CrossSites Bible Study

Opening Thoughts

What does success mean to you? While attending Liberty Baptist College (Liberty University), Dr. Falwell would tell us that success is finding God’s calling on your life, getting there and staying there. Submitting to whatever God called us to do was the most successful thing we could do.

Our greatest achievement is to hear the Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Being servants means submitting ourselves to God. Following Christ, we can accept our roles as God’s servants.

Peter is writing his letter to people who lived in a difficult situation. The Roman Empire gave its citizens many advantages—good roads, safety from invasions, and law and order. At the same time, the empire could be highly unjust and oppressive in how it imposed law and order.

Nero had come into power in Rome as the new emperor. Many have considered him to have been mad with power. The Roman Empire boasted itself that it gave justice to man. However, it was like every other government, including our own. The poor man has never had a fair chance. The rich man has always been able to buy lawyers who were smart enough to evade the law. The poor man is the one who has the problems with the law.

Peter addressed believers who worked in situations of injustice or even cruelty—especially the slaves. Some women had to live under the authority of harsh, non-Christian husbands. Naturally, they struggled under these conditions. How did their situation square with the Christian doctrine of liberty in Jesus Christ? Did their newly acquired freedom in Christ authorize them to rebel against the authority of the state and their masters?

Peter turns to the issue of submission, which becomes the key word in 1 Peter 2:13–3:7. Christians are to have an attitude of submission that shows itself in our relationships and actions. When we live a life of submission to God’s calling, we can have a positive influence on the culture around us.

Biblical Submission Recongnizes God’s Authority

In this passage Peter addresses God’s authority in two areas that we all come in contact with. The government and our workplace.

Submission to Government

1 Peter 2:13-17 ESV

¹³ Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Peter wrote that believers are to be subject to every human institution. The context of the passage shows, every human institution refers specifically to governmental authorities. The strong form of the command indicates it is a binding obligation.

Paul reminds us in Romans 13:1 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”  We should obey all laws and respect all authority, unless we are called upon to do something God forbids. It was God who placed us under the authority of government.

One of the God given roles of government is to punish those who break the law. The other is to reward those who do good. Every Roman citizen shuddered at the thought of the power and willingness of Rome to punish those who defied its authority. Certainly, Christians knew well the coercive threat of crucifixion, an awful means of torturing a criminal to death.

We should not just obey the law to escape punishment. When we submit to the laws of the land we are being obedient to the will of God. By doing good, even when suffering at the hands of ungodly leaders, believers will silence the criticism of foolish people who oppose our faith. Peter tells us that when we submit to the government, our good will silence the “ignorance of foolish people.” Our good deeds will silence those making false charges, while glorifying our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our serving the one true God by living a peaceful, wise, and visibly good life, will be far more revolutionary and effective for the Kingdom of Christ than seeking to overthrow one corrupt regime and replacing it most likely with another. When we live in quiet submission it will give us the freedom to spread the gospel freely.

When feeling frustrated by government decisions that go against our beliefs? We should remember that God calls you to submit to authority. Instead of complaining, pray for wisdom for your leaders and look for ways to respectfully voice your concerns through proper channels.

Submission on the Job

1 Peter 2:17-20 ESV

¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Unlike the pagan Roman society, our culture rejects the practice of slavery. Peter did not endorse slavery, but those he was addressing were slaves so they could understand how to relate the concept of submission. While the modern workplace is nowhere near the environment of slavery, these principles can help us to apply biblical practices to our jobs.

As believers we must remember that God is the judge of everyone regardless of their status. As believers we should relate to others in the workplaces in such way that we demonstrate that we are under the Lord’s authority. When we do our job as unto the Lord we bring glory to His name.

When we demonstrate godly submission to those we work for we show them our faith in God. Even when we work for a supervisor that treats us unjustly we are called to respond with the right attitude. When we respond with godly submission the others in the workplace will witness our trust in God. Remember we work not for our employer but as unto the Lord.

 We are to remember that amidst trials at work, our ultimate identity and worth come from being a child of God, not from our job or performance. Find solace in the unchanging love and acceptance of your Heavenly Father.

Biblical Submission Respects Christ’s Example

1 Peter 2:21-25 ESV

²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Submitting to another’s authority goes against our human nature. Submission is seen by many as weakness not strength, losing rather than winning. Most people will only submit when forced, and then only until they have the power to escape or overcome.

Peter reminds us that though we may be persecuted or discriminated against, as believers we are first called to follow in Jesus’ steps. Jesus desires that we be formed into His image (Rom 8:29). This means that as follower of Christ we are going experience suffering, just as He did.

When we experience trials and difficulties, we need to remember how much Jesus suffered. Jesus the sinless son of God left His throne in heaven to come to earth and live among sinful man. He lived a perfect life and died for us. He suffered physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He embraced the anguish of the cross for us. The purpose of His pain was to provide salvation for anyone who would repent of their sins and receive Him as Savior.

Jesus’ submissiveness to His father’s will, even at the cost of suffering, has set for us a perfect example to follow. Jesus could submit to the Jewish and Roman authorities, who persecuted Him, because He had already submitted and entrusted himself to the heavenly father. Just because Jesus submitted to the authorities does not mean he agreed with them that he had done anything wrong. Jesus yielded Himself to the religious and political authorities for a purpose—to provide salvation for anyone who would believe and receive Him as Savior and Lord.

He did not have to die for His sin, for He never sinned. We were the ones who, like sheep, were constantly being led astray. Each of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). God laid on Christ the judgment of our sins. By his wounds we have been healed. Peter reminded the persecuted believers of his day that the way they responded to suffering was a witness for Jesus to the unbelievers around them.

We have been instructed by God to follow Jesus’ example of submission by having a lifestyle of submission to others. Biblical submission does not mean that we are inferior or weak. Biblical submission means that we are following Christ’s example by relating to others unselfishly, graciously, and respectfully. By doing so, those around us will be able to see Christ in us.

Biblical Submission Reguires Mutual Commitment

Biblical submission is best understood as “the voluntarily yielding of yourself to someone else’s wishes of advice as an expression of love for that person.” Real biblical submission does not happen just in our public life but will be require in our private lives and will require a mutual commitment of all those involved.

With this in mind, Peter turns to the domestic problems which Christianity will inevitably produces. This is especially so when one marriage partner comes Christ while the other remains untouched by the appeal of the gospel—and such a situation inevitably had difficulties.

Christian Wives Follow Godly Examples

1 Peter 3:1-6 ESV

¹ Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your respectful and pure conduct. ³ Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. ⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Greek and Roman cultures expected a wife to follow her husband’s religion. When a woman trusted Jesus as Savior and her husband did not, she immediately encountered difficulty. Society and her husband would suspect her of disloyalty to her spouse.

She could become confused as to her proper attitude toward her husband. Should she defy her husband because she had found liberty in Christ Jesus? Should she witness to her husband and try to convert him? After all, wouldn’t his conversion make her life a lot easier? Or should she simply buckle under to his demands that she return to the Greek or Roman gods of the household?

The nature of biblical submission is to live one’s life before another in such a way that without words they will know of your faith. As a godly wife lives out her faith in Christ it will be silent testimony to her husband of presence of the Holy Spirit in her life.

In addition to living Holy Spirit filled lives, godly wives demonstrate submission to the Lord and respect for their husbands by the way they adorn themselves. Pagan women sought to enhance their beauty with outward means, such as elaborate hairstyles and gold jewelry or fine clothes.

Peter was not implying that a godly woman cannot give proper attention to her appearance, but her self-image should not rely on external adornments. It does mean that wives are to dress modestly so that they bring honor to their husbands and to the name of Christ.

Christian women have the examples of holy women of the past who lived lives of biblical submission. Paul gives Sarah as an example of such a woman. In fact, Peter refers to godly wives as spiritual descendants of Sarah. Christian wives give evidence that they are Sarah’s spiritual descendants by doing what is good and right and by not giving into fear of their husbands. Christian wives should not submit out of fear but want to do so out of love for Christ and their husband.

Christian Husbands Show Spiritual Understanding

1 Peter 3:7  ESV

⁷ Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Peter reminds believing husbands that they have a reciprocal duty toward their wives. They are not to take advantage of their wives’ weaker physical strength or weaker legal and social position to abuse them. Instead, husbands are to show honor to their wives. The Christian wife are to respect her husband and yield to his leadership in the home; the Christian husband is to show special honor to his wife.

Christian husbands are to honor their wives as co-heirs of the grace of life. Life here refers to eternal life in the presence of God. The wife as co-heir of God’s grace and eternal life is thus equal to her husband in terms of salvation.

The Christian husband must be a spiritual prayer warrior for his wife and children. His protection and provision for his family goes beyond just earning a living. They need his prayers. When he sins by mistreating his wife (or children), a husband’s prayers are hindered. His intercession experiences interference and loses effectiveness. By having a right attitude and taking the right actions toward his wife, the husband can plead effectively for his family before the throne of God.

Christian People Demonstrate Sacrifical Love

1 Peter 3:8-12  ESV

⁸ Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. ⁹ Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; ¹¹ let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. ¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Peter turns his attention back to the church. Peter instructs believers to exercise biblical submission in their relationships. By demonstrating biblical submission toward other believers, we show a love for God’s people.

As believers we are to be like-minded – that is we are to be of one spirit. The Greek word that Peter uses refers to sharing another’s feelings or identifying with another’s pain or joy. Believers who practice biblical submission will be like-minded and sympathetic.

Believers demonstrate loving biblical submission in the way they respond when they are offended. We should never trade evil for evil or insult for insult. If someone wrongs us, we should respond by being a blessing. Peter’s illustration hearkens back to Jesus’ teaching to bless those who cause us pain (Matt. 5:44‑48). Believers are called by God to this lifestyle and because when we bless others, we will inherit a blessing. Jesus said believers who respond this way will receive a great reward (Luke 6:35).

Biblical submission also involves the way we speak to one another. Quoting Psalm 34:12-16, Peter cautioned each believer to keep his tongue from evil and to refrain the lips from speaking deceit. Many Scriptures address the importance of guarding what we say. Proverbs warned that a multitude of words will often lead to sin (Prov. 10:19). On the other hand, the “lips of the righteous know” what is acceptable (Prov 10:32). Jesus taught that what comes out one’s mouth reveals what is in the heart—whether good or evil (Matt. 12:34-37). Peter echoed these sentiments and advised believers to avoid sin through how they spoke to and about one another. Such action would demonstrate they want to love life and to see good days.

Even believers can get out of sorts with one another. When conflict occurs in the church, participants should turn away from evil. They must not harm their opponents. Instead, they should do what is good. Jesus taught His followers to “do what is good” even to people who hate them (Luke 6:27). In doing so they are following Christ’s example of seeking peace. We are called to seek resolution of conflict and restoration of relationships with one another. This will only be possible when we are willing to engage in the principle of biblical submission.

Application

 The principle of submission challenges believers to rise above our base human natures and learn from the pattern of Christ. Following Christ’s example, we set aside our personal ambitions and surrender our prideful spirits. Submission in each area of our lives demonstrates we believe God is truly sovereign over all of life. It shows we trust that Christ will work through the various authorities and relationships for His honor and glory.

Suggested Resources

• Barclay, William. 2003. The Letters of James and Peter. 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated. The New Daily Study Bible. Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.
• Barnes, Albert. 1884–1885. Notes on the New Testament: James to Jude. Edited by Robert Frew. London: Blackie & Son.
• Barton, Bruce B. 1995. 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.
• Cedar, Paul A., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. 1984. James / 1 & 2 Peter / Jude. Vol. 34. The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.
• Courson, Jon. 2003. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
• Evans, Tony. 2019. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
• Grudem, Wayne A. 1988. 1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 17. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
• Hindson, Ed, and Elmer L. Towns. 2013. Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic.
• Landrum, Eli. 2016. Explore the Bible: Adult Commentary: 1 & 2 Peter, Jude (Fall 2016). LifeWay Christian Resources.
• Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. 1 Peter–Jude. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
• MacArthur, John F., Jr. 2004. 1 Peter. MacArthur New Testament Commentary. Chicago: Moody Publishers.
• Mangum, Douglas, ed. 2020. Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament. Lexham Context Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
• Manser, Martin, ed. 2018. The New Testament Page by Page. Open Your Bible Commentary. Creative 4.
• Spurgeon, Charles. 2014. Spurgeon Commentary: 1 Peter. Edited by Elliot Ritzema and Jessi Strong. Spurgeon Commentary Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
• McGee, J. Vernon. 1997. Thru the Bible Commentary. Electronic ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
• Walls, David, and Max Anders. 1999. I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude. Vol. 11. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
• Wiersbe, Warren W. 1992. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
• Wiersbe, Warren W. 1996. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
• Wright, Tom. 2011. Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John, and Judah. For Everyone Bible Study Guides. London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Kno