href="/commentaries/1_peter/2-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[Live] ὡς (hōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. in freedom, ἐλεύθεροι (eleutheroi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1658.htm">Strong's 1658: </a> Free, delivered from obligation. Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained, i.e. not a slave, or exempt. [but] καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. do not use ἔχοντες (echontes) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. [your] τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. freedom ἐλευθερίαν (eleutherian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1657.htm">Strong's 1657: </a> Freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery. From eleutheros; freedom. as ὡς (hōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. a cover-up ἐπικάλυμμα (epikalymma) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1942.htm">Strong's 1942: </a> A covering, cloak, veil, pretext. From epikalupto; a covering, i.e. pretext. for τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. evil; κακίας (kakias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2549.htm">Strong's 2549: </a> From kakos; badness, i.e. depravity, or malignity, or trouble. [live] as ὡς (hōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. servants δοῦλοι (douloi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1401.htm">Strong's 1401: </a> (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave. of God. Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_peter/2-16.htm">1 Peter 2:16 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-16.htm">NT Letters: 1 Peter 2:16 As free and not using your freedom (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_peter/2-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Peter 2:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Peter 2:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_peter/2-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Peter 2:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Peter 2:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>