1 Peter 2:16 (GNV)

Passage

As free, and not as hauing the libertie for a cloke of maliciousnesse, but as the seruauntes of God.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 2:14 Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of euill doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.

1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that by well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men,

1 Peter 2:16 As free, and not as hauing the libertie for a cloke of maliciousnesse, but as the seruauntes of God.

1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men: loue brotherly fellowship: feare God: honour the King.

1 Peter 2:18 Seruaunts, be subiect to your masters with all feare, not onely to the good and courteous, but also to the froward.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "free", "hauing", "libertie", "cloke", "maliciousnesse", and "seruauntes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "free" and "hauing", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "For so is the will of God..." into verse 17's "Honour all men loue brotherly fellowship feare...", so "free" and "hauing" 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 "free" and "hauing" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.