1 Peter 2:18 (ASV)

Passage

Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 2:16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

1 Peter 2:18 Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

1 Peter 2:19 For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.

1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it], ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "servants", "subjection", "masters", "fear", "only", "good", "gentle", and "froward". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "servants" and "subjection", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Honor all men Love the brotherhood Fear..." into verse 19's "For this is acceptable if for conscience...", so "servants" and "subjection" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "servants" and "subjection" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.