Christians do not live unto themselves. They live their life before the face of God (corem deo) as servants of God. And, in this world, they live with the rest of mankind as members of households—the most basic unit of a community. There was much concern in Peter's day for how a household should be properly ordered, for as the household goes, so goes the society. In instructing Christians, and particularly Christian slaves, Peter recognizes the order of both nature and Roman society, yet only as far as the ethics of God's Kingdom allows. While acknowledging that many of his readers were indeed slaves, he affirms that all Christians (and all people) are inherently worthy of dignity and honor. By the very act of extolling Christ as the suffering servant, he gives honor and dignity to all who suffer unjustly for him, while highlighting the chief principle of the Christian ethic and way of life, namely, Christ-like suffering. Such way of life is commendable to God and belongs to every true servant of God, in Peter's day and ours. |
